Choosing what comes after high school can feel overwhelming. At Lake Oconee Academy, students begin exploring the possibilities well before senior year.
Starting in ninth grade, every LOA high school student attends the annual PROBE College Fair, where college and university representatives gather to answer questions, introduce students to new opportunities, and help them begin envisioning life after high school.
LOA once again hosted the regional PROBE Fair this fall, welcoming students from Greene County Schools and Gatewood Schools to join LOA students for an afternoon of exploration. The Titan Center filled with representatives from colleges and universities across Georgia and beyond, offering students something a website or brochure cannot always provide: a face-to-face conversation.
The variety of institutions gave students plenty to discover. Representatives included large public universities, smaller private colleges, technical and specialized institutions, and schools from outside Georgia. Students could connect with representatives from the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, Georgia Southern University, Georgia College & State University, Mercer University, SCAD, Oglethorpe University, Mississippi State University, Samford University, The Citadel, and many others.
At LOA, however, attending PROBE is about more than finding a college. It is about learning how to explore the possibilities.
For a ninth grader attending for the first time, success might mean discovering a college they have never heard of or uncovering an interest in a particular field of study. With each return visit, those conversations can become more focused. Juniors may begin comparing academic programs, campus environments and admissions requirements, while seniors can arrive with specific questions as they narrow their choices and prepare for the next step.
LOA College and Career Guidance Counselor Johnny Noto, who organizes the event, sees value in giving students repeated exposure to these opportunities throughout high school.
“Most high schools only have their juniors and seniors attend the PROBE Fair, but there’s so much value in starting sooner,” Noto said. “To build a high-achievement culture, students need exposure to all the possibilities, beginning early. In our home state of Georgia, there are so many wonderful colleges and resources, and I love when I see our students discovering them through the PROBE Fair.”
That progression is something 11th grader Lailie Bragg has experienced firsthand. Attending PROBE for the third time, Bragg is at a different stage of the college exploration process than she was when she first walked through the fair as a freshman.
“When you're a freshman, going to the college fair is exciting because you're just beginning to explore all the possibilities,” Bragg shared. “But as a junior, you start to really picture your future. I can see how the work I'm doing in high school connects to college and what comes next. I'm also realizing how many colleges we have close to home, which is something I'm becoming more interested in as I think about where I want to go.”
Returning to the fair each year can also make a major life decision feel more manageable. Students do not have to arrive at their first college fair knowing exactly where they want to go or what they want to study. Instead, they can start with curiosity, ask questions, and allow their interests and priorities to develop over time.
Hosting the regional fair extends that opportunity beyond LOA, bringing together students from across the local community and giving them direct access to college representatives in one place.
For students, the experience may begin with a map in hand and a simple question: What could come next?
They don't have to know the answer yet. At PROBE, they can begin finding it one conversation at a time.