Get into College » (Second Edition)

Getting into college is one of life’s most daunting challenges. Why not let the experts help? The experts in this case include dozens of college consultants, admissions officers, parents, and, best of all, hundreds of students who have experienced the process firsthand. Individual chapters cover such topics as getting started, preparing for the SAT, deciding which colleges to apply to, perfecting applications and essays, putting one’s best foot forward in an interview, and what to do for extracurricular activities and summer vacations. Additional chapters explain what to look for when visiting schools, how to get financial aid, getting support from counselors and parents, dealing with rejection and acceptance, and how to pick the right school. This expanded edition includes special “Counselor’s Corner” features, material on “How to Survive Getting Your Kid into College,” Harvard Law grad Jay Brody’s discussion of how to write the best application essay, and much more.

Introduction vii

Chapter 1 First Steps: Launching the College Process 1

Chapter 2 SAT/ACT: How to Prepare? 41

Chapter 3 SAT/ACT: Strategies & Tips for Besting the Test 79

Chapter 4 SAT/ACT: Test Day ... and Beyond 103

Chapter 5 Making a List, Checking it Twice: Where to Apply? 137

Chapter 6 First Impressions: Applications & Essays 161

Chapter 7 Face to Face: Interviews 217

Chapter 8 Extracurriculars & Summers: Activities That Help You Stand Out 231

Chapter 9 Love at First Sight? Visiting Schools (and what to do when they visit you) 255

Chapter 10 Show Me the Money: Scholarships, Financial Aid & Loans 291

Chapter 11 Help! Getting Support From Counselors & Parents 319

Chapter 12 The "Mailbox Diet": Fat Envelopes, Thin Envelopes 353

Chapter 13 Decisions, Decisions: Picking the 'Right' School for You 377

Chapter 14 Open Your Mind: Imagining the College Life (while doing enough to graduate high school!) 403

Chapter 15 One More Summer: Your Pre-College To-Do List 419

Chapter 16 More Wisdom: Good Stuff that Didn't Fit Anywhere Else 439

Special Insert Brody's Guide to the College Admissions Essay 453