<p>I have read The Overachievers, and I absolutely loved it. I thought Alexandra Robbins gave amazing insight into the life of different high schoolers from various backgrounds with diverse interests. I loved how she maintained a balance between extremes. It really made me realize that I should pursue my passion and not quantify my self worth by silly SAT or AP Scores that seem to dominate everything right now in high school. I suggest that every high schooler read it! I think we all are are atleast able to relate to elements present within the students she follows. I agree with previous CCers who stated that the book really helped put life in perspective. However, if I had to chose anything about the book that I was opposed to, it would be the title and the whole meaning behind the word. I mean, what really is an overachiever? I've always considered the word to be somewhat condescending and arrogant. Is taking 8 AP Classes in one year an example of overachieving? I feel that people who strive to be overachievers compare themselves to a universal, meaningless standard too often. (In my opinion, these people are oftentimes the individuals least genuinely interested in what they do. Rather, they are more obsessed with the overall outcome and result instead of enjoying the process.) One's personal best may not necessarily be the best out there; we must all recognize and respect our own limitations. In addition, I think the book truly sends a powerful message. In spite of Audery trying to survive on two hours of sleep, even with Julie's stressed lifestyle manifesting itself in her hair loss, and even if Sam does not gain admission to a name brand school like he has always dreamed--we will be okay in the end. I think that the college admission process has increased the paranoya level in the lives of many high schoolers. Reading this book really aided me in taking stepping back for a moment and taking a deep breath, so to speak. Finally, most of all, I believe Ms. Robbins depicted high school life (everything from sex, to drinking, dating, and doing well in school), combined with pressure from one's surroundings, and personal motivation and dreams flawlessly.</p>
<p><em>College Unranked</em> by Lloyd Thacker is a very worthwhile read. It certainly helped me put things into perspective for the college admissions process.</p>
<p>The most pertinent book i've ever read was "A is for Admission"
It really gave me an insight into the whole admissions process, and really helped me focus, especially regarding my ec's.</p>
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whats his real name?
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<p>His first name is actually Frank, but I don't think it's my right to give out his last name, to be honest. You can find out if you do a little detective work.</p>
<p>Admiral: Yup. You can definitely figure who AP Frank is.</p>
<p>wait so is this book like a guilty pleasure read? is it fiction based on real people or totally real?</p>
<p>or like hmm lets see if this book can help me out with my applications or some crap like that?</p>
<p>Yes the characters have aliases for a reason.</p>
<p>Wow, I read this book, and the students were so stressed out that I began to fell stressed out as well...lol.</p>
<p>Don't sweat it. My daughter is friends with several of the people in the book, including AP Frank, although she herself is not depicted in the book. She also met Robbins and was there when Robbins was hanging around with the kids gathering material for the book. She and her friends were somewhat outraged when the book came out, because they felt that, while factually correct, it slanted things or sensationalized the facts in such a way to make everything sound much worse and more stressful than it really was.</p>