Applying to College
When it comes to college applications, knowledge is power. And it's pretty much the only power you've got, so probably want to get as much of it as possible.
(Just don't obsess. Not that I did...at least, not much.)
Hacking doesn't work in the real world. (Not unless you want to go to jail and/or end up a comic relief anecdote on the evening news.) But here are some things to help you get in the old fashioned way.
Fiske Guide to Colleges
Of all the guides, this one's always been my favorite. I still have most of it memorized
Princeton Review Guide to the Best 366 Colleges
What's hot: Useful two page descriptions and plenty of stats. What's not: Annoying attempts to capture local color that feel like they haven't been updated since the 90s.
Admissions Confidential: An Insider's Account of the Elite College Selection Process, by Rachel Toor
Because knowledge is power
The Insider's Guide to the Colleges, by the Yale Daily News Staff
Real students tell you what you really want to know
Gatekeepers: Inside the Admissions Process of a Premier College, by Jacques Steinberg
Remember knowledge? Still power (especially, in this case, if you happen to be applying to Wesleyan...)
Overachievers: The Secret Lives of Drive Kids
You are not alone
Websites:
Admissions 101
Questions, answers, and user forums on every conceivable college-related topic
SparkCollege: The College Search
Step by step guide to choosing a college—and then convincing them to choose you
FastWeb
Search engine to help you find college scholarships
The Common Application
One stop shopping for your admission needs
College Confidential
More forums--because you know you just can't get enough
College Board
Know them, loathe them, need them
College Toolkit College Searches
Everything you ever wanted to know about college, scholarships, and financial aid |
