Halloween is here, so let me give parents of juniors something genuinely scary: your child could be applying to college in about 12 months. Not casually thinking about college. Not “starting to look.” Applying. Essays, recommendations, testing decisions, deadlines, portals, and a college list that suddenly has to make sense.

That is why I get concerned when a junior tells me they “love” a college, but when I ask why, the answer is simply, “It’s a really good school.” Then I ask whether they have visited, attended a virtual information session, spoken with the regional admissions representative, explored the academic program, or watched a student panel. Often, the answer is no.

So what exactly do th...