<p>As an interested parent, I have bought a number of books recommended by CC students and parents. I think I can answer the question. It is a matter of tone. Read Bauld’s book on writing the college application essay and compare it to Cohen’s Rock Hard Apps. The information is similar but the tone is different. (Mark Twain once cut himself shaving and let loose a volley of expletives, which his wife repeated back to him word for word. He retorted, “You’ve got the words right my dear, but you don’t quite have the melody.”) I just read, or rather tried to read, Cohen’s book. I’m away on a business trip, and I’m simply not going to even pack the book in my luggage. I find something offensive about it. I think it is because it feels like an infomercial.</p>