Customer Reviews

Get Into Any College: Secrets of Harvard Students (Get Into Any College, 2nd ed)

5 star:		(16)
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2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

My name is Robert Forsgard and I am a recently retired admissions offer from a private university on the east coast. I have read nearly all of the books on college admissions and have found most to be helpful (a few harmful) but none more useful than this book.

Let me first say that I was interviewed by the authors of this book during their initial research. However, I am not otherwise affiliated with the book, its authors, or the publishing company and I have never received any payment from them.

One of the most frustrating aspects of my job was the fact that we received so many poor applications from otherwise good students. You could tell from the transcripts and grades and recommendations that these were bright young men and women. But, when it came to completing the application they utterly failed.

As an educator I am a firm believer that the more you know the better you'll do. Just like studying for a test, putting some effort toward learning how to present yourself in a college application can make the difference between acceptance and rejection.

There are few books like this one that show you how to create a strong application. By showing what a well written application and essay look like this book is an effective tool for helping students navigate the admissions process. This book shows you what a model application looks like, which common mistakes to avoid, and how to fit your best qualities into the format of the application.

Frankly, a large number of the applicants we reject are fine students who would do well in our school. However, because they could not compose an application that showcased their strengths we had no choice but to reject them. If every student who applied to our college had read a book like this my job would have been a thousand times more difficult.

Robert Forsgard

There are a lot of books on this subject, but Get Into Any College is a true stand out. It gives great advice to students and is not afraid to reveal how the admissions process really works.

My son read this book from cover to cover and kept referring back to it during his college applications. The many examples and tips came in handy especially while he was writing his essay.

I enjoyed the chapter for parents but wish there was a little more since this book is really written for students. It even has a before-you-are-a-senior section with tips on how to prepare.

This is one book we will keep and pass on to others in our family who will need it soon. I'm so glad someone has written a book that does not fool around and gives students what they need to get into their dream college. Bravo!

mj2727@yahoo.com

As a senior who just got into college this year I read a bunch of books on admissions. Most were outdated (as in the authors had graduated 10 or more years ago) or contained mostly common sense advice. However, "Get Into Any College: Secrets Of Harvard Students" was neither dated nor uninformative. In fact, of the half dozen books I read "Get Into Any College" was the only one that provided me with actual advice and strategies that I could use to create a knock-out application. The book reads like a manual and when I was done I felt as if I had learned a whole new skill. The book reads so well that I finished the whole thing (over 250 pages) in one day - of course I didn't sleep until 4am! "Get Into Any College" was my constant companion for most of this year. I'm just glad I found it in time.

Thomas Sweeny

I've read the book and heard Jim and Lisa speak at a free seminar in southern California. I can't even begin to explain how insightful and useful the information in their book is to college admissions. My daughter Jen kept this book on her desk the entire time she completed her applications.

What makes this book so useful is the philosophy of Jim and Lisa which is rather than approach admissions from an admissions officer's point of view they do it from the student's point of view. Showing how students HAVE gotten into college and distilling their successes and failures into solid principles proved invaluable for my daughter. This is very different than other books written by former admissions officers and I don't know of any other like it.

Jim and Lisa are real pros and it's nice to know that students can turn to their book for guidance. I don't know how Jen could have finished her apps without it.

Highly Recommended

This is an unusual and excellent book on the subject. It was written by two very young adults who recently went through this grueling college admission process and succeeded beyond anyone wildest dreams. Indeed, the two coauthors were accepted to every school they applied including Harvard and all the other Ivy League schools. They also won over $100,000 in merit based scholarships. So, these guys are unquestionably the champs of the college admission game. They are the Michael Jordan of the college admission set.

They show you how they did it. Essentially, it is by leaving much less to chance than any of the other applicants. They show a level of readiness, preparedness, thoroughness, and maturity that is uncanny. Their attitude and methodology will make you not only successful in your college admission process, but in business, and life.

One of the keys is to realize that success is dependent on both quantitative factors (GPAs, test scores) and qualitative factors (extracurricular achievements, essays, and evaluations). In most aspect in life this is also true; you need a good mix of IQ and EQ to succeed. The authors actually make a case that the essay may be the most important part of the application. They state that in terms of getting into the top schools, a great essay can make up for a mediocre GPA (anything is relative, I think we are talking about a 3.4 GPA). But, an excellent GPA (4.0) can not make up for a poor essay. Evaluations are also critical. Again, the authors leave very little to chance, and show you a neat way to make your recommenders write you first class evaluations (give them a banzai resume, show them an article on writing recommendation, etc...).

This is the first book I read on this subject. And, `Get Into College' has set the bar extremely high for all other books on this subject.

Outstanding. What was different about this book was that it gave practical advice that I could actually use. I used the advice for writing my applications and essays. Before reading this book, I had no idea what to expect in my college applications, and I didn't have a clue about what to write for my essay. Get Into Any College had examples of applications and essays, which really helped me see what to do. The book also helped me be less nervous for my interviews. I had no idea that you could practice for your college interviews.

I also liked that it was written in a friendly way. The authors didn't talk down to me. It was interesting to read about their personal experiences and about the mistakes that other students have made. It made me feel better that I wasn't an expert on getting into college and that if I made a mistake it wouldn't be the end of the world.

My counselor recommended this book to me, and I recommend it to any seniors who have questions about how to apply to college. I've read other books, and this is the best because it really gave me information I could use.

Outstanding. What was different about this book was that it gave practical advice that I could actually use. I used the advice for writing my applications and essays. Before reading this book, I had no idea what to expect in my college applications, and I didn't have a clue about what to write for my essay. Get Into Any College had examples of applications and essays, which really helped me see what to do. The book also helped me be less nervous for my interviews. I had no idea that you could practice for your college interviews.

I also liked that it was written in a friendly way. The authors didn't talk down to me. It was interesting to read about their personal experiences and about the mistakes that other students have made. It made me feel better that I wasn't an expert on getting into college and that if I made a mistake it wouldn't be the end of the world.

My counselor recommended this book to me, and I recommend it to any seniors who have questions about how to apply to college. I've read other books, and this is the best because it really gave me information I could use.

I am a parent of three college-bound high schoolers. This book is extremely practical. I highly recommend it. The best parts are chapters 5 through 7 on the essay writing. Chapter 4 on getting the right evaluation letters is also excellent. Get a copy. You won't regret it!

Dearest nervous, jittery, college applicants,

I'm the living, breathing proof that one need not be an academic superstar in order to make it into the college of their dreams. .... Who would have thought that someone like me would end up among the academically elite of Harvard? If I had relied solely upon my highschool grades, as I believed every college would, then I might never have known the potential I possessed to excell. I didn't realize that a bad home life was affecting my grades, and I was convinced that the C-'s I got would overshadow the 1540 I received on my SAT's. I owe a lot to this incredible book and it's practical advice, because the first thing it pointed out to me was that grades aren't the definitive deciding factor for <I>any</I> college. Personal essays, recommendations and SAT scores (though, the latter isn't always important), are often what allows students with ho-hum grades to get into the most prestigious colleges in the country. At the time my measly 3.4 convinced me that I was bound for DVC or some other junior college, but the moment I began reading the book(on the recommendation of a friend)I realized there was hope for me yet. I highly recommend going out and buying this book, which will shed light on avenues you may have thought were closed to you forever.

Written by Harvard graduates, Get Into Any College: Secrets Of Harvard Students reveals the secret of why every college that they applied to accepted them without delay. In a time of increasingly competitive tests, standards, and petitions to enter the most prestigious colleges, the newly updated second edition of Get Into Any College is more valuable than ever. Its strategies will help a prospective college applicant bolster SAT and ACT scores (the authors used these techniques to raise their own SAT scores by over 100 points), find more scholarships, and improve writing skills through a 5-step essay workshop. With special strategies for parents to help their high school children get a head start, and specific advice for transfer, international, athlete and adult students, Get Into Any College is a "must" for any prospective college student who wants to ensure that he or she will attend the best possible educational institution!