The Enlightened College Applicant: A New Approach to the Search and Admissions Process

Belasco and Bergman, cofounders of education consulting firm College Transitions, have put together a friendly, easy-to-follow guide for approaching the overwhelming topic of higher education. The authors give parents a bird’s-eye perspective of the college admissions landscape, discussing the financial realities of college education along with practical advice for helping children identify colleges that are right for them. Acknowledging that students and parents alike are drawn to big-name schools, they open with the sobering fact that 37,000 students will compete for 2,000 seats in Harvard’s class of 2021. For best results, they advise high school seniors on curriculum choices for their final years of high school and dispel the notion that summer programs carry any weight in acceptance. Nowadays schools tabulate “demonstrated interest” based on whether prospective students use social media to introduce themselves to their top choices. Parents may have trouble accepting that “higher education is a buyer’s market,” but the voice of reason in these soon-to-be dog-eared pages will provide comfort and direction for those starting the application process. (Nov.)