The Secrets of Picking a College (and Getting In!)

"Authoritative and wise. . . accessible and lively. . . . A good first book for any student embarking on the college search."-Theodore A. O'Neill, former Dean of Admissions, University of Chicago

"... easy to read, clearly organized, and very specific in its advice.  I plan to use it with my own students."-Jon Reider, Director of College Counseling, San Francisco University High School; former Senior Admission Officer, Stanford University; and co-author of Admission Matters: What Students and Parents Need to Know about Getting Into College

The college application process can seem daunting, but this book breaks the process down into logical, manageable steps. There are over 600 tips in this book. Here's one more: Read the book. It should be your first step on the path to college."-Marjorie Savage, Parent Program Director, University of Minnesota and author, You're on Your Own (But I'm Here If You Need Me): Mentoring Your Child During the College Year

"If you read one book on the college process-this is the one you want. Straightforward, spot-on advice to streamline the college exploration and admission process, improve outcomes, and reduce stress for students and families."-Barbara T. Conner, Director of College Counseling, Foxcroft School, Middleburg, VA, and Creator of #FiveFirstChoiceColleges

"... will become the 'go to' resource for parents and students alike...  delivers the most up-to-date, practical compendium available today of the ever-evolving landscape of college admissions."-Franca Rawitz, Independent College Counselor & Founder, ReadySetCollegeNYC

"... informative, current and logical, full of important information on a wide variety of topics, yet concise and easy to understand.  I wish every family I work with would get a copy."-Alyssa O'Brien, Director of College Guidance, Lawrence Woodmere Academy, Woodmere, NY and former Admissions Reader, Northeastern University

"...captures the essence of the process and provides excellent tips and suggestions to students (and parents!) who are just beginning this journey.   Having two sons who went through this process a few years ago, I can say that it would have been helpful to them to have a similar "Guide" handy."-Diane Freytag, Director of Counseling and Advising, The Overlake School, Redmond, WA  

"... packed with practical pointers and compiled specifically for students, it's like having a college coach by your side. Filled with advice from college professionals -- including admissions officers -- this book is easily accessible and is a must-read."-Alicia J. Linsey, Counselor, Lexington High School Lexington, MA and founder and independent counselor, The Academic Advancement Group

"... does a fantastic job of capturing the 'moving target' of college admissions.  Its easy-to-follow format, complete with web links for digging deeper and finding the latest updates, make it a must-have for high school students. It not only answers standard college related questions, but also answers important questions that students may not otherwise know that they should ask."-Sandy Aprahamian, Independent Educational Consultant, EDNavigators LLC

"... really drills down to the nuanced questions students should ask themselves. Sharing with students and families an actual reader rating card that admissions officers use to evaluate each component of the application is worth its weight in gold! A valuable resource for students, parents and counselors!"-Beth Ann Burkmar,  Associate Director of College Counseling, The Hun School of Princeton, Princeton, NJ; former Regional Director of Admissions, University of Pennsylvania; and former Admissions Counselor, Drexel University

 "It would take hours, even weeks, to gain the knowledge on one's own that is so accessibly offered in this guide.  The authors of this book did their audience a huge favor by doing a lot of the hardcore research and web searching that has taken me over a decade to acquire as a full-time college counselor."-Kelly B. Richards, Director of College Counseling, St. George's School, Providence, RI

"Hundreds of tips with catchy headings ("Best-Kept Secret," "Reality Check," "Epic Fail!") jump off the pages, making it simple for even the busiest (or laziest!) teenagers to find them. Parents, too, will appreciate the ease of honing in on concise explanations, suggestions ... and warnings."-Sally Rubenstone, Senior Advisor, College Confidential