Written by two former admissions officers at top universities and current admissions coaches, this book is a must-have for preparing a winning college application. The authors reveal the mystery behind what college admissions officers are looking for and show applicants how to leverage their credentials, stand out in the over-crowded applicants' pool, and make a genuine, memorable impression. This is the book that will help the college-bound get off the "like many others" pile and onto the acceptance list.

• Includes instructions and examples for every component of the college application, from writing the essay to answering questions like "Why do you want to go to College X?"
• Shows how to avoid underestimating the importance of critical features on any application
• Includes the latest information on the Common Application 4.0 and corrects outdated, holdover advice still stressed in many other books

This book is filled with step-by-step advice that students and parents can use immediately and will refer to again and again.

Alison Cooper Chisolm and Anna Ivey work together at Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Ivey College Consulting, an admissions coaching firm that helps applicants around the world get into top U.S. colleges.

Preface v

PART 1 Getting Started 1

1 Big Decisions 3

2 Your Plan 13

3 Your Story 22

4 Your Résumé 35

PART 2 Completing the Application 61

5 Th e Application as a Whole 63

6 Factual Questions about You and Your Family 72

7 Education and Academic Questions 85

8 Activities Lists 91

9 Really Short Answer Questions 117

10 Short Answer Questions 127

11 Essay Questions 133

12 “Why College X?” Questions 167

13 Disciplinary and Criminal Background Questions 179

14 Miscellaneous Other Questions 188

15 Additional Information Questions 197

16 Supplementary Materials 201

17 Test Score Reports 212

18 School Reports 229

19 Recommendations 250

20 Interviews 271

21 Th e Application as a Whole Redux

PART 3 Crossing the Finish Line 295

22 Th e Logistics of Submitting and Following Up 297

23 Application Updates (Including Deferrals, Wait Lists, and Correcting Mistakes) 310

Closing: You’re Done, Now What? 327

About the Authors 331

Index 333