This is the time of year college counselors just love. With the seniors on their way to graduating (you there--be sure to pay your book fees and pass your finals), and with the juniors focused on final exams that complete a very important semester, almost no one is coming into talk about letters of recommendation,college searches, or financial aid.

For as much as I enjoy this brief respite (which happens to coincide with the Stanley Cup playoffs), I wouldn't really be doing my duty if I didn't share some important information with seniors and their families:

It's not too late to apply to college.

I know, I know--you think you're well aware of the choices you have now, which probably include community colleges and a couple of commuter colleges that take applications through August (and these are great options). These perennial choices are certainly on the list, but thanks to the economy, there are some others as well. Consider these entrees:

• The dream school you found after May 1^st. It's not uncommon for seniors to have “where are you going “discussions with other students at graduation parties, or standing in line for graduation rehearsal--and then you hear about the place you've been looking for but never found. Last year, I would have said call, but don't expect much; this year, not only should you call, but you should ask about financial aid to boot--especially if it's a private college. The economy continues to chug along, but recent increases in interest rates and the bankruptcy of GM means many college plans will change yet again, and soon. This could create opportunities for you--so call and ask, and if you don't like the answer you get, call again in a month.

• The college who said no to you, Part I. It may be that a college who's hurting for students is a college who hurt your feelings by denying you admission in the fall--the only problem is, they haven't got enough students now, so you're looking a lot more promising. Many colleges that are in this bind feel they CAN'T call you, because of a commitment colleges keep to each other--once a student deposits at College A, College B doesn't play Jack Sparrow and try to hoist your petard to their school. They have to stick to the code, but there's nothing in the code that says you can't call--give it a thought.

• The college who said no to you, Part II. Once you're on the phone, be sure to ask if they'd be willing to consider you for admission in the summer semester, or in January. Many colleges are starting to make admission offers for early and late starts, especially the late starts, when they know that, despite everyone's best efforts, some students just won't be coming back after Christmas break. These options are also appealing because they give you either a summer on campus to get used to the place (putting you ahead of the freshmen who arrive in the fall), or fall semester off to chill, work, or do some serious community service work before you have to hit the books again--and if you're afraid this means you can't get football tickets, ask!

Some people say colleges are only being flexible because they need students, while others say these changes are overdue, and will be around to stay. Either way, here they are, waiting for you--check them out, and see what can happen.

It's coming right down to the wire. This Friday, May 1^st, is the day seniors notify one college--and one college only--that you plan on attending in the fall. Chances are this won't be an easy decision; while applications are at an all-time high, most students were admitted to more than one college, leaving their options open for as long as possible--but now it's time to choose.

It's not uncommon to be uncertain right now, but you really do have a lot of time--you've put semester-long projects together in five days, and they came out O.K. If you're in need of some guidelines as you think your way to Friday, try these:

• Think college qualities, not college names. There are reasons why you loved the colleges you applied to--the small class size, the classes they offer, the feel on campus. Write those qualities down, and see how each of your schools matches up to those qualities.

• Visit the campuses--one way or another. The last time you visited your colleges, you were thinking ‘I guess this could work.' This isn't a time to guess--head back to campus with Mom and Dad, bring your list of qualities, and take a much closer look--including sitting in on classes if at all possible. If you can't get there, take the virtual tour on the college's Web site--that may bring back some memories, or show you some new things to consider

• De-brief at the end. Once you're through with a campus visit, talk with your parents about what you saw. What qualities were on campus that you liked? What new questions do you have? Can you see yourself at this college?

• Seek parental input. It's great to show some independence, but your parents are the two people who know you best. Invite their expertise--“Mom, Dad, do you see me being happy here?”

• Compare the colleges you have, not the ones you wanted. Once you've toured the campuses, compare their strengths and weaknesses--but leave the dream school that denied you out of the picture. You might not find a perfect campus, but you'll most likely find a best one--focus on that goal, and you'll be fine.It's time to move on.

• Don't forget your heart... You might not able to describe why a college is best for you, but that's OK. You've done a lot of research and thinking--at this point, you can trust your heart to lead you. Your head will remember why this college was best for you when you come to campus in the fall.

• Check finances one last time. You still can't get two colleges in a bidding war over you, but if you have a college you love and it's a little out of reach, call the admissions and financial aid offices--that's usually two calls--and tell them so.A sincere call shows them you're interested; not calling at all doesn't give any impression, and may leave you short in the wallet for no reason at all.

• Start the hunt again. If your choices really don't thrill you, wait until May 5^th. That's when colleges discover they have unexpected openings--and of course they'll want to fill them. Getting financial aid might be a challenge, but you never know--call the admissions office, or look at the Space Availability Report at www.nacacnet.org-- but remember, that may mean you risk having no school at all next fall.

I said it once, and I'll say it again--you can do this.

Snow may be covering the football fields on many campuses, but colleges all over the country are blooming with open houses. Often scheduled to coincide with high school vacations like Presidents Day and Spring Break, these day-long programs offer juniors and their parents the chance to take a close look at a college, and see if perhaps it should be a must add to the list of 6-8 colleges students should have as possible schools come fall of their senior year.

Visiting college campuses is an absolute must for all juniors. Counselors report an amazingly high number of juniors who have never been on a college campus, except for the occasional football game. These students really need to hit the college trail, if only to get a feel for what makes one college different from another; just like families buying houses (yes, they used to do that) know they have to walk around a house and see the neighborhood, students need to try on a campus and see if it feels like home, since that's what a college will be for the next few years.

At the same time, open houses might not be the best time to visit. For starters, open houses bring a huge number of visitors to campus at the same time, which means it's business as unusual for a campus--and how can you get a sense of what a 1200 student campus is really like if 600 high school students and parents are in the mix that day? In addition, maybe what you need on a day off from high school is--well, a day off. Visiting colleges is important, but if you've just finished a tough slate of final exams, maybe a trip to the paintball palace is a better use of the day.

What's the best way to tell if the open house is a must do? Check the schedule of activities. Many open houses consist of a welcome from the admissions office, a tour, a chance to sit in on a class, an information session on the college, and a chance to ask about financial aid. This is all essential material, but there's a good chance you can still get all of this information (often in the exact same format) if you visit campus some other time. Check out the college's Visit Us Web site to find out what's available on non-open house days, and look closely to make sure you can sit in on classes; if all of this is regularly available, the open house becomes a can do, not a must do--talk with your parents, and make your best call...

...and whenever you visit, do your best to do both the tour and the information session. Tours tend to be a good overview of what the college sees as its best stuff; if the tour guide talks more about student organizations than academics and spends more time showing you the workout facilities than the science labs, that says something about what the college values, and that's important for you to compare to what you value. The information session usually offers more details about the college--here's the time to ask about study abroad, research opportunities, and admission requirements. Most of this information is also covered when the college visits your high school, but Mom and Dad won't hear it at your high school, and it wouldn't hurt you to hear this lowdown as a family--so do both whenever you go, and be sure to debrief in the car (both likes and dislikes) on the ride home.

You there, with the Chemistry book in your hands--did ya know there's a spider Web between that page you've been looking at and your eyebrows?It's time for a break...

...or should I say, a change? If you've been looking at that book for a mole's worth of seconds, you don't know we're getting a new president of theUnited States. (Of course, if you've been studying for a mole's worth of seconds, you don't even know about the United States--or dinosaurs, for that matter.) Barack Obama's campaign for change electrified a country, and millions of students texted Barack to join the ranks of his bffs. Once the campaign was over, changes started to take place...

...but many Obamaites don't think the changes are all that James. Circuit City just closed, banks are still broke, three Middle Eastern countries are still up for grabs, and someone on your block just lost their job, their house--or both. Your parents remember the ad that asked “Where's the beef?”, and that's what many people want to know about the promises of change--to them, this is looking lamer than a Britney Spears cover of a Snoop Dogg record.

But that's the thing-- change isn't magic. Just like you can't snap your fingers and move your Chem grade to an A++, war, world hunger, and bad mortgages aren't just going to go away when Barack Obama takes the oath Tuesday. Changing direction starts with putting your hand on the wheel and taking a new route--you drive your way out of where you are and head towards where you want to be.The scenery may look familiar, but if you give it time keep the goal in mind and do something new--rather than wish for something new-- you'll see new turf and fresh opportunities soon enough.

As it is with government, so it is with you. That last report card may not exactly be what you hoped for, but it's done; the question is, what do you want the next report card to look like, and what are you willing to do about it? Once you know, you're going to put on the same clothes, head for the same high school--and make something new. The scenery may look familiar, and right about January 27^th, you might wonder if anything is going to change. But if you look closely, you'll see new turf--the library, the study skills center, that NHS tutor in Chemistry who's actually kind of cute--and fresh opportunities will be there...

...and outside the classroom, too. President-elect Obama has asked all Americans to honor Dr. Martin Luther King the day before the inauguration through community service. Since it's January, this can't become one of those barbecue national holidays anyway--so why don't you give this a try? Call the library, the Red Cross, the senior citizens home, and see what you can change in two hours. But do me a favor--keep this off your college applications. This one's for your neighbor, your country, and your new president; show them all what real change means by changing the way you give of yourself-- for one day, don't keep track of the good you do.

Robert Fulghum was right--you learned the most important word in kindergarten, and it's “Look.”Once you know what's possible, remember change is something that's made, not given, not even in 6.02 times 10 to the 23^rdyears.Seeing change might seem to take that long, but living change starts as soon as you're ready to inaugurate it.

How's today sound?