College Admission: How to Get Into Your Dream School—Real Students, Real Stories is a how-to guide for college-bound students and their families filled with personal, relevant guidance and useful information in the college search and application process. Students who have successfully joined the ranks of their dream schools share their own journeys and first-hand experiences that led them to college acceptance. Expert advice, tips, and pitfalls from high school counselors, college admissions officers, and the author’s own observations in working with thousands of high school scholars provide an equal level of hope for all students as they identify and apply to their dream schools. Real stories and essay samples from real students pursuing a wide range of school options—from community colleges to the Ivy League—are what set this book apart. It is a relatable and rich resource for anyone looking to find his or her best-fit college or university.

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Top topics from the book:

• How to choose your dream school
• How to narrow your college list
• Student essays
• Application strategy
• Expert advice
• Maximizing chances of admission

The colleges & universities in the book include:

Agnes Scott College
American Musical Dramatic Academy
American University
Austin College
Bard College at Simon’s Rock
Barnard College
Baylor University
Bowling Green State University
Brown University
Carleton University
Carnegie Mellon University
Cornell University
Dartmouth College
Drexel University
Eastern Michigan University
Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising
Florida Institute of Technology
Florida State University
Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgetown University
Hampton University
Laguna College of Art and Design
Lehigh University
Nebraska Wesleyan
New York University
North Carolina State University
Oglethorpe University
Ringling College of Art and Design
Spelman College
The Ohio State University
The University of Texas at Austin
United States Naval Academy
University of Akron
University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Los Angeles
University of Chicago
University of Florida
University of Southern California
Wellesley College
Yale University

 

 

"James Lewis’s book, College Admission: Real Students, Real Stories, about current students and their experiences in high school and during the college admissions process is a wonderful and important addition to helpful resources at a time that too often is filled with angst. As one who has been an educator for 45 years, including the last 27 as a college counselor, I found the book to be uniquely layered with both peer-to-peer and professional advice that could make a significant difference for applicants and their parents. As Lewis and those whose stories are told demonstrate, a student’s dream school can be well known or a hidden gem, and it is important for all families to keep an open mind about which schools may truly be 'best fits' in preparing students for careers and meaningful lives."

— Nancy Beane, Former President of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC)