Customer Reviews

Full Ride To College: How To Win Scholarships And Get Admitted To The College Of Your Dreams

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book does not help you apply for scholarships or where sources of money are to get scholarships. Rather, it's a 'What Great Students Know' type book. It gives helpful study advice, such as
(a) don't study to get a high A. Study to get a low A.
(b) If you have a high B, do a bit more work to get a low A. But don't do too much work to get a high A.

The author implies each student can study just enough to get a low A, not a high A. I've never taken a class where i can pick out which things to study to get a low A versus a high A. This strategy only works on paper.

(c) Don't join clubs unless you're the president and can put the skill on the test.
(d) Being in National Honor Society isn't as useful as being the president of two or three high school clubs.

I didn't agree with most of the info. It says you'll stick out if you invent something and get a patent on it. Then, it includes 5 pages on applying for a patent, with a photocopy of a patent application.
It also advocates writing a book.

This isn't for high school kids, at least not for mine. My daughter with excellent grades is always busy. However, the author says she shouldn't be, that being too busy is a failure of planning.

This book feels gimmicky to me. Lots of ways to stand out to the application committee. But i'm assuming that the application committees know all the gimmicks that students use to get noticed.

If my opinion on this book hasn't dissuaded you from buying it, mine's for sale used. I need something that shows high school juniors and seniors where to apply for scholarships, and how to write application essays. This doesn't have that information, but the title and back cover implies it does.

Knight clearly knows what he's talking about, having been through the process at several of the best schools in the country. His advice is clear, easy to follow, and makes good sense. I really appreciate his advice for students who may not be A grade-wise but who are driven and have other skills to offer--Its refreshing that he addresses the value of this and how to high light it to get noticed, and more importantly, accepted.

Highly recommended!

This book is a gem! Andrew Knight's ideas for creating a "hook" are both practical and achievable. The fact that many of the "hooks" are based on his own background should encourage readers to examine their own experiences
to see how they can be used on a college application. I wish this book had been around when I was a school counselor!

Mary T. Richardson M.Ed

Let me start of with a couple of points of critique. Some of the ideas are slightly debatable. For instance, in Chapter 3 on the `Hook' more value is placed on activities that are not time-consuming than those that actually take up time. Does the experience of being involved not count for something? While this question is answered (p. 123) with the advice to pursue a cause "even if it takes a lot of blood, sweat, and tears," the book seems to contradict itself at least slightly on this point.

Chapter 2 on grade engineering also poses an issue. On page 48, the advice is given that if a student has a 98% average in English he should begin submitting C quality work. This seems to contradict earlier statements on page 23 about doing outstanding in select classes in order to receive excellent letters of recommendation. If one partakes in true grade engineering achieving the minimum it takes to receive an A, how can one impress those who are in a position to write a letter of recommendation?

Setting aside my knit-pickiness, all-in-all this book provides EXTREMELY valuable insight not only on winning scholarships and getting into the school of your choice, but on life in general. I have recently completed a bachelor's degree and wish that I had my hands on this book as a high-school freshman so that I would not currently have thousands of dollars in student loans. As a self-acknowledged perfectionist, Andrew Knight's book has truly led me to think more deeply (and even philosophically) about why I work so hard to be an overachiever and why I should instead be an "opti-achievier," putting focus on only the worthiest and most interesting activities. While this book is intended for students or parents of students, I personally feel that there are lessons provided that could seriously benefit anyone who reads this piece of work.

I met Andrew while I was an undergrad at MIT (he was a grad student) and can personally vouch for his credentials and experience.

I think Mr. Knight does a great job in this book because he takes a very fresh approach to getting into a great college and getting a lucrative scholarship. Knight tells students to focus on activities which add value and make you "stand out of the crowd", rather than the 100 standard things good students do in school. He really approaches the problem of building a great academic resume as a businessman -- he suggests that you can maximize a scarce resource (your time and attention) by focusing on unusual, high-profile, and unique activities.

Another interesting angle of the book is that it makes arguments and attempts to persuade the reader through rational argument, rather than fiat argument. If you have a smart high school kid, he or she will really appreciate the adult tone the book takes when suggesting different plans for achieving academic success. If you're a parent with a younger child, this book will make sense to you and will convince you that Knight is right.

In retrospect, I really wish I had this book when I was in high school. I spent a lot of time doing marginal activies (National Honor Society, humdrum community service, etc) and was generally really stressed out. I'm sure I could have spent my time much more effectively. I think kids today are under too much pressure to do too much stuff. This book can help you have academic success and enjoy your life at the same time.

Andrew Knight's book is a good read, easy to follow and is arranged well. The book provides strategies that Andrew used to get lots of money and get into great colleges, and the strategies are easy to follow and are things that would not be shown to you in any other book. If you are in high school, READ THIS BOOK! Its not just for high schoolers, but it is applicable for college students and for seniors ready to get out into the working world. But if you are in high school, now is the time to read the book and apply it's techniques to your life and get scholarships. The book really shows how easy it is to do this. It is great to see someone providing this sort of info in order to help others get great financial help and get into excellent institutions.

Brian Steele
Geology Major at University of Georgia
Graduating in the Fall 2008 with a B.S.

Knight's "Full Ride to College: How to Win Scholarships and Get Admitted to the College of Your Dreams" is a must have for every student. This book is very helpful in finding the many opportunities afforded the students aspiring to continue their education. I think that students should be equipped with this book in their last years of high school. It really helps you get motivated to have a successful college search and ways to finance your education. This book helps alleviate the stressful process of college applications and makes the transition a comforting one. Please buy this book for yourself if you are a student or for you children if you are a parent. College is possible and this books tells you how to get there!!!!

Andrew Knight's book, "Full Ride to College: How to Win Scholarships and Get Admitted to the College of your Dreams," is a spectacular read and is filled with beneficial information for anyone that is planning on applying to a college or university, whether it be for graduate school, undergraduate school, law school, or med school. Knight encompasses all that he has learned from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Georgetown Law School, and Princeton University and included it in this book. If you were not aware the three previous schools come with a hefty price tag and Knight found a way to enroll in all and do so without breaking the bank. His message in this book? You can too.

I received this book in time for preparing for law school and I can tell you I am very happy I did. Most of the methods that Knight uses in his book are simple game theory and practical techniques that he has applied to the application and scholarship processes for students. Knight uses these tactics to help students get the most out of their time; grade engineering, cost-benefit analysis, "The Magical Hook," which essential helps you stand out from a crowd of applications, cutting the fat with the "80/20 Principle," and a transformation processes that will turn a "B" student into a recipient of a reward from the Scholarship and College Admission Committee.

I truly reccomend this book to anyone that is remotely thinking about applying to college, no matter what level. No longer can you say you didn't apply to college because of the costs or because you thought you would be rejected because of borderline grades and activities. This book is very helpful and is a joy to read, Knight has really done the younger generation a service.

Bert Hummel
Graduate of Political Science from University of Georgia 2007
Law School Applicant
Lobbyist

Mr. Knight's book will show you how to win more scholarship money by studying less and redirecting your free time activities. The book shows you how to improve your image and how to impress scholarship committees. Had I known the techniques given in this book, I wouldn't be worrying about the mounds of debt that will be following me after college. The book would make a great gift for any high school student, and it is an essential read for any student serious about winning any type of scholarship. You can't argue with someone who earned over $1,000,000 in scholarships!

Clark MacAllister

What differentiates this book from others in the College-Bound genre is its ability to sift through the BS of college admissions and scholarship selection. Rather than filling pages with parental style advice and wisdom, it instructs the reader how to make a maximum return on their investment of time. Too often I have witnessed individuals overworking for menial results. The strategies put forth in this book allow for a prospective university student to not only achieve the goals set for himself, but to have time leftover to enjoy himself. Networking with others and making relationships while in college (and even high school) can prove to be more beneficial than a high GPA. And Mr. Knight's book provides one with the tools necessary to most efficiently use their time so that school doesn't take away from interpersonal and professional relationship building.

Matthew Littlefield
Banking and Finance, University of Georgia 2008