It seems a lot to ask 17- and 18-year-olds to make higher-education decisions that will affect the rest of their lives, that will shape the directions of their existences. But College Night can help by providing options, clearing up misconceptions and sparking new possibilities.

An informed decision is a smart decision.

"It helps kids from all over Lancaster County and beyond to be able to have direct interaction with colleges, trade schools and the military," said Barbara McDaniel, a counseling office administrative assistant at Conestoga Valley High School (CVHS) who's been coordinating College Night for 27 years. "It gives them a little bit of the atmosphere of what college is like. It helps students decide which path is best for them."

Located at 2110 Horseshoe Road, Lancaster, CVHS will host this year's edition of its annual College Night inside Rill Gymnasium from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 3. The event is free to attend and open to all high school students across Lancaster County.

"It's so awesome," said McDaniel. "Tables are set up in alphabetical order, and there are a lot of people. When I talk to parents and students, I get compliments about the flow. Students can see what a college represents or if they have the major they are interested in. It's a busy night, but when six o'clock hits and I open the doors and see the students come in, that's my favorite part."

Representatives from more than 125 colleges, universities, technical schools, business schools and branches of the armed forces will be present on College Night. The event will also offer a pair of informative, educational seminars titled "How To Choose a College" and "Financial Aid."

"I don't think (higher education) is for everybody," said McDaniel. "I think times are changing. If you're not ready to do it now, we have kids who take gap years. I think it's important to at least come to College Night. It's important to determine what's the best road for you. It's not wrong not to go to a four-year college. It's a lot of money these days."

"There are students who know exactly what they want to do," she added. "For those who don't, that's why there are counselors; that's why there are parents. There are counselors who can guide them toward their futures."

More than 2,000 individuals from Lancaster County public and private high schools - students, parents and family members - are expected to attend College Night at CVHS. The event is designed for seniors, juniors and 10th-graders.

"They're college-bound students," said McDaniel. "They're trade school-bound students. We don't just get the four-year college students. It's a lot of juniors and some seniors who are on the fence. A lot of parents come, too."

"It's the biggest (college fair) in the county," added McDaniel. "Other schools participate, and they send their students to us. They love that we do it and everybody can come. We send (invitations) to all the schools in Lancaster County, public and private, indicating when it will be. We try to reach as far as we can go."

Established in 1975, College Night at CVHS is celebrating 50 years of providing guide rails for the futures of thousands of Lancaster County high school students.

"It was probably on a lower scale when it first started and just got bigger and bigger," said McDaniel. "I do think College Night sticks with what people know and with what people expect and with what works well. We keep it simple. We've seen different colleges come in, and some colleges come back every year. It's a consistent fair, and I like it that way. I think we have a good reputation. When people walk in the door, things are easy to find."

"College Night is a wonderful event," McDaniel continued. "It's not only for our community in Conestoga Valley; it's for everyone in Lancaster County. It's a way for students to interact with representatives from colleges and trade schools. It helps them get a feel for what colleges have to offer. It's a quick interaction, but it's a meaningful interaction."