NATCHEZ — Students from all area schools had the chance to shop for their future home Wednesday at the annual Copiah-Lincoln Community College college fair.

“We’ve been doing this for over 20 years,” Academic Supervisor Nancy McFarland said. “We do it as a community service. It benefits our students and seniors around Natchez.”

More than 30 colleges/universities were in attendance. Students from Adams County Christian School, Cathedral, Natchez High, Trinity Episcopal and Jefferson County attended the fair, along with Co-Lin students.

ACCS senior Ryan Goddard said he is looking at Mississippi State University, but is open to other ideas. He just wants to see what other schools have to offer.

Another ACCS senior Michael Ray already had his plans for after graduation.

“I’m looking at the University of Louisiana in Monroe. I really like their psychology department,” Ray said.

Mississippi State was a popular choice for area students Wednesday. Cathedral High School senior Rudy Lazarus plans on attending MSU in the fall, as well.

“I’m mostly looking at Mississippi State. I know a lot of people there and people that will go there next fall. I think I want to major in business,” Lazarus said.

The fair also included out-of-state colleges, whose representatives were hoping to increase their Mississippi enrollment.

“We’re trying to recruit in Mississippi more,” said Matt Fennell, a representative of Samford University in Birmingham, Ala. “It’s hard to get Mississippi kids out of state.”

Many students in attendance Wednesday said they tend to stick with Mississippi schools because they are closer to home.

Schools such as Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Southern Miss, and even LSU were prime choices for many of the graduating seniors.

Ole Miss’s representative said the school is a great institution for many small-town seniors like those in Natchez.

Jason McCormick, the University of Mississippi representative, said those who do not want to be overwhelmed by the big city environment should attend Ole Miss.

“We came to see the students of the Natchez area. We’re one of the smaller SEC schools. So you get the big time environment in a small town,” McCormick said.