Piney Woods Juniors and Seniors Explore College Opportunities at Jackson College Fair

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For Piney Woods 11th- and 12th-grade learners, preparing for life beyond high school means having opportunities to explore their options, ask meaningful questions, and begin making informed decisions about what comes next.

Recently, our juniors and seniors attended the Jackson Independent Schools College Fair, where they connected directly with representatives from colleges, universities, military academies, academic programs, and college-access organizations.

The fair exposed learners to a wide range of possibilities. Participating institutions included historically Black colleges and universities, public and private universities, liberal arts colleges, community colleges, military academies, and institutions from across Mississippi and throughout the country. Learners could also explore specialized areas of study such as engineering, agriculture, business, health professions, education, architecture, international studies, nursing, and honors programs.  

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Among the institutions represented were Alcorn State University, Jackson State University, Mississippi State University, Tougaloo College, Tuskegee University, Spelman College, Vanderbilt University, Tufts University, Tulane University, Baylor University, the University of Mississippi, and several United States service academies. College-planning resources such as Get2College and the College & Career Savings Office of the Treasury were also available to help learners better understand the broader college-planning process.  

Throughout the experience, learners were encouraged to introduce themselves to representatives, ask questions, gather information, and explore institutions they may not have previously considered. The goal was not simply to collect brochures, but to think more intentionally about which schools might align with their academic interests, personal goals, and future career aspirations.

As a follow-up to the fair, learners are developing their own Top Ten College Lists, identifying the institutions that most interest them and using what they learned to continue conversations about college selection and the application process.

For seniors, those decisions are becoming increasingly immediate as they prepare for graduation and their next chapter. For juniors, the experience provides valuable time to explore possibilities and begin identifying priorities before entering their senior year.

At The Piney Woods School, college readiness is about more than submitting an application. It is about equipping learners with the knowledge, confidence, and experiences necessary to evaluate their options and make thoughtful decisions about their futures.

The Jackson college fair offered our juniors and seniors another opportunity to put those skills into practice—and to see just how many possibilities are ahead of them.