As the fall season emerges and students begin to narrow down their college options, many schools actively recruit students through face-to-face conversation at conventions like the annual Fresno Area College Night, Sept. 14.

The event, held at the New Convention Center Exhibit Hall in dowtown Fresno was hosted by the Pacific Gas and Electric Company, and lasted from 6-9 p.m. In hopes of aiding students in the daunting and potentially life-changing decision of choosing a college, this event showcased workshops and representatives from over 100 universities.

For seniors like Josh Jimenez, ’12, College Night is the final opportunity to add new schools to his desired college list.

“I came to College Night to look at all the different colleges,” Jimenez said. “I wanted to get different options for where I wanted to go. My options are pretty set right now, but I’m hoping this will broaden my horizon because it’s colleges from all over.”

As this event occurs only once a year, there comes with it a wide mix of students searching for information regarding a diverse range of fields. For Dr. Richardson Fleuridor, a biology professor at Reedley College, College Night highlights the uniqueness of his school, as comparison is easily drawn when so many colleges are in one place.

“It is an opportunity to recruit students, show them what we have available for them, show them everything Reedley [College] has to offer and … show the community what we have,” Fleuridor said. “I think it’s a great opportunity to show our school because schools from all of the students from all over the Valley come in. From the beginning of high school all the way to the end of high school, everybody is here.”

To Bullard High School senior Lauren Arnolds, College Night helps reveal distinguishable difference between schools, limiting her list of options.

“At College Night I can see all the colleges I want to go to and others that I don’t know about,” Arnolds “It narrows down what I’m looking for; if a college doesn’t have what I’m looking for or the degree I want then I can take it out. I try to talk to ones that I know about and then others that look good.”

Flaunting their best aspects and programs, College Night allows schools to compete for student attention and enrollment. According to Frances Pe