Amazon.com 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.
Product Description
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.
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A Is for Admission: The Insider's Guide to Getting into the Ivy League and Other Top Colleges
- Paperback: 288 pages
- Publisher: Grand Central Publishing; 1999-09-01
- Label: Grand Central Publishing
- Studio: Grand Central Publishing
- ISBN: 0446674060
- Average Customer Review:
 based on 72 reviews
- Sales Rank in Books: #19057
Avg. Customer Review:
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Extremely insightful, but out of date! 2008-08-11
Comment: This book was really fantastic in that it let out the exact things that go through a college admissions officer when they look at an applicant. However it was only one officer's point of view and that seemed to be a little limiting for me.
The book gave a lot of encouragement for me as a prospective college applicant and really helped me plan my way into applying for colleges and gave me a clear idea of what would be my best options, especially regarding when to take standardized tests and to arrange your extra-curriculars.
The thing that really bugged me about this book though is that it is a few years old. This led to a number of problems for me. First of all, the admittance rates were all much higher than they are now and the standardized testing results of applicants has completely changed. This left me with the illusions that it really is not that difficult to get into the ivy league.
The authors new book, "Acing the College Application," however is a great alternative and offers the same really great advice about constructing an application coupled with extremely relevant and current information.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating: 
Summary: A Must-Have for College Bound Students! 2008-08-06
Comment: This book has totally exceeded all my expectations! With absolute candor, simple but supberb writing style, and the expertise of an insider, the writer provides an amazing wealth of info and insight into the complex college admission process. To give an example: I never knew that the "Acadmic Index" (AI) is the key to predicting admissibility to a particular college. I strongly recommend this book to all college bound students and their parents!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating:
Summary: Shocking and A Must Read for High School Parents!!!!! 2008-07-30
Comment: So I thought I knew about getting into college. Wrong. The author worked at Dartmouth for four years doing Admissions and what she reveals is that there is an actual formula for getting in. There are also flags for minorities that allows these students to be pulled from the general pool and be evaluated seperately. There is a great list on what you should be doing year by year to prepare for applying to that Ivy League. Put this book in your cart, read, highlight and take notes. This is a page turner.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating:
Summary: My BEST Books for College Students... 2007-11-04
Comment: 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
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating:
Summary: One of the Best, the Bible of Admissions Entry! 2007-05-22
Comment: 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 privileged. Too bad with all of her talents she could help the ones who really need her help.
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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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