Determining an academic life after high school can be difficult. Even with various resources, pinpointing a college, a major, minors and much more can all be overwhelming. Northwestern Michigan College’s (NMC) College Night aims to make this process easier by giving current high school students insight into their post graduation plans. 

  College Night is on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 6-8 p.m. in the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center on the NMC main campus. It’s completely free to any current high school students who don’t have their academic futures set in stone. About 40 or more colleges and universities will attend the event, with military branches in attendance as well. 

  “Students will be able to pre-register for what’s called a barcode and that is gonna enable them to go booth-to-booth or college-to-college and simplify and streamline their experience. At each college that they’re interested in, they can show them their barcode and the recruiter there will scan it, and they can then get information directly from that college,” Cari Noga, the NMC Communications Director said.

  Following College Night, students who had their barcode scanned any number of times will receive an email summarizing who they shared their information with. It will also allow students to request to have their information shared with other schools. Alternatively, students who aren’t able to attend College Night, can attend The Transfer Fair earlier in the day. The Transfer Fair is from noon to two. At the college night, information regarding dual enrollment and the Early College program is also available to attendees, which can help students save money in the long-run. 

  “There are scholarships based on residency for Grand Traverse County, Leelanau, Benzie and there are scholarships by program, every single program there is, nursing, welding, accounting, police academy, so that can qualify you. So that’s an important thing,” Noga said.

  College night is an overall simple way to answer any inquiries students may have relating to college, whether it’s opportunities, financials, and even the overall college experience, there is someone at college night willing to help. 

  “[College Night] is an easy way to get immediate answers to questions you may have about admissions, financial aid, majors, and costs,” counselor Thomas Ford, who has attended college night personally said. “It’s a real good starting point for a lot of people just to demystify what college is all about, applying for college, and financial aid, those types of things, so it’s a great opportunity right in town. And it doesn’t cost anything. It’s just fantastic.”