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Alex Sandler, 17, a senior at Northwest High School in Germantown and her mother, Danielle Sandler, were exploring their college options, while Kendall Talbert, 17, a senior at Col. Zadok Magruder High School in Derwood, and his mother, Erica Talbert, were looking for ways to stand out in the college application process.

The students and parents joined hundreds of others at the Historically Black Colleges and Universities College Fair at Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville on Feb. 17.

While Sandler and her mother waited to speak with the admissions counselor from Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, Ga., she discussed her decision to apply to historically black colleges.

"I like the diverse background of historically black colleges and universities. It fits me," she said. "My mom went to Howard [University in Washington, D.C.,] so I have a legacy."

Although Talbert was not limiting himself to historically black colleges — the University of Florida in Gainesville is his dream school — his mother would like him to stay closer to home.

"Local schools like Howard, Morgan State or Hampton," she said.

James and Ester Washington of Gaithersburg wanted their daughter Amanda, 17, a senior at Gaithersburg High School, to consider a historically black school "because the area we live in and the schools they attend and their teachers are mostly white."

They spoke as she interviewed with the Howard representative.

"Also, she has parents and two older sisters who attended HBCUs, so it is a tradition," Ester Washington said.

Nearly 50 colleges and universities sent representatives to the fair, which was sponsored by the Washington Inter-Alumni Council in conjunction with the United Negro College Fund and co-sponsored by Montgomery County Public Schools and the Montgomery County Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

Students — most "dressed for success," as the evening's guidelines recommended — asked college counselors questions about grades, tuition and scholarships, as well as questions about the presence of sororities and fraternities and the quality of the food.

"This is a fantastic event," Richard Montgomery High School Principal Nelson McLeod said. "It is an opportunity for students to hear about options for post-secondary education. I wanted to host it because I was looking for the opportunity for my students."

Throughout the evening students spoke with counselors, gathered information and, in some cases, applied for and got on-the-spot acceptances to college.

Many students signed up to speak with representatives of one or more of the eight schools offering the immediate option. One section of classrooms was set aside for admissions interviews. So many students wanted to interview with the Howard University representatives, they had to hold one large question-and-answer session at the end of the evening.

Ebrima Jobe, 17, and Ike Obi, 17, both seniors at Springbrook High School in Silver Spring, came prepared for their appointments with Howard counselors. Each held a packet containing completed application forms, transcripts, SAT scores and letters of recommendation. Obi also applied to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, another historically black college.

"I just think they offer a lot of great opportunities for people of my race," Obi said.

Howard was on the top of Jobe's list.

"I'm really trying to go to Howard," he said. "It's closer to home and a lot of my friends go there."

He thought he would feel most at ease at a traditional black school.

"I'm more comfortable with people like me, and I'd rather go to a school where my friends go," he said. "They can tell me what the school is like."

Maurice Williams, an admissions counselor from Claflin University in Orangeburg, S.C., spoke highly of the students who attended the fair. He was pleased he could offer about 15 students admission and scholarship money right away.

"They are students who are looking for quality," he said. "They are all pretty conservative and definitely have drive."

This was the second year Montgomery County has hosted the college fair.

"We are hoping this will be a tradition for the county," said Nancy Carlson, a Montgomery County Public Schools counselor who coordinated the event.