LEWISTON – Emily Morrill always knew she wanted to go to college close to home. She knew she wanted a small school, a place where she would fit in and find challenges.

On Thursday, during Maine Day at Bates College, Morrill believed she might have found the perfect place.

“I’m interested in Bates, Bowdoin or Colby,” said Morrill, a senior at Sacopee Valley High School in Hiram. “But now, probably Bates.”

For dozens of Maine students, the college search began – or, in some cases, ended – at Bates College Thursday when the school opened its doors to every potential college student in the state. The annual event drew nearly 100 high schoolers and their parents from Berwick to Caribou.

“Bates feels a special connection to Maine students, and I think it’s important we have a special day for those students,” said Kristen Belka, associate dean of admissions. “We want them to have the opportunity to experience all that Bates has to offer.”

Ten to 13 percent of Bates students are Mainers.

For seven hours Thursday, students and parents trickled through the campus, attending admissions and financial aid workshops, going to classes and talking with students and staff. Although many live within an hour or two of the private school, few had ever been on campus.

For Emily Morrill and her mother, Laurie, a quick glance at the cozy, tree-filled campus and short discussions with admissions officials were enough to put Bates on Emily’s short list.

“It looks friendly,” Laurie Morrill said.

Although Bates offers a number of open houses and multicultural weekends to recruit students from across the county, Maine Day is the only event dedicated to Maine students. In a state fighting low student aspirations, the opportunity offered answers to questions unique to students looking at an elite local college: Is there room for Maine students? Can area families afford it? Is it too close to home?

Beth Penrose and her father attended as part of a two-day tour of New England colleges. A 16-year-old junior at Yarmouth High School, Penrose didn’t want to go to college so close to home. But after Maine Day, she started to think again.

“I’m still kind of on the side of, I don’t want to go to school in Maine.’ But now I might consider it more,” said Penrose after Bates students praised the college’s classes and opportunities.

Ben Downing lives even closer. A senior at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School, he got a flier touting Maine Day from school.

For hours Thursday, Downing toured the campus with his mother, Pam, and talked to admissions officials. She liked the small class size and security. He liked the gym and the pool.

By noon, neither was sold on the school. But it gave them something to consider.

“It shows me there is a Bates College that could be affordable to Maine people, not just those from out of state,” Pam Downing said.