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A Is for Admission: The Insider's Guide to Getting into the Ivy League and Other Top Colleges
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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 378.161
EAN: 9780446674065
ISBN: 0446674060
Label: Grand Central Publishing
Manufacturer: Grand Central Publishing
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 288
Publication Date: September 01, 1999
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Studio: Grand Central Publishing
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Editorial Review:
Plenty of college admission guides promise to help students crack the Ivy League, but few of these have detailed knowledge to back up their advice. Michele Hernandez, on the other hand, is the ultimate insider. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Dartmouth College, she also worked as Dartmouth's assistant director of admissions for four years. In A Is for Admissions, Hernandez describes the step-by-step process Ivy League schools use to evaluate an application. Along the way she settles some ancient debates, including the comparative importance of SATs versus high-school grades, public versus private high schools, and extracurricular activities versus part-time employment. She evaluates every possible factor affecting chances for admission, including special categories of students such as recruited athletes, minority applicants, and legacies. Most dramatically, Hernandez reveals the precise mathematical formula used by admissions officers to rank applicants. Using her guidelines, readers can calculate their own AI (Academic Index) and--should their scores come up short--learn ways to compensate in other areas.
Refreshingly, Hernandez helps would-be Ivy Leaguers keep their goals in perspective. She strongly advises against "grade grubbing" or "working for the grade." If you think attending a top college is the key to success, Hernandez cautions that the Ivies may not be for you. "If your goal is to make money, but you don't enjoy studying or reading, don't waste your time by trying to get into an Ivy League or highly selective college.... The beauty of an Ivy League/highly selective education lies in the intellectual atmosphere.... It does not lie in the prestige of having a diploma from Princeton or Dartmouth on your wall." Levelheaded and clearly written, A Is for Admission is the perfect guide for the student (or parent) who has his eyes set on the stars.
Plenty of college admission guides promise to help studentscrack the Ivy League, but few of these have detailed knowledge to backup their advice. Michele Hernandez, on the other hand, is the ultimateinsider. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Dartmouth College, she alsoworked as Dartmouth's assistant director of admissions for four years.In A Is for Admissions, Hernandez describes the step-by-stepprocess Ivy League schools use to evaluate an application. Along theway she settles some ancient debates, including the comparativeimportance of SATs versus high-school grades, public versus privatehigh schools, and extracurricular activities versus part-timeemployment. She evaluates every possible factor affecting chances foradmission, including special categories of students such as recruitedathletes, minority applicants, and legacies. Most dramatically,Hernandez reveals the precise mathematical formula used by admissionsofficers to rank applicants. Using her guidelines, readers cancalculate their own AI (Academic Index) and--should their scores comeup short--learn ways to compensate in other areas.Refreshingly, Hernandez helps would-be Ivy Leaguers keep their goals inperspective. She strongly advises against "grade grubbing" or"working for the grade." If you think attending a top collegeis the key to success, Hernandez cautions that the Ivies may not be foryou. "If your goal is to make money, but you don't enjoy studyingor reading, don't waste your time by trying to get into an Ivy Leagueor highly selective college.... The beauty of an Ivy League/highlyselective education lies in the intellectual atmosphere.... It does notlie in the prestige of having a diploma from Princeton or Dartmouth onyour wall." Levelheaded and clearly written, A Is forAdmission is the perfect guide for the student (or parent) who hashis eyes set on the stars.
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - My BEST Books for College Students...
This certainly ranks up there. My other choices for 2007, hands down:
1) How To Ace Your Way Through College & Still Have a Life
2) The MLA Handbook
3) Fiske Guide to Colleges
Dr. Vernon M
Cambridge, MA
Rating: - One of the Best, the Bible of Admissions Entry!
This book is the first one you need to get. Also get her other book, "Acing the College Application," "Winning the Heart of the College Admissions Dean," "You're Gonna Love this College Guide," "America's Elite Colleges," "Cracking College Admissions."
Ms. Hernandez was an admissions officer when she wrote this book, but now she is a private consultant, charging $40,000 to help privileged kids get into the Ivy League schools. Part of her expertise helps them present themselves as not ... Read More
Rating:  - Great Perspective for Most Selective School Admissions
While I neither have children nor seek to gain admittance to any University at this point, I am involved with recruiting both for my alma mater (a Top 20 School), and my firm (global investment bank). I would absoultely recommend this read as a differentiated perspective for understanding where you son/daughter falls on the spectrum to better gauge realistic schools.
Living in NYC, its all too common for seemingly gifted children to be disappointed in their college admitance outcome, ... Read More
Rating: - Good IF your kid is a hyper-mega-achiever
This book is very useful if your kid has 800 SAt scores, an A avergae, and has discovered a cure for a fatal disease (well, practically!). if you have a bright, well-rounded normal kid who maybe hasn't hit their peak by age 17, though, pay attention to its real message -- the Ivys are NOT within the realm of reality. So be it. To find out what to do next, and to hold on to your sanity and humor while you do, see a great new book, GETTING IN WITHOUT FREAKING OUT
Rating: - A is for Admissions
This is probably the most helpful book that I have read about college admissions, because it gives real information instead of just maintaining the party line. It shows just how important standardized test scores are in the process and gives you the equation to figure out how you stack up against other ivy league hopefuls. I found this to be extremely enlightening. I would recommend this to anyone who is seriously considering applying to an top 20 college.
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