<p>There are quite a few books about how to get into colleges. Which are the better ones (and why)? Which ones are best to avoid? Are any of these books worth getting, or is the advice just common knowlege?</p>
<p>Well, she is VERY shrill and some of her advice is overly pushy, but as far as someone who seems to really know, I recommend Katherine Cohen's books, especially Rock Hard Apps. Her method of evaluating an application (on a 99 pt system, with 90-99 being very competitive for Ivies, 80-90 being competitive but not particularly likely to be admitted, and <80 being relatively uncompetitive (very unlikely to be admitted)) really seems pretty accurate. For example, though it is hard to rate yourself exactly, I think that I was in the high 80's--88 or 89, maybe 90--and while I gained entrance to two top LACs, I did get shut out (2 rejections, 2 waitlists) of my Ivies, which is what her system would have predicted. However, some of her advice has to be taken with a grain of salt (ex: I think if I was her client she would have twisted my arm half off trying to get me to apply ED to Princeton, where I have a double legacy (rejected RD). That might have been the "right" strategy, but there is more to college admissions than desperately attempting to get into the highest ranking school possible). </p>
<p>As far as a less intense book, I was very impressed overall with Greenes' Guides: Making it into a Top College. Their advice is good, but not obsessive (as Cohen's can be), and is very comprehensive. The only warning I have to give is that the book is a bit older (circa 2000, I believe) and with all "older" college admissions books, you have to be careful not to overestimate your chances. I knew better, but if my only source of information was books like these, I would have thought that there was little way that I could have been rejected from my top choices. The admissions process has gotten so much more competitive that students who as recently as 5 or 10 years ago would have been virtual shoo-ins may very well today not get into any of their reaches.</p>
<p>As a parent, I liked "Harvard Schmarvard" by Jay Mathews. It is sensible and calming, compared to books that just try to feed the fire of obsession with getting into the Ivy League. He has good advice on interviews, essays, college visits, but I wouldn't say it's a step by step manual for getting into college - more a guide to choosing a college that fits. He lists 100 "under-appreciated" colleges, which is interesting.</p>
<p>A book that is completely over-the-top obsessive (and I don't recommend it) is "What Colleges Don't Tell You" by Elizabeth Wissner-Gross. All about packaging and actively trying to make your kid into the kind of person the top colleges will want. Truly astounding! Last night I my son said something provocative and I threatened to make him read the book so he'd realize what a sane and saintly parent I am, compared to how I could be :)</p>
<p>^^Yeah...don't take advice from people who want you to sell your soul for the best chance to get into Harvard, et al.</p>
<p>Acing the College Application by Michele A Hernandez helped me a lot. Plus, I emailed her after reading the book with questions of my own which she answered politely. She was an admissions person at Dartmouth.</p>
<p>I'd recommend the "Fiske Guide to Colleges". It has in depth profiles of over 300 schools, and it is very thorough. I'd also recommend Loren Pope's book "Colleges That Change Lives". It profiles 40 schools where you will get a great education at, displaying a wide array of different curriculum these schools offer. These schools are lesser known than a lot of big schools, but they are just as good or better. This book also explains that in admissions, stats aren't everything, and there are a lot of colleges that would "Be happy with, or rather prefer, the 500/B student to the 700/A's." It profiles pretty well what most LAC's are looking for (which are what all the schools in this book are).</p>
<p>The Gatekeepers</p>
<p>I recommend the book "Admission Matters" because it is a comprehensive guide to the whole process. See the table of contents at <a href="http://www.admissionmatters.com/tableofcontents.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.admissionmatters.com/tableofcontents.html</a></p>
<p>Word of warning, Katherine Cohen was Kaavya Viswanathan's college counselor. For a feel of what Cohen's creds are, see <a href="http://www.harvardindependent.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleID=9962%5B/url%5D">http://www.harvardindependent.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleID=9962</a>
As a parent reading these books for a D, I echo sentiments re Michele Hernandez's book. Also liked Bauld's book on writing college essays.</p>
<p>Yes...I find Cohen to be very questionable ethically. But I stand by my assertion that, for better or for worse, she seems to have a feeling for how admissions works. Maybe check her book out instead of giving her the money :).</p>
<p>I agree that reading all these books will make you savvier about the admissions process, but you can only read so many, and there will never be an end to new ones.
A greater part of your time could be better spent preparing your application in order to present yourself and your achievements with the perfect balance between quality and quantity.</p>
<p>And just a random thing: I wonder how many of the writers of those spotlight essays used in these publications ever consulted how-to-write-college-essay-books.</p>
<p>I read parts of "100 Semesters" (William Chace) during my first semester at college. He recalls the days gone by when the admissions process was much less complicated than it is today. No advertising, no pressure, much less information. Getting in [or not] was not a problem, nor a big deal...</p>
<p>LOL Advantagious! $40K for her services = a year at college, it's a no-brainer!</p>
<p>Read The Gatekeepers by Jacques Steinberg</p>
<p>I also nominate The Gatekeepers-it gives you a great inside look at the admissions process and helped me understand it better.</p>
<p>All the above suggestions are excellent, and I would add "College Admissions Trade Secrets" by Andrew Allen. We found lots of eye-opening info. there. Good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks for the suggestions! :)</p>
<p>An annotated list of books: </p>
<p>Er. . . is it necessary to read all of these? I'm going to be a senior next year and I've only skimmed various guides with colleges in them, no admissions books. Are there really tons of "secrets" I should know about?</p>
<p>There are tons of books out there. Some should be taken with a grain of salt. Others give you confidence and inspiration. There may be "secrets" as they say, but you definitely don't need them to apply successfully.</p>