Calling all parents of high school juniors: Now is the time to be thinking about college. It's not too late, but it is definitely not too early. Winter and spring of a student's junior year is the pivotal time to set the process in motion.

There are five major areas of activity that if dealt with over the next few months can dramatically reduce the typical fall "senior stress syndrome": college search, transcript review, testing, extracurricular review and summer activities.

College search

This is usually the most time-consuming, most expensive and without a doubt, most valuable component.

n Make the college list: Start out with a long list generated by family members. Take college assessments at Web sites such as www.princetonreview.com and www.collegeboard.com.

n Meet with the guidance counselor: Discuss the preliminary list of colleges, ask for input and request a history of other students from your school with similar academic records.

n Research colleges: Evaluate your long list by researching college Web sites and college guidebooks and talking to friends, family, alumni and students.

n Request information: Contact colleges that have made the first cut and request brochures and information.

n Re-evaluate the college list: Check out the course catalogs and list of clubs for each of the colleges of interest. Be able to articulate why you like one college more than another.

n Plan campus visits: High school spring break is usually a great time to visit because college vacation schedules vary and many colleges will likely be in session. Make sure to take the formal campus tour and sit in on the admissions office information session. Many of your questions will be answered. If time allows, sit in on a class and/or try to meet someone in an academic area of interest.

n Attend a college fair: Your local college fair is a great time to meet admissions staff that represent your geographic area and gather information on other schools.

n Transcript review: Many juniors incorrectly believe that because they are applying to colleges in the fall of their senior year, their senior courses don't matter. Very little could be further from the truth. Rigor of course work, all the way through the senior year, is the single most important criterion to most college admissions offices. Taking all lower-level courses than previously taken is an indication that you are not as focused or as dedicated as you should be. Even if you have already fulfilled all of your high schools requirements, check to make sure that you will also fulfill the academic requirements of the colleges you plan on applying to.

Lee Bierer is an independent college adviser based in Charlotte, N.C. For more information, visit www.collegeadmissionsstrategies.com.