The Complete Idiot's Guide to Getting into Top Colleges » (Original)

Marna Atkinruns Atkin College Couseling, a private college counseling business. She retired in 2008 after 30 years as a guidance counselor at Albany (New York) High School, where she helped students gain admission to many of the country's top colleges, including Harvard, Yale, Cornell, Dartmouth, and the University of Pennsylvania.

Ian R. Leslie received a Bachelor's degree in English from the University of Albany in New York, with a minor in journalism. A freelance writer, he is currently director of marketing for the Lowcountry Economic Network, an economic development firm in Beaufort, South Carolina.

Cruise your way to the Ivy League!

It's no secret that it's harder to get into college these days. Ivy League and other selective schools have record numbers of applicants, making the competition even steeper. This must-have guide carefully explores the to-do's to gain admission to a top tier school. Students and parents will learn about choosing the right school, what college admissions officers really consider when making their decisions, early decision versus early action, and what being on the waitlist means.

*Provides sample essays, recommendation forms, resources and websites
*Includes advice from guidance counselors and admission officers of top Colleges
*Between now and 2015, there will be more than 3 million high school graduates each year