How to Be a High School Superstar: A Revolutionary Plan to Get into College by Standing Out (Without Burning Out) 1st Edition

by Cal Newport (Author)

69 customer reviews

ISBN-13: 978-0767932585

ISBN-10: 0767932587

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Do Less, Live More, Get Accepted

What if getting into your reach schools didn’t require four years of excessive A.P. classes, overwhelming activity schedules, and constant stress?

In How to Be a High School Superstar, Cal Newport explores the world of relaxed superstars—students who scored spots at the nation’s top colleges by leading uncluttered, low stress, and authentic lives. Drawing from extensive interviews and cutting-edge science, Newport explains the surprising truths behind these superstars’ mixture of happiness and admissions success, including:

·        Why doing less is the foundation for becoming more impressive.
·        Why demonstrating passion is meaningless, but being interesting is crucial.
·        Why accomplishments that are hard to explain are better than accomplishments that are hard to do.

These insights are accompanied by step-by-step instructions to help any student adopt the relaxed superstar lifestyle—proving that getting into college doesn’t have to be a chore to survive, but instead can be the reward for living a genuinely interesting life.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

“As a former Ivy League admissions officer, I was overjoyed to see a book that hit the nail on the head regarding selective college admissions and how to take the process in stride. Students will find his book extremely useful and admissions officers will be relieved to see applicants who escape the cookie-cutter syndrome.” —Dr. Michele Hernández, author of A Is for Admission and co-founder of Top Tier Admissions

“Disguised as a peppy college-admission guide, Newport’s book is actually a profound, life-affirming manifesto for ambitious high school students. Forgo the sleepless and cynical path to college acceptance. Instead, blaze your trail to the Ivy League by living a full life and immersing yourself in things that matter. Relax. Find meaning. Be you.” —David Shenk, author of The Genius in All of Us

“How to Be a High School Superstar should be on the shelf of every student who wonders how to stand out in the increasingly competitive race to get into a top college. Cal Newport has a keen sense of what types of students and activities appeal to college admissions officers and his advice is exceptionally easy to execute. His approach will not only help you win the admissions race, it will keep you sane while you run the marathon.” —Joie Jager-Hyman, author of Fat Envelope Frenzy and B+ Grades, A+ College Application

“This book changes everything. Put away your traditional college plan and get ready to learn something that really works.” —Chris Guillebeau, author of The $100 Startup and The Art of Non-Conformity

About the Author

Cal Newport graduated from Dartmouth College, earned a Ph.D. from MIT, and is now an associate professor of computer science at Georgetown University. He’s the author of five books, including most recently the Wall Street Journal business bestseller Deep Work. He also runs the popular blog Study Hacks, which explores the impact of technology on our ability to perform productive work and lead satisfying lives. His contrarian ideas have been featured on many major media platforms, including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Economist and NPR. Visit him online at calnewport.com.

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Product details

Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Three Rivers Press; 1 edition (July 27, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0767932587
ISBN-13: 978-0767932585
Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.7 x 8 inches
Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 69 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #27,459 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #48 in Books > Education & Teaching > Schools & Teaching > Student Life
- #54 in Books > Teens > Education & Reference > Study Aids > College Entrance
- #88 in Books > Education & Teaching > Higher & Continuing Education > Test Preparation > College Entrance

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Great for High School Students or Anyone Who Wants an Interesting Life

April 5, 2013

Verified Purchase

***THE BOTTOM LINE***

I definitely recommend this book. It has good, unconventional advice on how to succeed as a high school student without being a social reject. This advice will probably NOT be common sense to the type-A students out there who have been raised thinking the successful students do homework from 6p-12a every night. If you know a student who wants to get into an elite university, this book provides evidenced techniques for succeeding toward that end.

***A FULLER REVIEW***

I picked this book up for my brother, who's in high school. Secretly, I--being a university Freshman--wanted to read it too. The book's lessons can be life-changing if you listen and have faith in Newport's advice.

I was the opposite of relaxed in high-school. I was stressed, involved in service clubs I didn't care about, and taking 6 AP courses each semester my senior year. I got a 30 on my ACT, which was certainly nothing spectacular in the eyes of most elite schools. Not surprisingly, my laundry list of unremarkable endeavors, A average in AP courses, and mediocre standardized test scores did NOT get me into Harvard, MIT, Yale, Dartmouth, Columbia...(seriously, the list of elite schools to which I applied and was rejected is embarrassingly long). This book explains, in explicit detail, why my attempt at getting into the elite universities was flawed, and it also explains the optimal way to try to get into elite universities.

For high-school students, the book gives excellent advice for lowering stress (e.g. stop working at a certain time each day, do some thinking/reading in solitude, don't give up your entire life for school, etc.). The book also gives excellent advice for improving grades (i.e. note-taking methods, studying strategies, etc.) and advice for doing interesting things outside the classroom. It is a very balanced approach to high-school life that, when executed correctly, will make a student more impressive AND leave her with more free time than the alternative (i.e. my approach described above).

For the general public, this book contains valuable lessons about creating a more interesting life. The rules still apply, if you're creative enough to seek the applications. Not working past a certain point in the day, pursuing endeavors that are innovative, and cultivating a reading habit are among the many broadly applicable tips Newport gives throughout the book.

My main critique of the book is that it doesn't explicitly spell out how much of your free time should be used for interesting pursuits versus totally social activity (e.g. hanging out with friends). I suppose the author leaves it to you to discern that Friday and Saturday nights are good times to interact with other humans.

This book was definitely worth the few days it took me to read through it. If you're interested in becoming interesting (and perhaps getting into an elite university), this book will spell the process out for you.

22 people found this helpful

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Katherine O'Brien, MA CCPS

College Consultant's Top Pick

March 3, 2018

Verified Purchase

As a college consultant, I share this book with my clients. It is correct in its content and is written in a very readable style. It's a little on the long side for some teens but it needs to be in order to cover all that's needed. They've really benefited from it and it helps me convey to them the whole picture of what a superstar looks like. The many examples of ways to shine help inspire ideas, too.

3 people found this helpful

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greenguitargirl

Got me into college.

December 1, 2014

Verified Purchase

woo bought this in 2010. It is 2014, and I completely forgot to write the review I meant to write: I GOT INTO COLLEGE! And not just any college, but an IVY LEAGUE! Great book. Also liked his "How to be a straight-A student" book. Read it, follow it, and you will succeed (insert thumbs up emojji here).

10 people found this helpful

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good perspective

June 11, 2012

Verified Purchase

I'm about a third of the way through this book. It is easy to read and presents information in an interesting narrative, with relevant personal stories. It is geared towards students who pressure themselves to succeed. It lends a fresh perspective on the value of allowing time to simply pursue what interests them, not doing things because they hope will impress college admissions officers. Many very bright students with loads of extracurriculars compete for select colleges, but this book says that it is the student who is the interesting person, who has found an area that excites them, which can only be found if the student is not overscheduled, who will catch the interest of admissions officers reviewing hundreds of applications.

9 people found this helpful

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This book has AMAZING advice for the current generation that wants to get ...

November 10, 2016

Verified Purchase

This book has AMAZING advice for the current generation that wants to get into Ivy league schools. If only I had followed this book when high school started... my life would be so much better. Although it has great advice, if one does not follow it, one will not accomplish anything. I still believe someone can change their life if they put their mind into it.

2 people found this helpful

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Ricardo Meléndez Castellanos

March 19, 2014

Verified Purchase

This is a book that make you think "out of the box". It is kind of confusing at the begining but the author takes you, step by step, throught the process of understanding the "Super tar relaxed Student" concept. The best part is that he gives great tips about having an interesting life, that makes you have more chances to get to the college you want. If you have children about to enter High School this is an escential reading (for you and them).

One person found this helpful

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