The pattern is familiar and frequent. The day following one of the chilling reports about a school shooting, Kristina Dooley's conversations with clients about college usually change at Estrela Consulting in Hudson, Ohio. The worries of the students and their parents bubble up. Rick Funk says his staff see a similar phenomenon among prospective students who are considering the University of Alabama, where he is the director of undergraduate admissions. And Ashley Hanson, associate vice president of admissions at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin, said, for her, the heightened concern was clear during a campus visit the day after a shooting last year. All three say that following publicity about threats to student safety, prospective students--and parents in particular--express concern, whether it stems from a dramatic attack, statistics about campus crime, or an incident where a student is harassed or treated unfairly because of their race, religion, sexual preference, or political views. And experts say that because changes in society have made safety so prominent, people working with students considering college should have a clear understanding of those worries and what's being done about them on campus. Leaders in the field recommend admission counselors be well-versed in safety data as well as school policies and procedures. Professionals working with students should be honest and avoid either downplaying safety concerns or alarming students by focusing on them too much. College representatives should describe basic campus safety features to prospects but respond in detail when asked and then thoroughly inform enrolled students during orientation. Traditional crime data may also be of interest, several experts say, and admission staff should have an understanding of it and how to talk about it without making it either alarming or insignificant. A campus safety checklist for prospective college students to consider is also included.