Knowing where to attend college is one of the first steps inpreparing for college, and area students and parents will get thechance to look into that tough decision Thursday.

In and out of state colleges and universities will be on display attwo college fairs Thursday. One will be held at the MississippiSchool for the Arts and the other at Brookhaven High School.

The first-ever MSA College Fair is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m.and end at 3 p.m. The event will be held in the Student Life Centercafeteria.

“The importance of the college fair is to expose the students todifferent universities,” said guidance counselor Rachel Moore.”We’re trying to expose students to different colleges so they’llnow which one they want to choose.”

In attendance will be Mississippi State University, Ole Miss,Watkins University, University of New Orleans, William CareyUniversity, Mississippi College, Mississippi University for Women,Alcorn State University, Belhaven University, among others.

The MSA College Fair is open to any and all parents and students,and is free of charge.

Those who are unable to attend the MSA College Fair will have asecond chance to visit with college representatives at theBrookhaven High School College and Scholarship Fair.

The event will be held in the main hall from 5:30 p.m. until 7 p.m.for juniors, seniors and parents.

Attendance is free and visitors can expect to see at least 19exhibits, with possibly more on the way, said senior counselorTracy Risher.

Participants will get a chance to visit with every university inMississippi, Copiah-Lincoln Community College and colleges fromLouisiana and Alabama.

In addition to colleges and universities, students and parents canvisit with recruiters from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marinesand chat with representatives about financial aid and scholarshipinformation.

“We are hoping parents and students will come out and getinformation,” said Risher. “I’m hoping the students become aware ofwhat’s out there and see more than Brookhaven.”

Molly Riley, assistant director of Admissions and Scholarships atMississippi State University, echoed the same thoughts as theguidance counselors about the importance of college fairs.

“I think college fairs give students a chance to not only see whatMississippi colleges offer, but there will be representatives fromall over,” said Riley. “So, they’ll have all the differentinformation with them at home when they decide what that next stepis.”