Many of us use the internet for all of our information gathering when it comes to any kind of large ticket purchases. Whether we are looking for a new car, a new vacation, or a new home, there is no shortage of information you can find on the internet. The same applies to colleges (a $80-300K investment). That being said, we also hear over and over again that the amount of information on the internet is overwhelming and there is so much biased information out there from marketers, that it is often difficult to parse out what advice is worth heeding, and conversely what should be ignored.
For those starting out, freshmen/sophomore/junior parents, as well as middle school parents looking to get a glimpse of what is ahead, there are several great books that will provide families with the lay of the land. These books will give you big-picture perspectives about colleges, the college admissions process overall, understanding the true nature of selective college admissions, and what you can do to help students prepare for the road ahead.
Who Gets In and Why: A Year Inside College Admissions
By: Jeffrey Selingo
In Who Gets In and Why, journalist and higher education expert Jeffrey Selingo dispels entrenched notions of how to compete and win at the admissions game, and reveals that teenagers and parents have much to gain by broadening their notion of what qualifies as a “good college.” Hint: it’s not all about the sticker on the car window. Selingo, who was embedded in three different admissions offices—a selective private university, a leading liberal arts college, and a flagship public campus—closely observed gatekeepers as they made their often agonizing and sometimes life-changing decisions. He also followed select students and their parents, and he traveled around the country meeting with high school counselors, marketers, behind-the-scenes consultants, and college rankers.
While many have long believed that admissions is merit-based, rewarding the best students, Who Gets In and Why presents a more complicated truth, showing that “who gets in” is frequently more about the college’s agenda than the applicant. In a world where thousands of equally qualified students vie for a fixed number of spots at elite institutions, admissions officers often make split-second decisions based on a variety of factors—like diversity, money, and, ultimately, whether a student will enroll if accepted. One of the most insightful books ever about “getting in” and what higher education has become, Who Gets In and Why not only provides an usually intimate look at how admissions decisions get made, but guides prospective students on how to honestly assess their strengths and match with the schools that will best serve their interests.
Who Gets In and Why: A Year Inside College Admissions
Also check out our takeaway:
Who Gets In And Why - Book Highlights
How to Raise an Adult
Author: Julie Lythcott-Haims
In How to Raise an Adult, Julie Lythcott-Haims draws on research, on conversations with admissions officers, educators, and employers, and on her own insights as a mother and as a student dean to highlight the ways in which overparenting harms children, their stressed-out parents, and society at large. While empathizing with the parental hopes and, especially, fears that lead to overhelping, Lythcott-Haims offers practical alternative strategies that underline the importance of allowing children to make their own mistakes and develop the resilience, resourcefulness, and inner determination necessary for success. Relevant to parents of toddlers as well as of twentysomethings--and of special value to parents of teens--this book is a rallying cry for those who wish to ensure that the next generation can take charge of their own lives with competence and confidence.
The Truth about College Admission
Authors: Brennan Barnard & Rick Clark
The Truth about College Admission is the easy-to-follow, comprehensive, go-to guide for families. The expert authors (Brennan Barnard, Director of College Counseling at The Derryfield School and US Performance Academy, and Rick Clark, Georgia Tech’s Director of Admissions) ―with inside knowledge from both the high school and university sides of the experience―provide critical advice, thoughtful strategies, helpful direction, and invaluable reassurance during the long and often bewildering college admission journey. From searching for colleges and creating a list of favorites to crafting an application, learning what schools are looking for academically and outside the classroom, and getting insight into how colleges decide who to accept, this book covers every important step. Helpful sections like "Try This," "Talk about This," and "Check In" show your family how to have open and balanced conversations to keep everyone on the same page, feeling less stressed, and actually enjoying the adventure together.
The Truth about College Admission
Where You Go Is Not Who You’ll Be
Author: Frank Bruni
Written by the award-winning journalist and columnist for the New York Times Frank Bruni, this is an inspiring manifesto about everything wrong with today's frenzied college admissions process and how to make the most of your college years. Bruni shows that the Ivy League has no monopoly on corner offices, governors' mansions, or the most prestigious academic and scientific grants. Through statistics, surveys, and the stories of hugely successful people, he demonstrates that many kinds of colleges serve as ideal springboards. And he illuminates how to make the most of them. What matters in the end are students' efforts in and out of the classroom, not the name on their diploma.
Where You Go Is Not Who You’ll Be
The Gatekeepers: Inside the Admissions Process of a Premier College
Author: Jacques Steinberg
In 1999, New York Times education reporter Jacques Steinberg was given an unprecedented opportunity to observe the admissions process at prestigious Wesleyan University. Over the course of nearly a year, Steinberg accompanied admissions officer Ralph Figueroa on a tour to assess and recruit the most promising students in the country. The Gatekeepers follows a diverse group of prospective students as they compete for places in the nation's most elite colleges. Even though 1999 is slightly dated, it was the first book of its kind to reveal the college admission process in such behind-the-scenes detail.
The Gatekeepers: Inside the Admissions Process of a Premier College
For additional insights, check out our blogs:
Who Gets In And Why - Book Highlights
Top 5 Books on College Admissions for Seniors and Juniors building college lists
Most Prestigious Summer Programs
Are Pre-College Summer Programs Worth It?
Do High School Students Need a Focus?
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