RECRUITERS FLOCK TO CITY FOR SCHOOL FAIR

They came from as close as Metro Business College in Cape Girardeau and as far as Murray State University in Kentucky, but they all wanted the same thing.

To recruit hundreds of Southeast Missouri teen-agers for their universities, colleges and trade schools.

Monday's Regional College-Vocational School Fair, conducted at the Show Me Center, attracted admissions counselors from more than 60 schools and military branches and teen-agers from 15 area high schools.

Coordinated by high school counselors from around the area, the fair's purpose was to match high school students with higher education institutions.

An afternoon session was for juniors and seniors with an evening session for all high school students and their parents.

Judi Meyr, the Jackson High School counselor who coordinated the regional effort, said sophomores aren't too young to attend college fairs and examine their options.

They should know college admissions standards and which test scores are necessary.

Juniors and seniors need more specific information about financial aid, scholarship opportunities and housing.

College fairs are good places to pick up information and applications.

"Counselors can prepare students by suggesting particular representatives they can visit and good questions to ask," Meyr said.

Good questions would include ones about available programs and application deadlines. Some information is in college catalogs, but the rest has to be uncovered.

Amy Orr, an admissions counselor with Murray State University in Kentucky, said she chose to attend Cape Girardeau's fair because of the large recruiting base here.

Her university receives about 375 invitations each year to attend college fairs, but only a few are accepted. Each of Murray's seven admissions counselors attends about 40 each year.

The local fair was attractive, too, because of the night session that allowed parents to meet school representatives.

"Parents are extremely vital," Orr said, adding that 80 percent of the time, if the parent is sold on a university that will influence the student.

"I like it when parents let the students decide, but after all, they are the ones paying for it," Orr said.

Out of 300 students who visited Murray State's booth, a possible 60 or 70 will end up attending the university, Orr said.

Shawnee Community College in Illinois, a smaller, closer school, had two representatives passing out brochures.

Wes Ferrin, counselor, said Shawnee's nursing program attracts many Southeast Missouri students.

"A lot of students from rural areas find it more comfortable to attend a smaller college like Shawnee," he said.

These students might attend two years to help themselves academically before transferring, he said.

And, he added, a lot of them transfer here to Southeast Missouri State University."

Ferrin said most students ask questions about specific programs offered at Shawnee and about cost.

Jackson senior Jenny Lund attended the fair to get more information about the University of Missouri and William Woods College.

She plans to attend either Missouri school or one of two schools in Arizona, but finances will determine the outcome.

"If I stay in Missouri, I'll qualify for a Bright Flight scholarship and other scholarships," Lund said. "But I like Arizona and have friends out there."

Her parents are letting her decide and have supported her in making that choice.

She has definite opinions about the type of school she wants to attend.

It must have a fine arts program that perhaps includes photography, be of average size and have a low student-teacher ratio.

She expects to decide by January.

Bryan Foster, another Jackson senior, hopes a football scholarship will pay for his college education.

The University of Washington-Seattle and Missouri Southern already have expressed interest in him, but the University of Missouri looks promising, too.

He plans to study accounting.

"I'm looking for a good school that has a low-crime rate and is in a good area," Foster said. "Whatever I choose to major in, I want to be able to find a job after school."