Ninth ACULAC Liberal Arts College Fair: Beijing, May 31
The ninth ACULAC Liberal Arts College Fair returns this summer as China's largest event for learning about liberal arts colleges and meeting their students and alumni.
Questions to Bring to the Fair
Visit any college's booth to ask questions such as:
- How well are liberal arts colleges recognized in China? Do people confuse them with vocational colleges?
- How do students find research opportunities?
- What is it like to enroll with an undecided major?
- What is social life like at a small college?
- What should I know about dining and housing, transportation and weather?
- How do graduates fare in the job market compared with graduates of larger universities?
- How can I write an essay about my interest in a college that goes beyond repeating its website?
- Why do some students choose a liberal arts college over a larger university?
Meet current students and graduates from more than 30 top liberal arts colleges and hear directly about their experiences.
Alongside informal conversations, the fair will feature student presentations and alumni discussions, with opportunities for parents to exchange ideas and hear from guest speakers. Together, these sessions offer a fuller introduction to liberal arts education.
Registration for the ninth ACULAC Liberal Arts College Fair is open!
Which Colleges Will Be Represented?
Current student representatives, known as College Reps, from more than 30 liberal arts colleges have signed up so far. Their colleges include:
The list will be updated as more representatives join. Participation varies by city; please consult the final announcement for each event.
2026 Dates and Locations
ACULAC will hold large liberal arts college fairs in five cities during May and June.
This year's series, one of ACULAC's signature annual events, runs from May 31 to June 21. It will visit Beijing and Shenzhen, then Shanghai and Hangzhou, and finally Qingdao.
Dates and venues are listed below:
Date | City | School |
|---|---|---|
May 31 | Beijing | Beijing Academy |
June 7 | Shenzhen | Shenzhen College of International Education |
June 13 | Shanghai | Shanghai Qibao Dwight High School |
June 14 | Hangzhou | Yungu School |
June 21 | Qingdao | Qingdao Academy |
The proposed event schedule is shown below:
What Past Participants Have Said
After every fair, we receive feedback in many forms: hastily written notes as people leave, long messages late at night, and reflections from parents who attended with their children.
Compiled from feedback submitted by participants at previous ACULAC fairs.
Meet the Organizer
At a previous liberal arts college fair.
Twelve Years of Volunteer Work: 2014–2026
In 2014, Chinese students at more than 50 top U.S. liberal arts colleges came together with a shared concern: there were too few firsthand accounts of these colleges. They founded ACULAC to help share those experiences.
For twelve years, successive groups of students and alumni have carried out all of ACULAC's work in their spare time. The organization operates entirely through volunteers, without a permanent staff or office.
ACULAC has received recognition from the admissions offices of more than 50 liberal arts colleges and EducationUSA, and holds U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. Our central commitment is to connect information with the people who know it firsthand. You can ask someone directly about choosing a college or applying, attending classes or changing majors, and finding internships or pursuing a career after graduation.
You Made It Happen: Thanks from the Eighth ACULAC Fair
Follow the link to explore conversations from past fairs.
This summer, we hope to bring these firsthand conversations to more cities and give everyone considering colleges clearer, more specific information.
Who Should Attend?
Students preparing to apply, and their families
Meet representatives from several colleges in one place, almost as if you were visiting multiple campuses. Compare their cultures and everyday atmosphere, then ask about applying. Students who have just completed the application process can also share their recent experience.
Students in Grade 11 or below who are exploring options, and their families
Talking directly with current students can help you understand what liberal arts colleges teach and how students learn there. You can begin identifying the kinds of academic environments you enjoy.
Incoming members of the college Class of 2030, and their families
Ask about course registration and dormitories, campus amenities and dining, or the campus surroundings and transportation. These conversations can introduce you to everyday details beyond college websites, help you meet people ahead of arrival and make the transition to college feel more familiar.
High School College Counselors
Meet students and alumni from many liberal arts colleges, along with guest speakers. Their detailed accounts and varied perspectives can inform your work helping students choose colleges and prepare applications.
At a previous liberal arts college fair.
How to Register
Step 1
Scan the QR code below or open the registration form to register.
Why We Ask for Detailed Information
The registration form asks about your academic background and interests, as well as the colleges you are considering. We will share this information with those colleges' admissions offices and use it to prepare conversations and organize the event.
- How Admissions Officers Use This Information
Liberal arts colleges emphasize small learning communities and close attention to each student. Admissions officers value applicants who understand this approach and actively explore it. Registering for the fair in advance demonstrates that interest.
Your registration shows admissions officers that you have invested time in learning about their college's culture. The organizers believe this conveys a stronger interest than a formulaic essay explaining your college choice.
- Connecting You with Relevant Resources
Your current high school and colleges of interest help us connect you with relevant representatives during the time available. They also help us arrange introductions to alumni or focused question-and-answer sessions.
Registration information is used only to manage this fair, organize activities and send event notices.
ACULAC excludes registration information from agency partnerships and commercial promotion. Please provide accurate information so we can arrange your participation.
Step 2
Enter your personal details and the colleges you are considering.
Step 3
Submit the form to receive an admission QR code. Save a screenshot on your phone; one code admits your whole family.
Step 4
Add the ACULAC assistant on WeChat and include the session you registered for in your request. The assistant will add you to the appropriate group and can answer questions.
Once you have completed these steps, your registration is complete. Save the admission QR code on your phone and present it on the event day. The code is required to enter the campus. Thank you for your cooperation.
ACULAC's Commitment
As a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit, ACULAC maintains independence from study-abroad agencies and excludes partnerships with them.
Our aim is for each fair to offer direct information from students and alumni, parents and admissions officers, as well as educators. We provide space for conversations free of commercial sales pitches, so that students and families can make informed decisions independently.
When the Class of 2030 meets future classmates, the Class of 2031 learns from recent applicants, or younger students discover a direction, we see the purpose of our work. These connections across graduating classes and cities keep us committed.
Choosing a liberal arts college deserves careful reflection on who you are and how you want to grow, along with the life you hope to lead.
At a previous liberal arts college fair.
For twelve years, ACULAC has believed that small, specific moments often give people their clearest understanding of liberal arts colleges:
- "It was almost one in the morning when my professor sent feedback on my draft. The comments were longer than the paper itself."
- "My professor paused in class and asked, 'Did you want to say something just now?'"
- "The college theater is open to everyone. I directed my first play there, even though I major in mathematics!"
- "I gradually discovered what I really enjoyed here."
Firsthand experiences convey college life more convincingly than promotional slogans.
Each fair brings colleges together with students and families, making firsthand information accessible and giving people answers to their specific questions. We hope participants feel better supported and more confident in their choices.
We look forward to meeting you this summer.
Registration for the ninth ACULAC Liberal Arts College Fair is open!
Students and parents, along with teachers, are welcome.
About ACULAC
ACULAC stands for the Association of Chinese Undergraduates in Liberal Arts Colleges.
Founded in 2014, ACULAC brings together students from more than 50 top U.S. liberal arts colleges. It is recognized by the admissions offices of more than 50 top liberal arts colleges and EducationUSA, and has U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit status.
ACULAC celebrated its tenth anniversary in 2024. Throughout that decade, it provided opportunities for prospective and current liberal arts college students to connect with graduates. Its work makes information about applications and campus life, academic study and careers more accessible.