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.
During the annual Jackson County College Fair from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Seymour High School, college admissions counselors and other representatives from more than 40 schools from the Midwest region can answer those questions.
Among the colleges that will be represented are Anderson, Ball State, Butler, Franklin, Hanover, Indiana State, Indiana University, Indiana Tech, Ivy Tech Community College, Purdue, Spalding University, Trine, University of Indianapolis, University of Southern Indiana, Valparaiso, Vincennes and Wabash.
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 cafeteria at Seymour High School and is open to all high school students in Jackson County.
Freshmen and sophomores 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 350 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 free Financial Aid Night information session is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. in the high school auditorium. A student aid expert from INvestEd will be available to provide information and answer questions.
Families are encouraged to attend the session to gain a better understanding of the student aid process and how best to begin planning to fund higher education.
Those attending will learn how to apply for all types of financial aid, including completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is required to determine eligibility for most student aid programs, such as the Federal Pell Grant, institutional awards and federal student and parent loans.
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What: Jackson County College Fair and Financial Aid Night
When: Wednesday; free Financial Aid Night information session is at 5:30 p.m.; college fair is from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Where: The college fair is in the Seymour High School cafeteria, and the financial aid session is in the auditorium
Who: For all high school students in Jackson County and their parents
Information: Nikki Storey at 812-522-4384
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