Fair to help guide students in college search

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High school students thinking about going to college likely have a lot of questions.

Like which college is right for me? What do I want to major in? And how am I going to pay for college tuition?

Parents often have the same questions and concerns, wanting to help get their child on the right track to a successful future.

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During the annual Jackson-Jennings College and Career Fair from 6:30-8 p.m. Tuesday at Seymour High School, college admissions counselors and other representatives from nearly 50 schools from the Midwest region can answer those questions.

Among the colleges that will be represented are Anderson, Ball State, Bellarmine, Butler, DePauw, Earlham, Franklin, Grace, Hanover, Harrison, Indiana State, Indiana, Indiana Tech, Ivy Tech Community College, Kentucky Wesleyan, Purdue, Rose-Hulman, Spalding, Trine and Cincinnati.

Also attending will be military representatives to discuss recruitment and how joining the military can help pay for college.

The college fair will be in the auxiliary gym at Seymour High School and is open to all high school students in Jackson and Jennings counties, including those attending Brownstown Central, Trinity Lutheran, Crothersville, Medora and Jennings County high schools.

Underclassmen should attend with their parents to get an introduction to the college selection process, SHS guidance counselor Nikki Storey said.

Juniors and seniors will have an opportunity to pick up college applications and information on scholarships and ask questions about housing, class size and available programs.

“This opportunity allows students and their parents to have personal contact with many different colleges and universities at one time, in one place,” Storey said. “It’s difficult to visit all the campuses a student may be interested in. But at this event, students can learn about a lot of different options.”

Storey said the fair is a huge benefit to parents because they can get the “practical” questions answered.

“Parents play a huge role in their child’s college decision, so this is a way for them to get information together,” she said.

More than 400 students are expected to attend this year’s college and career fair.

“The fair provides an opportunity to gather general information from many institutions, which can be sorted through later as families begin to think about qualities they are looking for in postsecondary education,” Storey said.

Important questions for students to ask include what admission requirements colleges may have, especially regarding standardized test scores, what majors are offered and what the deadline for admission is.

“It’s also good for students to ask how to arrange college visits and about financial aid and those deadlines,” Storey said.

A separate financial aid night will be conducted in February to help parents meet the deadline for filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form.

Storey said next year’s fair will not only focus on colleges and universities but also emphasize careers by having local employment agencies, companies, businesses and nonprofit groups available to talk to students about internships and jobs.

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What: Annual Jackson-Jennings College and Career Fair

Where: Seymour High School auxiliary gym, 1350 W. Second St.

When: 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday

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