Seniors, in the next weeks,  many of you will be interviewing at the schools on your list which offer that opportunity -- in the admission office, via Skype or with an alumni interviewer. In most interviews, at some point, you will be asked if you have any questions. Don't waste the interviewer's -- and your -- time with questions which can be readily answered by looking at the college's website, such as the number of undergraduates or whether a specific major is offered. That communicates that you didn't do your homework. Research in advance the basics of the who, what or where of the university. Also, don't try to stump the admission officer with a question only the head of the physics department can answer. You should really want to know the answers to the questions you pose -- because you are having a conversation about a place which, if you enroll, will affect your life in significant ways.

In next week's advice, we'll have some ideas about and suggestions for questions you may want to ask.

For more information on interviews, including what to expect and how to prepare, as well as advice for parents, see Chapter 11, "College Interviews," in College Admission: From Application to Acceptance, Step by Step. 

Most students will want to take either the SAT or ACT once by the end of junior year -- usually taking either test for the first time in the winter or spring. (The SAT is first offered in January; the ACT in February.) This timing allows you to capitalize on having just completed Algebra II, as well as further coursework in English. No timetable suits all students, but all students should begin thinking of creating a testing plan, taking into account planning for the SAT or ACT, Subject Tests, and AP exams (if enrolled).

For more information on testing, including how colleges view standardized testing, how to create a testing plan, and more, see Chapter 7, "Testing," in College Admission: From Application to Acceptance, Step by Step. And find more free test prep resources here on our website. 

Gratitude is the best attitude.  Author Unknown

College Admission is going to be off enjoying family and food until next Monday. We hope you are, too. In the meantime, here's some turkey trivia to share around the dinner table. For example, did you know that for the colonists and Native Americans, turkey was not the bird of choice on the menu? It's believed they actually served deer, rabbit, lobster, seal and swan. This year, however, close to 50 million turkeys will be eaten. That might not have happened, though, if Benjamin Franklin had had his way -- he wanted the turkey to be the national bird of the United States of America.  Okay, enough already!  We hope you savor your Thanksgiving turkey, your family, and all the blessings of your life this year.

Juniors, our advice for this week is to eat more pie. This is a time for relaxing with family and friends. One suggestion, though -- if you're visiting family near a college in which you might be interested, consider taking a drive through the nearby campus. The admission office will likely be closed, but it's still a great time to walk through the grounds.  And if a visit isn't in the cards, then stick with the program of football, pie, family and sleeping in.

For more on college visits, including campus visit etiquette, getting off the beaten track to learn more about a school, and questions to ask tour guides and admission officers, see Chapter 9, "College Visits," in College Admission: From Application to Acceptance, Step by Step.