B+ Grades, A+ College Application: How to Present Your Strongest Self, Write a Stand-Out Admissions Essay, and Get into the Perfect School for You

Jager-Hyman (Fat Envelope Frenzy), former assistant director of admissions at Dartmouth and founder of College Prep 360 (a college-planning consulting organization), guides students (and their parents) through the college-admissions process, offering a wealth of insider advice. The author emphasizes that even in the highly competitive (and, according to the media, often “gloomy”) admissions environment, there is hope for kids who don’t have straight A’s and perfect SAT scores. Jager-Hyman covers the usual steps: developing a list of target, reach, and safety schools; writing essays; prepping for the college interview; taking the SATs; and demystifying financial aid. Drawing upon her experiences in college admissions, she offers such suggestions as being first in line for early admissions (before officers become bleary-eyed from reading essays); sending written thank you notes to individuals who conduct the interviews; and so forth. In clear, friendly prose, she helps students focus on their strengths as they calmly and confidently face this stressful process. Though there is plenty of information on the Internet about the college-application process, this insider perspective is a welcome addition to the toolkit. Agent: Laurie Abkemeier, DeFiore and Company. (July)