Resident Feature

Alternative to College Fair

returns to in-person March 18-19

The ‘Alternative to College Fair,’ founded in the Bay Area in 2015, will again be in-person on March18-19, 2022 at the Walnut Creek Marriott. The College Parent Survival Network is the host. The ‘Alternative to College Fair’ was started by Northgate resident, Shayna Abraham. The event is known as the Alt Fair. 

In spring 2020, the fair was scheduled to expand beyond the Bay Area and host an inaugural event in Denver, Colorado. That event was a trial to see how responsive families in a different geographic region were to the idea of an “Alternative-to-College Fair”. Alongside Shayna, Joanna Lilley, MA. NCC of Lilley Consulting pivoted in 2020 to host a “Virtual Alt Fair” series trying to connect young adults, families, and professionals to still have access to learning about alternative-to-college programs. “Although it was accessible, it just wasn’t the same as an in-person fair. There’s a buzz that is palpable. Young adults seeing other young adults who are in the same boat – trying to figure out an alternative path. I am truly grateful to be able to host this in-person again in 2022,” Shayna said. 

The target audience for the Alt Fair is young adults with pre-existing weaknesses, struggles or high school seniors and/or young adults who have left post-secondary institutions are encouraged to attend this in-person event in Walnut Creek, CA. The description of the audience is intentionally broad because all the alternative options that are presenting have a variety of young adults that they serve. Parents are also welcome to attend and will have an opportunity to learn more about College Parent Survival Network and meet other parents trying to support their emerging adult child. This event is not to be confused with a traditional Gap Year Fair. 

New to the 2022 event is that it will be over two days. The first day, March 18, 2022, is a networking opportunity between professionals and program participants only. The second day, March 19, 2022, will be the Alt Fair. This event is free for our community members and we encourage anyone interested to join us. 

Young Adults/High School students in search of details about the March 19th in-person event, please contact hello@ collegealternative.org. 

Parents looking to learn about the College Parent Survival Network or the event, please contact hello@collegealternative. org 

About College Parent Survival Network: 

College Parent Survival Network is the safest online community for parents seeking support, direction, and guidance around helping their child launch into adulthood, whether that includes college or not. Offering parents a platform to ask questions, normalize they aren’t alone, and learn from experts around college and early adulthood. For more information, please check out the community. College Parent Survival Network is owned and operated by two Therapeutic Consultants and one College Consultant. This collaboration was formed in an effort to help parents early, and potentially save the young adult from pain in the future. 


By Shayna Abraham, Resident since 2018