AUBURN - Ever since she was about 11 years old, Elizabeth Signorelli of Port Byron High School has wanted to, as the old joke goes, look down in the mouth.

But with all of the colleges and universities out there, where is Signorelli, now 17, supposed to go to learn to become a dental hygienist?

Or for that matter, what about Bob Sovocool, 18, of Moravia? Not only does he want to study biology, but he also wants to continue his football career. Is there a campus out there where he can spend half of his time in the science labs and the other half on the gridiron?

“I just like learning about animals and how they work and learning about how the environment works,” said Sovocool, whose friend Shawn Kowal, 17, wants to study medical technology. “I'd like to play football too - that's the important thing.”

Those students, and hundreds of others, found a lot of answers to their questions at the annual Auburn High School College Fair Thursday night. More than 80 colleges, universities and trade schools filled the cafeteria offering flyers, brochures and answers to all the important questions a soon-to-be graduate might have.

Set up around the room at individual tables, representatives from all over New York state and the Northeast met face-to-face with high school students and parents for two hours. The college fair is often the first step in selecting a future school for many of the students. The event also featured a financial aid workshop, a scholarship discussion and an NCAA athletic eligibility workshop.

“Students can get tons of information about colleges in a one-stop-shopping way,” said Erin Shurant, Auburn High School guidance counselor whose office and secretary arranged the event. “Kids from all over the county can come to one location.”

For the representatives, the fair is just the end of a very long day and week. Most representatives attend similar fairs almost every night, with days spent at individual meetings with schools and guidance counselors or on the road. The fall season is primarily dedicated to getting information out and getting students interested. During the spring, college representatives are involved in the admissions process, reading and analyzing applications.

For Bridget Witmore of Daemen College in Buffalo, the college fairs are also a chance to make first contact with future co-workers. She became a college representative after fulfilling a work-study job in the admissions office at Niagara University, where she was earning her degree in hospitality. When picking work studies for her own admissions office at Daemen, it helps if she's already met the student at a previous event. Usually, though, it's the student who recognizes the representative.

“Busy, hectic, a lot of traveling, but it's fun,” said Witmore. “You get to meet a lot of recruiters, and for the fall, they become your best friends.”