March Madness is all about college hoops and heading toward the Final Four, especially here in North Carolina. But April madness is focused on high school seniors making their final college decisions.

May 1 is D-Day, as in Decision Day. That's when students need to notify colleges of their decision to accept an offer of admission. If a college does not hear from a student by May 1, it will assume the student isn't coming.

April is a time for students and their parents to:

• Review and evaluate options: Take a close look at each college. Create a simple pros and cons list. Re-read the guidebooks, revisit the college Web site and take a look at some of the college blog sites such as www.collegeconfidential.com.

• Visit/revisit colleges: If you haven't visited a campus under serious consideration, now is the time. Don't let your student attend a college sight unseen. If finances are the biggest obstacle preventing your visit, contact the admissions office for suggestions.

Have your student spend the night in a dorm and attend a class. This is the best way to determine if this college is a good fit. Make advance arrangements to meet with the financial aid office if you have been awarded money from any college.

• Crunch the numbers: Sallie Mae offers an online award letter analyzer at http://newsletters.collegeanswer.com/deciding/award—comparison/ac—index .jsp. Calculate the real costs, beyond room/board and tuition, including fees for activities, sports, labs and parking, plus costs for books, supplies, computer, transportation home and living expenses.

• Evaluate and discuss options: Talk it over. If loans and work-study will be part of your student's life, make sure they understand the implications of these additional responsibilities.

• Celebrate!: Hey — they made it, bigger hey — you made it! Enjoy the spring and summer before your child moves on to college.

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