Let’s share a list of books about admission that you find helpful. My list is below,
- Harry Bauld "On Writing the College Application Essay" - good book, in general, but do NOT give it to your kids. It is very cynical. First two chapters are funny. The rest is snobby.
The author tries to convince readers to write interesting, funny, easy-to-read stories. However, his own book is not engaging at all. I had to put it in the restroom and push myself to read it every day. After reading this book, I though “what’s wrong with ME? Why can’t I read this book? What turns me away from it?” Next, I read Steven King’s novel … and I realized, Harry Bauld is such a boring author! He keeps talking about writing interesting, engaging essays … physician, heal thyself !
Take home message - I told my D that her college essay should be written in a Steven King’s style. Simple language, easy story line, but the reader is glued to the book, from the first page to the last. Harry Bauld can make fun about “plain” kids, but he himself is NOT Steven King. Not even close.
- Michele A. Hernández "A Is for Admission"
Great book. Teaches you the ropes of the trade. Lots of useful tips. The only admission book that I truly liked.
- Jacques Steinberg "The Gatekeepers"
Ok, if you like to read about Disneyland of human characters - this is your book. The plot resolves around the picture-perfect admission officers making difficult choices about admitting angels with perfect grades and interesting life stories. You can make a movie, based on this book, but you can’t get a single tip that would help your child.
Take home message: Adcoms are angels, just better. If your kid is rejected - sleep well, because a much better student got accepted. Thanks.
I read " The Gatekeepers" after all my kids had gone to college. I am glad I waited. Books that are about “how to get in” create stress and, in my own personal experience (maybe not others) makes for some inauthenticity in life when things are done for admission instead of just because the kids want to do them.
I liked Loren Pope’s books:" Colleges that Change Lives" (also a website, and national fairs), and “Looking Beyond the Ivy League,” which isn’t about Ivies at all and just has a lot of great info on schools.
Another book I liked was “Creative Colleges”, for kids who are into music, dance, art, film, theater or writing (as I remember).
Everyone needs a Fiske or Princeton review type book but mainly for reference I think.
I read every single popular books before joining CC. I borrowed them from the library, I would suggest to ignore them. They just created more anxieties.
@DrGoogle Admission process is filled with anxiety. Psychologists say that it is better to accept your fears and talk about them. And read about experiences of others 
Really, it’s not healthy, I don’t care what psychologists say. I rather not worry and sleep better. Even reading CC is enough.
I like the humorous ones:
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The Neurotic Parents’ Guide to College Admissions by J.D. Rothman
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Crazy U by Andrew Ferguson - references CC
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Getting In by Karen Stabiner - also references CC, this one is actually a fiction! In fact it’s written like by someone who frequents this website. Which one of you wrote this book, 'fess up! :)) Don’t read it with your kid as there are a number of rather inappropriate, adult references, but I must admit it’s a guilty pleasure.
“How to Be a High School Superstar” by Cal Newport
“Colleges that Change Lives.” Neither of my daughters went to a school highlighted in the book, but the advice to focus on the specific student rather than on the name of the school was very helpful and reassuring.
“Where You Go Is Not Who You’ll Be” by Frank Bruni.
"The Price of Admission"by Daniel Golden.
“Don’t Stalk the Admissions Officer: How To Survive the College Admissions Process Without Losing Your Mind” by Risa Lewak - funny
“What Colleges Don’t Tell You (and Other Parents Don’t Want You To Know)” by Elizabeth Wissner-Gross - really appalling but about 1/3 of her advice is helpful. The title of the book gives you an idea of what it’s like.
I found Rugg’s Recommendations incredibly helpful. It is a book you will find on the desk of any good CC.
It is intended more for college counselors, but we found it to be as invaluable a guide as the Friske report.
It is reference guide that ranks colleges based on the relative strength and weakness of their individual college programs . And in the back of the book is an index that shows, by college ,the SAT’s and GPA ‘s ranges of accepted students and each colleges’ strongest programs.
DS had the stats to be considered a strong applicant at many top colleges, but he wanted a LAC or U that had BOTH very strong, reputable music depts and Geology depts.
With the Ruggs report we were able to compile a list of the colleges with the strongest programs in those areas that had students with the similar stats as DS.
“Rugg’s is the CONSUMER REPORTS of appraising college programs. Please stay in the business as you make me look a lot smarter than I am.”
“This one has proved invaluable as a first step for me. As an independent counselor to students around the country I have noticed that most high school guidance offices have this handy guide. It is particularly helpful once the student has an academic concentration in mind.
Even esoteric majors like Music Therapy, Health Services Administration, Arabic, Entomology and Forensic Sciences are ranked by college. At first I was not sure if the colleges were just listed because they were simply courses offered in the college catalog.
No, they are chosen to be included because Rugg has implemented a comprehensive system of researching that combines statistical analysis with direct communication with hundreds of counselors and teachers around the country. He is able to sift and sort the objective with the subjective. Colleges are always evolving from year to year, department to department. It is a Herculean task to measure the strength of an academic department every year since faculty moves on. But Rugg seems to fairly well identify the dedicated and involved faculty that works hard to provide a substantive level of education and training to students pursuing degrees in those disciplines…”