"This book synthesizes three decades of academic advising into a user-friendly guide, detailing the path from high school, to selecting the right colleges, to the application process, to thriving as an undergraduate. Writing tips demystify the college admission essay, offering step-by-step guidance from prewriting to revision"--

For parents who want to be fully informed about essential information that high school students need to know in order to plan for, apply to, and be successful in college, this guide details all stages of the process. It explains the terminology, policies, and procedures for successful college application, and will empower parents to manage their relationship with school counselors and admissions officers. Timelines and charts for teens at different points in the college search process, sample college admissions essays, and practical advice from parents and teens who have negotiated the process provide detailed steps--from what classes a teen should take in high school to managing personal finances once in college--guide parents and prospective college students toward successful college admission. Additional information for many different types of students and groups of families, including athletes, first-generation applicants, students with disabilities, minority students, and students interested in the visual and performing arts, plus appendices with sample thank-you letters, resumes, a self-evaluation, and a complete admissions checklist, make this a comprehensive one-stop resource for finding the perfect college.

Palmer advises parents and professionals how to prepare the student for the transition from school and home life to a new environment and educational challenge, and how to support them through potential problems such as academic pressure, living away from home, social integration and appropriate levels of participation in college.

College Admission-- How to Get Into Your Dream School: Real Students, Real Stories is a how-to guide for college-bound students and their families filled with personal, relevant guidance and useful information in the college search and application process. Students who have successfully joined the ranks of their dream schools share their own journeys and first-hand experiences that led them to college acceptance. Expert advice, tips, and pitfalls from high school counselors, college admissions officers, and the author's own observations in working with thousands of high school scholars provide an equal level of hope for all students as they identify and apply to their dream schools. Real stories and essay samples from real students pursuing a wide range of school options--from community colleges to the Ivy League--are what set this book apart. It is a relatable and rich resource for anyone looking to find his or her best-fit college or university.

Students with few resources rarely apply to top colleges. Even when they have the academic and extracurricular merits to be admitted to institutions like Harvard, Yale and Princeton, these students usually opt for less selective universities. Many ignore that top colleges are actively seeking outstanding candidates regardless of their economic background. What’s more, a great number of colleges offers generous financial aid to make sure every student can afford to attend. This book is the definitive resource to help high-achieving, low-income students access the best possible college. The author draws from her extensive experience in education to provide advice on important aspects of the path to college such as pursuing a strong high school curriculum, preparing for standardized exams, complementing learning at school, developing leadership, and finding expert help and role models—all through affordable strategies. In the book, the author also guides students through the college application and selection processes, as well as the steps to obtain enough financial aid. From the very first page, the author sheds light on her own journey to college through deeply personal vignettes, demonstrating by example that students with few resources can reach and succeed at the top universities in the United States.

Andrea Marr, the heroine of the bestselling novel Girl, is back. And headed to college. Imagining a typical "J. Crew/college catalog” experience, Andrea leaves Portland to attend prestigious Wellington College in Connecticut. Surrounded by the best and the brightest, she works hard to adjust and keep up. But Andrea has a way finding her own people -- not the well-heeled and well-scrubbed -- but the weird, the wild, and the brilliant. It isn’t long before her college career veers wildly off course. Suddenly her entire future is in question. But in her darkest hour, Andrea will find the key to her destiny.