Acceptance: A Legendary Guidance Counselor Helps Seven Kids Find the Right Colleges---And Find Themselves

An engrossing profile of an extraordinary guidance counselor who helps kids get into the right colleges through focusing on self- awareness

Gwyeth Smith, known as Smitty, is a nationally renowned guidance counselor who believes that getting into college should be a kid's first great moment of self-discovery. In Acceptance, David L. Marcus, Pulitzer Prize-winning former education writer for U.S. News & World Report, spins an absorbing narrative of a year in the lives of Smitty and "his" kids.

At a diverse public school in Long Island, New York, Smitty works his unique magic on students' applications and their lives, helping them find the right college by figuring out who they are, rather than focusing on what their test scores, grades, and finances reflect. Loaded with advice that readers can apply to their own college searches, Acceptance is a book that thousands of students and their parents will find indispensable.

 (19 customer reviews)

This is an eye-opening recounting of the college hunt of a diverse group of seniors at Oyster Bay High School, and how the dreams of the kids meet the reality of the admissions process. The key is the incredible work and talent of their counselor, Gwyeth Smith, Jr., a real joy to watch in action. Mr. Marcus gives the type of moving, accurate portrayal that can only come from "living with" the participants and feeling what they felt. Their stories are told so well that you cannot help but root for the kids as the decisions come in.

Apart from a wonderful, realistic story, the book really gets it right when it focuses on what should be the message of parents and counselors everywhere. The real accomplishment in getting into college comes from finding the right fit for the student. It's not just about prestige or academic reputation or exclusivity. It takes someone who cares, someone who takes time to know the students in ways that test scores and class rank cannot. Where...Read more

Overall, a very good book on college admissions. (Oyster Bay HS, North Shore Long Island. Senior Class size: a bit over 100)

Strengths: The author embedded himself in the school. The author's focus goes beyond the very top students and includes above-average to average students (compare: Fat Envelope frenzy). The guidance counselor is indeed quite special, and is that rare public school counselor who knows what he is doing. (Compare him with the long-time counselor at the Collegiate School profiled in the NYT). The author acknowledges Jacques Steinberg's book Gatekeepers, and check out the blue cover. Writing is smooth. Well worth $17.

Weakness: Did not care for the limp font. What was Penguin production dept thinking?

I am beginning the college search with my second child. Having survived it once, I wish that I had had this book 2 years ago! This is an excellent source of information and advice presented in an informal, easy to read manner. It should be mandatory reading for all Juniors, Seniors and their parents!