October 24, 2001
Higher education
Students, parents attend College Night
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
From Yale and Purdue to Michigan and Michigan State, recruiters from the powerhouses of higher education spent Thursday evening pitching their schools to parents and students. Reps from the Eastern, Western, Central and Northern Michigans were there, passing out pens, catalogs and advice, sharing space with the more obscure Nashville Auto Diesel College and Finlandia University.
In all, more than 60 colleges and universities plus eight military recruiters were on hand at College Night at the Grand Traverse Mall to field the queries of hundreds of anxious parents and students. Counselors from Traverse Area Public Schools hosted the event.
Questions about academic programs and dorm life jostled with worries about admission requirements and deadlines. But the story behind the story was whether families were making college choices based on the new reality- post September 11.
Students and parents were asked if fear of being far from home, especially a plane flight away, would influencing their college choice. No one acknowledged that worries about terrorist attacks or war played a major part.
Some, like the Kerridge family, had more pragmatic worries.
John and Brenda Kerridge came to College Night with their son, Will, an 11th grade student at Traverse City Central High School, and younger son, Joey. Will wanted to check out a number of out-state universities, including Princeton, Yale, Purdue and Notre Dame. The family also talked to the recruiter at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids.
Will plans to study engineering or law. An excellent student, he has a good chance of getting into the college of his choice. However, his parents said they were not too anxious about his out-of-state aspirations.
"I am not concerned about him going out of state, I am more concerned about what happens when he is there," said Brenda Kerridge. "A terrorist strike could be deadly but it is rare, but four years of bad influences in dorms or drinking are a problem. I am glad he is thinking of Aquinas College, a Catholic school that will support his faith."
While overt admissions of fear was not forthcoming from attendees at College Night, counselors at Traverse City West and Central High Schools say their numbers may tell a different story. At a recent school information night about colleges this year the interest in the big-name, out-of-state schools dropped dramatically from last year.
"Last year we had an inordinate number of students applying to the powerhouse colleges like Princeton, Yale and Harvard," said Mary Hoiles, a counselor at Traverse City Central High School. "This year's class is more conservative and we have more in-state applications than last year."
The root of the shift may be more about money than fear.
"We've all conjectured it's the economy," Hoiles said.
Military recruiters attracted brisk traffic at College Night, as students and parents stopped by with questions and concerns. Recruiters fielded many questions about a possible draft and who would see active service, in addition to the usual ones about money for college and training requirements.
"People are asking me if their son or daughter will be deployed," said Sergeant Daryl Norfleet, for the Michigan Army National Guard. "I tell them that nowadays, you can't know which units will be called up for overseas service; if there is a need and a guard unit can do it, they will go."
Recruiters from all services said Thursday evening that more interest has been coming from older people than the potential recruits out of high school. Many people with former military service are rejoining, but the inquiries from and recruitment stats for high-school students have not changed since September 11.
"We get more questions from older guys, age 25 and up," said Brian Barbeaux, recruiter in charge of the United States Navy recruiting office in Traverse City. "Younger guys seem to be shying away and older guys want to help out. I've had calls from guys in their 70s and 80s."