The Irvine Unified School District (IUSD) College and Career Fair will be held on Monday, October 5, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the Portola High School gym. The event is open to all IUSD families, and in a single evening parents can meet admissions representatives from the University of California, the California State University, community colleges, and private universities.

IUSD College and Career Fair: What Happened

The Portola High School event page lists four parts of the fair:

  • Conversations with representatives from the University of California (UC), the California State University (CSU), community colleges, and private universities.
  • On-site guidance on college applications and financial aid applications.
  • Information on college and career pathways.
  • Information on career technical and trade schools, as well as military opportunities.

The upcoming events table on the University High School counseling page lists the fair as an event for all IUSD families. On the morning of the same day, from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., University High School also holds a 9th grade parent information meeting in the school theater, with the option to join on Zoom.

Who Is Affected by the IUSD College and Career Fair

12th grade families. College applications and financial aid applications are both in their most intensive preparation period, and the fair is a good place to confirm questions about application materials and financial aid in person. For when financial aid applications open and the California deadline, see Brief: FAFSA Is Open, California Deadline Is March 2. For the University of California application deadline, see Brief: University of California Applications Close November 30.

Families of 9th through 11th graders. The value of an event like this is learning early how different types of institutions differ, for example how the University of California, the California State University, and community colleges differ in their admissions approach, so that course selection and extracurricular activities can be planned early.

Families considering a career technical path. The fair specifically lists career technical and trade schools, a topic that general college information sessions rarely cover.

What to Do Now About the IUSD College and Career Fair

Put the date on the calendar. October 5 is also the schoolwide testing day for 9th through 11th graders at Portola High School, and 11th graders take the PSAT/NMSQT that morning. The fair is scheduled for the evening and does not conflict with the test. For how the PSAT/NMSQT relates to scholarship selection, see Irvine PSAT/NMSQT in October: How Scores Enter National Merit.

Prepare questions in advance. Admissions representatives have limited time, so families should prepare two or three specific questions for each target school, such as the application requirements for a particular major, admission pathways for transfer students, and how to apply for scholarships.

Bring the student. The event is intended for both students and parents. When the student speaks with admissions representatives directly, the answers are more targeted than when a parent asks on the student’s behalf.

For the University of California application timeline, see UC Application Timeline: From August 1 to May 1. For college planning information on each Irvine high school, see the IUSD high school guides. For EDUBUS college application services, see College Admissions Planning.

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