More than navigating the challenging waters of financial aid, applying to multiple institutions, researching and taking the ACT, visiting campus is the single most important aspect of making a decision about college, said Mike Ouert, assistant director of recruiting at Montana State University in Bozeman.

"Everything on paper looks great," he said, "but stepping on campus gives you the feel of it and is the number one thing you should do."

Ouert joined representatives from 60 institutions two weeks ago at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center to provide local high school juniors and seniors with tips and information about how and when to apply for college or the military.

Kirstin Huot, a Stevens High School senior, attended the event with her mother, LizAnne, so they could research tuition costs. They were especially interested in finding more information on the Western Undergraduate Exchange, which decreases the price of tuition to half for western state students attending western state colleges.

She's looking for a school that supports engineering and architecture, and is a little nervous about the decisions ahead of her.

"It's kind of a big step and I'm not exactly sure what I want to be," she said.

That's OK, Ouert said.

"A lot of students don't know what they want to do," he said, and many colleges and universities, including Montana State, have programs such as University Studies, where students can take general classes while they decide on a major.

It's a good time to be exploring options, he said.

"Something that sounds cool at 18, may not be so cool at 19," he said.

Jordin Bordeaux, a Stevens High School senior, has narrowed down her choices to Colorado State University, Montana State University or the Art Institute of Colorado, where she plans to major in photography.

She did exactly what Ouert recommended and visited some of the colleges last year. The college application process is taxing sometimes, she said.

"It's a little bit stressful," she said, "especially when I think about everything I have to do. I wanted to have it all figured out before I graduated."

She is right on schedule, said Tom Cool of the Dakota Association for College Admission Counseling, the association that sponsored the event. The association has been holding the event in different places around the state every year for more than 25 years, he said, with about 90 percent of the students taking part.

Students can apply to college as late as they want, he said. Some even wait to apply until the day before classes begin.

"The longer you wait, the less money there is available to you," he said.

With 83 percent of college students receiving financial aid, and the average South Dakota college student accumulating $20,000 in debt during four years, scholarships and financial assistance are competitive, he added.

Cool said parents should start making post-secondary plans long before their student's senior year of high school.

"Put away money in elementary school," he said.

Apart from funds, he recommended students get started on college preparation in their junior year of high school by talking to a counselor at the high school, researching colleges online, taking virtual tours or visiting campuses.

For help with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, students and parents can attend College Goal Sunday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 10 at Western Dakota Technical Institute. Students can fill out their FAFSA form and submit it that day, said Peggy Kuck, financial aid services coordinator for the Education Assistance Corporation.

Cool said there is a wealth of information available for parents and students as they start making decisions about post-high school life.

"This is set up to promote informed decision-making by the students," he said.

Bordeaux stopped at one of the college tables and asked about a scholarship. The fair is a good wake-up call to students her age, she said.

"This encourages you to get on the ball," Bordeaux said.

Where to look for education assistance and scholarships:

www.eac-easci.org

Where to get help

College Goal Sunday:

with FASFA form:

Feb. 10

2-4 p.m.

Western Dakota Technical Institute

800 Mickelson Drive

Students (and parents) must bring their completed 2007 income tax forms, W-2s and other income documents. A 4-digit PIN from the U.S. Department of Education also can be obtained beforehand, or at the event, in order to electronically sign the FAFSA. The PIN can be obtained at www.pin.ed.gov.