newbie with questions

Well i have been a long time smoker, but this is my first grow. I have a minor in plant sciences, so i have some background with plants. I am setting up a growing room in one of my closets. It measures 38"x24"x96". What would be the best number of plants to put in there? I have 8 seedlings that are just coming out of the soil. What would be the best type of soil i need to transplant these in and how big do the pots need to be? Also what would be a good cheap lighting setup until i can afford an hps light? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

welcome to the forum. the number of plants you can put in there will be somewhat dependant on the system you use. Since you are using soil, you will eventually want to put them in 3 gallon pots, and thier size will determine the number. I'm guessing it will be 6. The good part is you have the height to grow fairly large plants if you get good lighting. VV