Acing the College Application: How to Maximize Your Chances

Product Review

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 Hernández, 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. Hernández 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 Hernández gives you the tools to do it. This brisk, no-nonsense book is built on inside dope, and Hernández’s experience allows her to challenge conventional admissions thinking.”
—HARRY BAULD
Author of On Writing the College Application Essay

Customer Reviews

Average Customer Review

(27 customer reviews)

49 of 49 people found the following review helpful

The Single Most Helpful Book that I Have Read, December 30, 2004

Tyler B - See all my reviews

This review is from: Acing the College Application: How to Maximize Your Chances for Admission to the College of Your Choice (Paperback)

It's rare that I will take the time to rave about a book on Amazon, but this book is most certainly worth it. I have read literally dozens of college-advice books, and - without question - Dr. Hernandez' book has been the most helpful. In fact, if I could have only read one college-application book, this would most definitely be my choice (2nd place going to "On Writing the College Application, by Harry Bauld).

This book is remarkable because of the author's attention to detail. Unlike any other author, Hernandez takes you through the college application literally question-by-question. She also addresses minor questions that I've asked myself before: Should I type or print my application? What order do the supplemental-pages go in? How can I include my AP scores on the common application? etc. etc. All of this stuff may seem trivial now, but I promise you, when you get down the deadline and need a quick answer - you'll thank me (or more specifically, you'll thank the...Read more

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful

Excellent with many valuable details on the topic, July 13, 2005

Gaetan Lion - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Acing the College Application: How to Maximize Your Chances for Admission to the College of Your Choice (Paperback)

Michele Hernandez is one of the best private college counselors in the nation. She is also the author of the excellent college guide "A is for Admission." This book is one of the best among the 10 ones I have read. "Acing the College Application" is not as rich in insights and information as "A is for Admission." This is because it is focused on a more mechanical and narrow topic (how to best fill the actual application so as to maximize your chances).

Nevertheless, I still give this book a strong 5. This is because Hernandez advice on many of the details of filling application is so valuable. There are tons of strategic mistakes one is bound to do just out of ignorance. She gives you the inside scoop on how admission officers read, interpret, and assess the data and qualitative information you provide them. Without understanding somewhat how their brains work, you have little chance of getting in top college regardless of your academic record.

The first...Read more

54 of 58 people found the following review helpful

B+ for Acing the College Application, September 16, 2003

Lee Mellott "Skin Care For Wrinkles" (Maryland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Acing the College Application: How to Maximize Your Chances for Admission to the College of Your Choice (Paperback)

Michele A. Hernadez the author of "Acing the College Application" is an expert in the field of admissions. With a doctorate in education and her own college consulting business she boasts that she has close to 100% success rate at getting her clients admitted to top colleges. Sadly most of us can't afford a top notch counselor like Dr. Hernadez and often find ourselves floundering in piles of college applications overwhelmed by the daunting task of filling them out.Fortunately, Dr. Hernadez has written "Aciing the College Application" to help you present yourself in the best light possible. Learn how to highlight skills, talents and passions in just a few pages.And the book offers excellent information. It includes an indepth look at the common application. The truth about essays. How to ask guidance counselors and teachers for recommendations.
Which academic subjects, activities and work experience to mention and more.Sadly the more college preparation books I read...Read more