<p>Exactly when is the appropriate time to start looking at colleges, and when can you actually talk to them? Have a sophomore and need help with this, not much help from school counselors. HELP PLEASE!</p>
<p>Here are some helpful links that tell you what to do at what stage of high school:</p>
<p>9th Grade - [9th</a> Grade College Admissions Guide](<a href=“http://www.princetonreview.com/college/admissions-guide-freshmen.aspx]9th”>http://www.princetonreview.com/college/admissions-guide-freshmen.aspx)
10th Grade - [10th</a> Grade College Admissions Guide](<a href=“http://www.princetonreview.com/college/admission-guide-sophomores.aspx]10th”>http://www.princetonreview.com/college/admission-guide-sophomores.aspx)
11th Grade - [11th</a> Grade College Admissions Guide](<a href=“http://www.princetonreview.com/college/admissions-guide-juniors.aspx]11th”>http://www.princetonreview.com/college/admissions-guide-juniors.aspx)
12th Grade - [12th</a> Grade College Admissions Guide](<a href=“http://www.princetonreview.com/college/admissions-guide-seniors.aspx]12th”>http://www.princetonreview.com/college/admissions-guide-seniors.aspx)</p>
<p>You can talk to them anytime, but they want to talk to students, not parents.</p>
<p>And as you get further along, some schools allow juniors on overnight and classroom visits, others allow only seniors.</p>
<p>A lot depends, of course, on what the student is willing to do at what stage. If the student has an older friend it can be helpful to go on a few visits with someone else in 10th grade just to formulate criteria—start thinking about size, location, type of students. Then see a few more schools–especially possible early action schools-- in 11th grade. I disagree somewhat with the big spring break trip in junior year to a dozen schools IF you are interested in small schools because many begin interviews in May or June for rising senior and you might as well wait.</p>