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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.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Library Journal
Just about anything you would need to know to be accepted into an Ivy League school can be found in this very detailed, very specific volume. Aimed at informing both students and parents, it begins where you might not expect?preschool and kindergarten?and continues on with advice for the middle school/junior high years. Then comes the bulk of the text?a student's high school years. Hernandez offers tips and suggestions on everything from what high school classes students should take to what national tests and when; what to expect during the personal interview; what to do if you are (or are not) accepted. As a former admissions officer at Dartmouth, Hernandez knows what she's talking about, but her writing is not as tight as it could be. Certain information is repeated, perhaps to stress important points, but at times it's bothersome. Still, this would be a welcome addition to most public libraries.?Terry A. Christner, Hutchinson P.L., Kan.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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