5 Books to Help You Survive the College Admissions Process

Monday, August 30, 2010

COLLEGE ADMISSIONS by Cristiana Quinn, GoLocalProv College Admissions Expert

When you walk into the college section of a bookstore, it’s clear that there is no shortage of books feeding the frenzy around college admissions. Weeding through the thousands of titles to find the ones you need can be overwhelming. So, here are my recommendations for a few that you should consider buying if your child is college-bound:

Baron’s SAT I

The latest edition of this monster prep book contains one diagnostic test and seven full-length model SAT I tests, with answer keys, explanations, and solutions. There are dozens of test-taking strategies, vocabulary flashcards that you can tear out, and detailed explanations of each section of the test.

Fiske Guide to Colleges

If you are only going to buy one college guide book, this would be my choice. Fiske has all the relevant information for hundreds of colleges in the US. It gathers dozens of data points, including: average SAT scores, acceptance percentages, where interviews count, deadlines and more. A front section lists top college for engineering, art, business, and a variety of student majors. And, each college profile tells you which majors are most popular and “crossover” colleges that typically compete for applicants applying to that school.

The Insider’s Guide to Colleges

Written by the staff of The Yale Daily News, this guide provides unique insights into what it is truly like on campuses across the country. The staff interview students at each school and profiles about 300 colleges. From dining hall food to weekend life and professor accessibility, they give you the inside scoop that other books don’t.

Colleges That Change Lives

In the midst of college competition insanity, Loren Pope started a movement with her books to look at colleges in a different way. Rather than buying into the hype surrounding big name colleges and the rankings, she took a deep dive into the programs and methodologies that helped students reach new levels academically and personally. Pope profiles 40 colleges that you probably don’t know, but should.

Peterson’s-Colleges for Students with Learning Disabilities or ADHD

If you have a child with a learning disability or AD/HD, the prospect of sending them off to college can be nerve wracking. All colleges are not created equal in their understanding and support of LD students, and the risk for attrition is very high. You really should be working with an expert, but if you can’t afford to do that, you can do extensive research on your own. Start with this guide which explains the various programs and support provided. It misses a few leading colleges in this field, but I feel that it is still the best LD college guide on the market at this point.

Cristiana Quinn, M.Ed. is the founder of College Admission Advisors, LLC, a Providence-based educational consulting firm which provides strategic, individual counseling for college-bound students.http://www.collegeadvisorsonline.com

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