By The Mountain Enterprise staff

Students thinking about their dreams and ambitions for the future are putting their names on a sign-up sheet this week for a seat on the bus bound for the 14th Annual Kern County College Night on Monday, Sept. 9. The event is being held at Rabobank Convention Center in Bakersfield.

This free event, 5-8 p.m., will be “bigger and better than ever” this year, says Ron Meszaros of the Kern County Superintendent of Schools Office, “with expanded information sessions for high school students and their parents.” No tickets are required.

Representatives from public and private colleges and universities will speak with attendees, while breakout sessions on how to obtain financial aid, how to prepare if you want to be a college athlete, how to write a personal statement and how to decide which college is right for you will be offered.

Students will also hear why it is important to take rigorous courses in high school and how to prepare for tests like the SAT and ACT.

Undocumented students can learn how to qualify for the federal Dream Act.

Dozens of educational institutions from around the country will be there. Some of the California universities planning to attend include UC Merced, UCLA, UC Davis, UC Santa Barbara and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Out-of-state schools will also be on hand, including Notre Dame, Arizona State University, Colorado School of Mines, University of Massachusetts, Missouri University of Science & Technology and Oregon State, along with Kern County schools such as Bakersfield College, Taft College and Cal State Bakersfield.

The first breakout sessions for parents and students begin at 5:15 p.m., followed by one at 6:30 p.m. Two late sessions are also scheduled: NCAA rules for incoming college athletes and one on how to find that perfect college to fit your students’ needs. Academic counselors will also be there to assist.

Students of all ages are invited to attend. FMHS students who wish to ride the free bus should sign up at the front office as soon as possible. If there is room, parents can ride the bus also.

This is part of the August 30, 2013 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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