For generations, the admissions process of the Ivy League schools and other top colleges has been cloaked in mystery and myth. Now Michele A. Hernandez, a former admissions officer at Dartmouth, finally breaks the ancient code of silence to reveal how the world's most highly selective schools really make their decisions. With absolute candor, Hernandez tells you all the hard truths, provides all the secrets, reveals how admission officers factor in every extenuating circumstance, and, most importantly, she shows you how to make this complex, high-stakes system work for you. Thorough, direct, and written for real results, A IS FOR ADMISSION answers the questions asked by countless students: * What do admissions officers really look for and what turns them off? * How are test scores and grades truly evaluated? * Does applying for early decision hurt or help you get in to the college of your choice? * How can you improve the chances of acceptance?

"With so many qualified applicants, competition for college admissions is fiercer than ever. Now you can put yourself ahead of the pack by making your application flawless!
"When applying for college, good grades and high standardized test scores are not always enough to guarantee admission. What sets you apart, argues Michele Hernandez, is the way you describe yourself in your application. But how do you present yourself with flair, and highlight all your talents, skills, and passions, in just a few pages?
A former assistant director of admissions at Dartmouth College, Dr. Hernandez takes you step-by-step through the entire application process, revealing the details that make or break an applicant. From the multitude of short and longer essays to the myriad of charts, lists, and personal data sections, she offers essential advice, useful anecdotes, and vivid examples. Included are:
- A line-by-line look at the common application
- The truth about the essays, with samples of those that made the grade
- The best way to ask for teacher and guidance counselor recommendations
- When to provide colleges with optional essays and peer evaluations
- The ten common myths and misconceptions of the on-campus interview
- The most meaningful academic subjects, work experience, and extracurricular activities to mention
- Early action versus early decision--the trade offs
With this helpful, savvy book, prospective college students--and their parents and counselors--can now vastly improve their chances of getting into the college of their choice.
"Want to scale the Ivy wall? Michele Hernandez gives you the tools to do it. This brisk, no-nonsense book is built on inside dope, and Hernandez's experience allows her to challenge conventional admissions thinking."
--HARRY BAULD
Author of "On Writing the College Application Essay
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With more teenagers applying to college today than ever before, the competition has never been stiffer, and the stress can become unbearable not just for teens, but for the entire family. In Don't Worry, You'll Get In, one of the country's top college admissions counselors Michele Hernandez and leading parenting expert Mimi Doe join forces to bring teens the first college admissions guide of its kind: an easy and accessible book full of 100 specific tips to navigate the admissions process successfully and calmly. For each step, Hernandez explains to teens in simple terms exactly what they need to do, while Mimi Doe empowers them to tackle that step with confidence and in the least stressful way. Covering everything from standardized testing to summer plans to writing a great essay, Don't Worry, You'll Get In is the perfect guide for high schoolers who want to be accepted at the school of their choice without burning out for the sake of getting in.