NATCHEZ — Less than halfway through their senior year, local high school students are already making decisions about their future.

Copiah-Lincoln Community College Natchez hosted a college fair Wednesday for students to gather information about prospective schools and academic programs. But several local students went to the fair knowing what they were looking for.

Such was the case for Adams County Christian School senior Lauren Thomas.

Thomas, 17, plans to attend a community college before enrolling in a four-year institution to study child psychology.

“I looked at (Mississippi College) and Co-Lin today,” she said. “I want to get my basics at a community college to make sure child psychology is what I want to do.”

Thomas, 17, said she is leaning toward child psychology now because it combines two things she loves — working with children and helping people.

While going to a community college is a practical decision for Thomas, her choice of four-year college is more personal. She said she wants to attend MC because of its religious affiliation.

“MC is a really good Christian school,” Thomas said. “I like being able to learn in that environment.

Jordan Dossett, a 17-year-old senior at Trinity Episcopal Day School, said he plans to study either accounting or engineering because the job prospects after college are plentiful.

But just where he wants to study is still up in the air.

“I’ve looked at a few schools like MC and Mississippi State because they are in state,” Dossett said. “I want to stay close to home.”

Location is key for Dossett but his Trinity classmate Deacon Newman is concerned about the job market after completing college.

Newman, 17, is trying to decide between several in-state schools like Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Belhaven and MC. He’s also undecided on what he will study when he gets there; he is torn between pre-med and education and coaching.

“There is always going to be a job market for teachers and doctors,” Newman said. “And doctors make a pretty good paycheck.”

Newman, a defensive end and tackle on the Trinity football team, a member of the baseball team and track team, said teaching and coaching would allow him to further his interest in sports.

“I love to play sports and be involved in sports,” he said. “If I go into education, I get the chance to continue doing that and teach other kids about sports.”

Katie Hewitt, 17, a senior at ACCS, plans to study business and was at the college fair getting information on Co-Lin Wesson and Ole Miss.

She said she is also interested in Jones County Junior College.

“I have a friend that goes to school there and just loves the atmosphere,” she said. “My plan is to go to a community college and then transfer to Ole Miss after that.”

She said she plans to study business because of the plethora of opportunities a business degree affords her.

“If I can’t find a job, then I can always open my own business,” she said.

R.J. Fleming, 18, knows he is going to study accounting and is pretty sure he’s going to do that at Mississippi State.

“There are always going to be people that need help with their money,” Fleming said. “As long as I go and get the right education, I’ll find a job.”