For MilKids, junior year in high school can be nerve-racking (maybe more so for their parents). This is because the college search and application process begins in earnest: college brochures and emails start rolling in, plans to take the ACT and SAT begin, kids get really concerned about their GPAs, parents fret about how to pay for college, etcetera.

With that in mind, here are a few tips for rising high school juniors — and their parents — as they prepare for the college-admission process:

1) Visit college campuses whenever possible.

Yes, these trips cost money. However, they can help students figure out where they want to apply. Being on campus is the best way for a potential student to determine whether they like the feel of the school: big versus midsized versus small; urban versus isolated; and being surrounded by diverse liberal arts majors versus STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) majors.

Another benefit is the information gleaned from the information sessions — lots of times students hear about programs and majors, or ask questions about information that isn’t easily found in a school’s website.

Visits also are a good time to visit with faculty in the student’s preferred major. The student is able to hear about careers, courses, internships, research, the ability to double major, and studying abroad, which can help him or her decide if the major is what they want to pursue. These visits are good to reference in the schools’ application essays (e.g., “When I spoke with Dr. Soandso …”).

Keep in mind, too, that college is your child’s first major step into his or her adult life, so if you can afford it, these visits are well worth the time and cost. And, they’re fun — buy a sweatshirt, check out the food, visit the local chapter of your old fraternity/sorority (I’m sure there’s a beer in the fridge for you).

2) Start research into different types of safety schools.

Every student is different (e.g., geographic desires and what level of school he or she is competitive for), but if your MilKid is considering a range of schools, consider these three choices: the ultimate safety school (meaning one in which the applicant definitely can get in); the school that is just a reach above the safety school; and finally, the ones that are reaches.

Regarding the last category, obviously a student needs a certain level of grades, test scores, and backstory (e.g., activities, leadership, and summer activities) for these schools. To judge this, you can look at the school’s website to see the median test scores and GPAs that have been accepted. Or, go to sites such as www.collegeapps.about.com to look at the SAT, ACT, and GPA graphs for students accepted into particular schools.

Finally, don’t automatically assume that an out-of-state private college will be too expensive. Many of these schools offer merit-based scholarships that can bring the tuition down to a level competitive with in-state public universities (e.g., St. Louis University, University of Denver, Loyola Marymount — among others). This information will be on the schools’ websites.

3) Make sure potential schools cover a well-balanced spectrum.

Be sure these schools are not too heavy on the dream side or safety side. If there are no schools in-between, then there is a chance of only being able to choose from safety schools.

4) Do not discount high school classes, AP tests, or extracurricular activities just because they are not what you want to study or do in the future.

Many are valuable either for transcripts, credits, or gaining experiences and oftentimes lead to other helpful opportunities. For example, debate team and Model U.N. are great activities to put on an application, and they also help students with their speaking skills — a skill that comes in handy if they have to interview for the school, a scholarship, or ROTC.

Also, colleges look at whether you are challenging yourself by taking the rigorous courses your high school has to offer. This is especially important during your junior year because, as William Dix (former admissions director at Amherst College) explains: “Freshman year is the adjustment year; sophomore is a building year; but, junior year is the most complete year in terms of grades and activities that colleges evaluate.”