Weighted GPAs. Unweighted GPAs. AP scores. Dual Enrollment grades. Essays. Recommendation letters. SAT scores. ACT scores. PSAT scores. Composite scores. Writing Scores. Volunteer requirements. Extracurriculars.
College admissions has ALWAYS been challenging and now, as we emerge from the pandemic, it seems even more complex as some things about the process have changed for good…or have they?
These 13 books on college admissions and how to pay for college are the best guides we can offer to help you think through this complicated and expensive process with your family.
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Best college admissions books
1. Fiske Guide to Colleges (2022)
The Holy Bible of college rundowns, the Fiske Guide has been rating and reporting on all things post high school education for over 38 years. When you don’t know where to start, start here.
Enter to win one of 100 copies of Fiske Guide (through June 23, 2021)
2. Who Gets In and Why: A Year Inside College Admissions (2020) by Jeff Selingo
Bestselling author and education journalist, Jeff Selingo, spent months embedded in the college admissions departments of three different universities. He gained a true insider’s view of what really goes on when decisions are made about the students to admit, and which ones to deny.
This insightful book offers families guidance on helping their teen discover fit on every level.
3. The Price You Pay for College: An Entirely New Roadmap for the Biggest Financial Decision Your Family Will Ever Make (2021) by Ron Lieber
New York Times “Your Money” columnist and bestselling author, Ron Lieber, offers families an insider’s look at the factors that go into the myriad ways colleges charge families for higher education. He provides readers with a roadmap to better understand merit and financial aid and make sensible choices for finding affordable schools for their teens.
4. The Truth about College Admission: A Family Guide to Getting In and Staying Together (2019)by Rick Clark and Brennan Barnard
Rick Clark, Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Georgia Tech, has written this excellent guide, offering families a chance to learn how admissions officers think about the college application process. Written with co-author Brennan Barnard, Director of College Counseling at The Derryfield School, this is THE admission guidebook for families that will take them through the entire college admissions process.
5. The College Conversation: A Practical Companion for Parents to Guide Their Children Along the Path to Higher Education (2020)by Eric J. Furda and Jacques Steinberg
Eric J.Furda, Dean of Admissions at the University of Pennsylvania, and bestselling author Jacques Steinberg, provide guidance to parents about the crucial conversations they need to have with their college-bound teens. Organized in five sections, it covers the Discovery Phase, the Search, the Application, the Decisions and the Transition to College.
This is a book that parents can keep on their nightstand from their teen’s junior year of high school through freshman year of college, knowing that the advice is from some of the most knowledgable and thoughtful professionals in the world of higher education.
6. College Essay Essentials: A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing a Successful College Admissions Essay (2016) by Ethan Sawyer
The college application essay is the most difficult part of the college process, for many students. Ethan Sawyer, AKA The College Essay Guy, is here to help with his comprehensive guide to writing the college essay. Filled with tips, exercises and essays from students who gained admission to their top choice schools, this book will take the sting out of the essay-writing process for your teen (and you!)
7. College Admission Essentials: A Step-by-Step Guide to Showing Colleges Who You are and What Matters to You (2020) by Ethan Sawyer
Ethan Sawyer’s newest book covers the entire college admissions process and will help students with insight from more than 50 admissions experts. Ethan has worked with millions of students since 2003 when he began helping them on their college essays and applications. This book captures the latest in admissions trends and also includes guidance for veterans, students with learning differences, LGBTQ+ students, students interested in women’s colleges and HBCUs.
8. Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About Colleges (2012) by Loren Pope (Author) and revised by
Exceptionally researched and written, pick up this title if you’re looking to find the diamond in the rough of colleges. If you’re seeking more than football game and keg parties, and need a comprehensive and regionally targeted list of options and their academic offerings, don’t let this one get by you.
9. Where You Go Is Not Who You’ll Be: An Antidote to the College Admissions Mania (2016) by Frank Bruni
This New York Times bestselling book is your first line of defense against the overly competitive and anxiety-laden process. Reassuringly, award-winning journalist Bruni defends the fact that the college your teen ends up attending is anything but the sole determining factor in what kind of successful future they will have.
The Grown and Flown Book (2020) will support you through your teen’s high school years including the college admissions process and beyond. Now, in paperback!
10. Choosing College: How to Make Better Learning Decisions Throughout Your Life (2019) by Michael B. Horn and Bob Moesta
Choosing a college is the most complicated process in our teens’ lives, and is easily one of the most perplexing and expensive ones for parents, too. Authors and Horn and Moesta created a research-based approach to help families better understand what’s motivating their student to attend secondary education and how to find the best match that includes not only traditional 4-year colleges but also community college, vocational training and more.
11. College Match: A Blueprint for Choosing the Best School for You (2019) by Dr. Steven R. Antonoff
If Tinder wrote a book on finding your perfect college match, this would be it. Recently updated, it is revised and full of worksheets to help students begin the narrowing down process of college choices, this title also helps you find what college guidebook is right for you.
12. Paying for College, 2021 Edition: Everything You Need to Maximize Financial Aid and Afford College (Princeton Review)
Including the latest FAFSA forms, guidelines, and help for the 2021-2022 year, Newsday proclaimed this to be a “first rate guide to the financial aid maze,” and covers everything you think you’re missing when it comes to funding college.”
13. The Ultimate Scholarship Book 2022: Billions of Dollars in Scholarships, Grants and Prizes (14th edition) by Gen Tanabe and Kelly Tunable
At a whopping 688 pages and subdivided into more categories than you thought you needed, this is your go to start book when seeking college funding other than student loans. Jam pack full of all the info you will need to apply for each of the entries, this is your one stop shop for all things scholarship.
Looking for advice from experts in college admissions? Do you want to learn more about colleges that offer generous merit aid? Join College Admissions: Grown and Flown membership to ask your questions and get answers in real time with weekly LIVE sessions.
You Might Also Want to Read:
Dear Parent of High School Junior – Here is our best advice for parents who want to help support their teen through the college admissions process.
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