Clayton Students Scope Out College Options at Fair

Scores of bright young minds strolled through on Monday in search of the perfect college.

The annual Four School College Fair invited students from , , and to ask questions of admissions representatives from local, regional and national colleges and universities. The two-hour event began at 6:30 p.m.

Clayton High college counselor Mary Anne Modzelewski estimated that more than 500 students came with their families to check out 135 institutions.

"The range goes from everything from a small liberal arts college to a large state university," Modzelewski said. "They really run the gamut."

Although students from all four years of high school were invited to attend, the majority of scholars Clayton-Richmond Heights Patch interviewed were sophomores or juniors.

Three Clayton juniors each mentioned different priorities in selecting universities.
Future psychology student Khalani James sees himself attending The University of Chicago or New York University.

"I kind of think about the big city," James said. "It just seems like it'd be a good experience because it's different."

Meanwhile, Albert Howard said he prefers Syracuse University and Texas Christian University for their engineering and construction-management programs.

Howard, an offensive guard on Clayton's football team, would like to receive a sports scholarship to attend an out-of-state college.

"I want to be able to experience a new place to live," Howard said.

Although Katie Nonet felt a little overwhelmed by the push to find the right college, she found the fair helpful and informative. Nonet said she values diversity above all.

"I've narrowed it down to a few colleges," Nonet said. "I don't think I want it to be too big ... I just want to learn about so many things that I don't want it to be a specific focus."

Ladue High sophomore Alexis Collier took a particular interest in Drury University, DePaul University and Purdue University. She said she thinks all of them have strong business programs and tennis clubs.

Collier is also considering architecture and hopes to receive a tennis scholarship.
The search for the right college has been a little stressful, she said.

"A lot of the colleges have been really open in giving out information, so that's been really helpful," Collier said. "The fair has a lot of different colleges from different places, and it's a lot of variety."

MICDS junior Chloe Hayes has her heart set on going to college in the city that never sleeps. A media enthusiast, Hayes plans to apply for the prestigious cinema studies program at NYU.

"I'm looking for a school with a lot of opportunities, similar to MICDS in that there are a lot of different ways to excel," Hayes said.

At the fair, Hayes got information about the application procedure from a NYU representative.

A sophomore from John Burroughs School is keeping his options open.

"Really, I don't know what direction I want to go in for college, and so I just came here to look for information," Jay Prapaisilp said.

Prapaisilp kept in mind his brother's advice—focus on the top 50 schools—while perusing the different booths.

"My brother said that no matter what school you go to, the ones that are up there will basically provide a good education," he said.

Among the schools on Prapaisilp's must-see list: The University of Chicago, the University of Southern California, Vanderbilt University and The George Washington University