College Night for juniors and sophomores was held March 6 at 7 p.m. Students and parents who chose to attend College Night went to a presentation in the auditorium about how to prepare for college and then had the opportunity to speak with representatives from various colleges.
“I liked it,” junior Caitlin Adams said. “It gave you a lot of good information about colleges and what’s out there and what they have to offer.”
The night started off with a presentation in the auditorium. This year, associate admissions directors advised students on how to prepare for college. FHN Guidance Counselor Lisa Woodrum introduced the women who spoke about college and what it entails. Associate Director of Admissions from Maryville University and FHN 1997 graduate Jennifer Wynkoop, along with Associate Director of Admissions for the St. Louis Region from Millikin University Susan Deppe, talked at length about the factors to consider when choosing a college and how to prepare to apply.
“I learned what I need to do to get into the career choice I want and the classes I need to take,” Adams said. “It showed me that there’s different colleges out there. They might have similar programs, but they’re different in the way they approach it.”
After listening to tips on how to plan college visits and better prepare for applying, the students and parents were released to the gym lobby where they had the opportunity to speak with representatives from 26 individual colleges. Some of the colleges included Washington University in St. Louis, the University of Missouri and Fontbonne University.
“My goal for college night was to meet as many young students as possible and to encourage them to pursue academic career opportunities at whatever university they choose,” Barry Howard, representative for Washington University in St. Louis, said.
Around 100 people attended College Night, and many raved about the guest speakers and information available. With multiple handouts, including a powerpoint of the night’s discussion, parents and students had lots of additional materials that gave advice on the college application process.
“It gives you a lot of things to think about that you would not have thought to ask,” Janet Adams, mother of Caitlin, said. “Everything was new to me. With it being your first child, this is a whole new experience.”
This was Woodrum’s first year running College Night, and she found it to be a success. She said that her goal for the night was to bring as much college information to students as possible. She hopes that students start to figure out what they want to study.
“It’s an exciting time of the year,” Woodrum said. “There are a lot more options for kids today because of the Internet, more than just fliers and hearing from a friend of a friend. It’s a little scary, but it’s exciting. There are careers available now that weren’t when I was a kid.”
