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Get into Any College: Secrets of Harvard Students
Based on the real-life experiences of students who were admitted to the United States' most prestigious universities, this guide provides proven strategies to get into and pay for any college. Detailing what high school students—from freshmen to seniors—can do to prepare, this updated edition addresses recent changes in admissions and financial-aid processes and the increasingly popular early-admissions option. Examples of applications, interviews, and 23 actual college-admission essays complement information on how parents can help without hurting, what it takes to ace the new SAT and ACT, and where students can find free cash for tuition. Stories of students' successes and failures reveal how the college-admissions and financial-aid processes really work, while giving a personal face to what is often seen as an impersonal experience. A section for special groups includes admission considerations for athletes, transfer and international students, students with disabilities, and home-schooled students.
- GenresCollege
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
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October 26, 2017
378.16197 TAN 2016
This is 2016 edition. This one has new SAT standard.
My summary: it is very comprehensive analysis about getting into college. I read quite a few this kind of book, I personal opinion with another 3 books, any parents could get solid image of college admission, and figure out how to help their kids.
Accepted! 50 Successful College Admission Essays by Gen Tanabe
Rock Hard Apps: How To Write A Killer College Application by Katherine Cohen (3 examples, A+, A; A, A-; A-,B+ students, how to repackage to make outstanding.
The Gatekeepers: Inside the Admissions Process of a Premier College by Jacques Steinberg (personal experience of one admission office)
Financial books
Get Free Cash for College is a scholarship strategy book
The Ultimate Scholarship is a scholarship directory
1001 Ways Pay for College discusses every conceivable way to fund your education
How to Write a Winning Scholarship Essay walks you through crafting a successful essay
Books mentioned in this book:
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations
Word Power Made Easy: The Complete Handbook for Building a Superior Vocabulary By Lewis, Norman (a great etymology-based book)
Very Useful Check-out lists.
1. p 7. What college consider in Deciding whom to admit.
Academics: Grade, Class rank, Difficulty of courses, SAT, ACT, SAT subject Test, AP, IB, School Report
Student Life : Extracurricular activities, Talent, Awards, Public service, Work experience, Athletics
Personal Characteristic : Essay, Interview, Recommendation letters/evaluations.
Other factors: Under-presented racial or ethnic background, Geographic background, Socio-economic background, Legacy(e.g Harvard 40% acceptance rate vs. 6%) Demonstrated interested
2. p17 Steps to success, your admissions timeline. 9th - 12th grade.
3. p22 Apply between 8 - 12 schools, with 3 ranges, each 2-3 schools.
4. p91 Essay-writing worksheet p91-102
4. p249 College search worksheet; Evaluation / recommendation worksheet; College cost of attendance worksheet; Financial aid worksheet.
Useful tips.
1. p 39 leadership does not mean you had to be an elected leader, but instead leading something yourself originally.
2. p 40. When to leave blank: white space is not aesthetically pleasing. If not enough activities, fill the space with description. But do not fill with meaningless information.
3. p42 Leave no questions unanswered: In the space that are not applicable to you, type a dash so that you know that you have not left the space blank by mistake.
Chap 5 : How to write an irresistible essay
p70 Recycling means interpret the essay questions in a less than literacy way and tell the reader this intention in the introduction. Perfect one essay, and interpret the college essay question connect to this perfect essay. My review: Although those typical essays questions is easy for me to answer, but it is often hard to kids to answer. Because either they lack the life experience, or could not grasp what these essays want from them., which in one sentence, their personal view of the world: your thought, your opinions, your goals, your growth. When I was young, I had no ideas what all these means, but at my current ages, I really have my goals, my thought. for example Originality, creativity, writing skill, analytical skills in an essay which theme is tenacity, Originality 你的亲身感受, creativity 写的角度不一样, writing skill, analytical skill 如何把主题融合在文章中而不是说教。我理想的ESSAY要朴实无华，用词简单，通过自己生活中的一件小事，生动并准确表达自己的性格特点，自己对生活的追求。所谓空洞就是尽喊口号，一些大道理，一些说教。我并不是说不能写大道理，只是作者要真正明白这些道理，否则明眼人一看就是假的。而且ESSAY一般500字的限制，很难写好有深度的文章。不如用自己生活中的一件小事，说明自己想要讲的主题，让人回味无穷。当然这样的文章不好写，但按照我的标准我认为是好文章。
Chap 8 The secrets to crushing the interview.
1. The interviews is really not that important.
2. Dress decent
3. When enter the room, looks at the wall (decoration of room) for clue whom the interviewers are.
4. Usually the interviewers enjoy their college experience and like to give advice.
5. 2 ways conversation, be good listener and talker.
6. Note the interviewers' reactions to the topic, if appears uncomfortable, change the topic.
7. keep current events available as usually they are good conversation starters.
Cbap 10 How to ace the SAT and ACT
SAT part
Section Total Questions Total Time (minutes)
Reading: 52 Questions / 65 minutes
Writing: 44 Questions / 35 minutes
Math: 58 Questions /80 minutes
Essay (Optional): 1 Question / 50 minutes
1. SAT math. Total 80 minutes into 55 min / 38 questions with a calculator, 25 min/20 questions w/o a calculator. 2 Type of questions, multiple choices, Student-produced Response or Grid-in.
2. The evidence-based reading and writing test
2.1 reading section: 52 questions. multiple choices, 65 minutes.
one passage from U.S or world literature;
one passage or pair passage from either a U.S founding document or related document such as U.S Constitution or a speech by a prominent world leader;
One passage about economics, psychology, sociology etc;
Two passages or one passage or a pair of passages about science;
2.2 writing and language section, 44 questions, multiple choices, 35 minutes.
read 400-450 passages and improve them, non-fiction.
3. The Essay test
optional, 50 minutes, read 650-750 passage, and write about it.
4. Score (400-1600).
5. SAT subjects: 20 exams, five subject area. Score 800, one hour. Colleges required 3 exams.
ACT :almost 3 hours, 4 subject areas.
1. The English test (75 questions, 45 minutes), grammar parts.
2. The math Test (60 questions, 60 minutes): preAlgebra(23%), Elementary Algebra (17%), Intermediate Algebra (15%), Coordinate Geometry (15%), Plane Geometry (23%), Trigonometry (7%), can use calculator.
3. The Reading Test (40 questions, 35 minutes): 4 college freshman-level reading passages.
4. The science reasoning test (40 questions, 35 minutes)
5. Score 1-36, subscore 1-18, is all multiple choices.
SAT vs. ACT
Content:
1. The ACT contains the Science Reasoning Test which covers the use of data representation, research summaries and conflicting viewpoints in the natural science. The SAT does not.
2. About 7% of the ACT math questions are based on trigonometry. The Does not test trigonometry.
Structure:
1. The test questions on the SAT get increasingly harder with each section. They do not on the ACT. In SAT Reading Section, the passages increase in difficulty, but the questions following the passages are in no particular order of difficulty.
2. The ACT is all multiple-choices. The SAT has "Student-produced response" math questions.
3. Both about 3 hours. ACT has 215 questions, SAT has 154 questions.
Scoring:
1. No penalty for wrong answers on SAT, ACT.
2. Score structure is different. I did not go over the score structure of ACT and SAT, since they are quite irrelevant to preparation of these tests, although detailed subscores are helpful to strengthen the weak points.
Some infos about test
1. p 186 Memorize formula, although all the formula are given in the test booklet.
2. p187. There are no negative answers or answers greater than 9,999. Percentages must be filled in as .75 or 3/4, not 75.
Other tests:
1. PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10
There tests make eligible for scholarship and special programs, such National Merit Scholarship or National Achievement Scholarship, Score high will be identify as Semifinalists.
Timeline for Testing
1. PSAT: exam is October, definitely take in junior year, recommend PSAT 10 in sophomore year.
2. SAT or ACT: spring of junior year, or fall of senior year for second chance. For early admission, take exam in fall and spring of junior year.
3. SAT subject: take as soon as possible after you have completed the related courses.
4. AP tests: exam in May. Take as soon as possible after you have completed the related courses. This score may help you to earn college credit.
Chap 11 How to win free cash for college
$238.9 billions financial aid.
助学金:指国家的钱，需要 financial need,一般叫Financial aid
奖学金: based on academic or personal achievement, 一般叫 scholarship.
types:
1. Grants or scholarships : no need pay back.
2. Federal work-study (FWS): need work
3. Loans: need pay back.
4. State Aid, e.g California's CalGrants, Georgia's Hope Scholarship.
2 criteria:
.need-based met by combination of grants, work-study or loans.
.merit-based: award for skill, not related to student's financial need.
.private scholarships can be need-based, merit-based or both.
Federal Financial Aid: all based on financial need, except unsubsidized Stafford loans, PLUS loans, and Consolidation loans.
.Federal Pell Grants: max to $5,775. no need to pay back.
.Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant
.Teacher Education Assistance for College and High Education Grants (TEACH grants).
.Federal Direct Stafford Loans: through Direct Loan Program, Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) program. subsidized (government pays the interest) vs. unsubsidized.
.Federal Plus Loans.
.Consolidation Loans.
Campus-based Programs : administered by the college financial aid offices.
.Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG): range $100 - $4,000
.Federal Work-Study (FWS).
.Federal Perkins Loans.
Financial Forms
.Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Should be completed as soon of Oct 1, deadline is usually Feb 1, could be earlier if applying for early admission. After one month of submitting FAFSA, receive a SAR (Student Aid Report).
.College Scholarship Service (CSS) Financial Aid PROFILE Service.
Earliest deadline for register is Dec 15 at www.collegeboard.org. Deadline for submitting is Feb 1. financial aid outside federal government.
.Business/Farm Supplement
.Non-custodial Parent's Statement
.College's Financial Aid Form
.Federal Income Tax Returns.
公式: COA - EFC = Financial Need
Cost of Attendance (COA: tuition, room and board, books and supplies, travel expenses)
Chap 12 Admissions for special groups
1. p211 Athletic scholarships are awarded for a maximum of one academic year and be renewed each year.
2. Home-schooled students. p218 According to Home School Legal Defense Association, there are over 1 millions home-schooled students, representing about 1% of those who are of school age. Consider take AP or CLEP tests.
This is 2016 edition. This one has new SAT standard.
My summary: it is very comprehensive analysis about getting into college. I read quite a few this kind of book, I personal opinion with another 3 books, any parents could get solid image of college admission, and figure out how to help their kids.
Accepted! 50 Successful College Admission Essays by Gen Tanabe
Rock Hard Apps: How To Write A Killer College Application by Katherine Cohen (3 examples, A+, A; A, A-; A-,B+ students, how to repackage to make outstanding.
The Gatekeepers: Inside the Admissions Process of a Premier College by Jacques Steinberg (personal experience of one admission office)
Financial books
Get Free Cash for College is a scholarship strategy book
The Ultimate Scholarship is a scholarship directory
1001 Ways Pay for College discusses every conceivable way to fund your education
How to Write a Winning Scholarship Essay walks you through crafting a successful essay
Books mentioned in this book:
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations
Word Power Made Easy: The Complete Handbook for Building a Superior Vocabulary By Lewis, Norman (a great etymology-based book)
Very Useful Check-out lists.
1. p 7. What college consider in Deciding whom to admit.
Academics: Grade, Class rank, Difficulty of courses, SAT, ACT, SAT subject Test, AP, IB, School Report
Student Life : Extracurricular activities, Talent, Awards, Public service, Work experience, Athletics
Personal Characteristic : Essay, Interview, Recommendation letters/evaluations.
Other factors: Under-presented racial or ethnic background, Geographic background, Socio-economic background, Legacy(e.g Harvard 40% acceptance rate vs. 6%) Demonstrated interested
2. p17 Steps to success, your admissions timeline. 9th - 12th grade.
3. p22 Apply between 8 - 12 schools, with 3 ranges, each 2-3 schools.
4. p91 Essay-writing worksheet p91-102
4. p249 College search worksheet; Evaluation / recommendation worksheet; College cost of attendance worksheet; Financial aid worksheet.
Useful tips.
1. p 39 leadership does not mean you had to be an elected leader, but instead leading something yourself originally.
2. p 40. When to leave blank: white space is not aesthetically pleasing. If not enough activities, fill the space with description. But do not fill with meaningless information.
3. p42 Leave no questions unanswered: In the space that are not applicable to you, type a dash so that you know that you have not left the space blank by mistake.
Chap 5 : How to write an irresistible essay
p70 Recycling means interpret the essay questions in a less than literacy way and tell the reader this intention in the introduction. Perfect one essay, and interpret the college essay question connect to this perfect essay. My review: Although those typical essays questions is easy for me to answer, but it is often hard to kids to answer. Because either they lack the life experience, or could not grasp what these essays want from them., which in one sentence, their personal view of the world: your thought, your opinions, your goals, your growth. When I was young, I had no ideas what all these means, but at my current ages, I really have my goals, my thought. for example Originality, creativity, writing skill, analytical skills in an essay which theme is tenacity, Originality 你的亲身感受, creativity 写的角度不一样, writing skill, analytical skill 如何把主题融合在文章中而不是说教。我理想的ESSAY要朴实无华，用词简单，通过自己生活中的一件小事，生动并准确表达自己的性格特点，自己对生活的追求。所谓空洞就是尽喊口号，一些大道理，一些说教。我并不是说不能写大道理，只是作者要真正明白这些道理，否则明眼人一看就是假的。而且ESSAY一般500字的限制，很难写好有深度的文章。不如用自己生活中的一件小事，说明自己想要讲的主题，让人回味无穷。当然这样的文章不好写，但按照我的标准我认为是好文章。
Chap 8 The secrets to crushing the interview.
1. The interviews is really not that important.
2. Dress decent
3. When enter the room, looks at the wall (decoration of room) for clue whom the interviewers are.
4. Usually the interviewers enjoy their college experience and like to give advice.
5. 2 ways conversation, be good listener and talker.
6. Note the interviewers' reactions to the topic, if appears uncomfortable, change the topic.
7. keep current events available as usually they are good conversation starters.
Cbap 10 How to ace the SAT and ACT
SAT part
Section Total Questions Total Time (minutes)
Reading: 52 Questions / 65 minutes
Writing: 44 Questions / 35 minutes
Math: 58 Questions /80 minutes
Essay (Optional): 1 Question / 50 minutes
1. SAT math. Total 80 minutes into 55 min / 38 questions with a calculator, 25 min/20 questions w/o a calculator. 2 Type of questions, multiple choices, Student-produced Response or Grid-in.
2. The evidence-based reading and writing test
2.1 reading section: 52 questions. multiple choices, 65 minutes.
one passage from U.S or world literature;
one passage or pair passage from either a U.S founding document or related document such as U.S Constitution or a speech by a prominent world leader;
One passage about economics, psychology, sociology etc;
Two passages or one passage or a pair of passages about science;
2.2 writing and language section, 44 questions, multiple choices, 35 minutes.
read 400-450 passages and improve them, non-fiction.
3. The Essay test
optional, 50 minutes, read 650-750 passage, and write about it.
4. Score (400-1600).
5. SAT subjects: 20 exams, five subject area. Score 800, one hour. Colleges required 3 exams.
ACT :almost 3 hours, 4 subject areas.
1. The English test (75 questions, 45 minutes), grammar parts.
2. The math Test (60 questions, 60 minutes): preAlgebra(23%), Elementary Algebra (17%), Intermediate Algebra (15%), Coordinate Geometry (15%), Plane Geometry (23%), Trigonometry (7%), can use calculator.
3. The Reading Test (40 questions, 35 minutes): 4 college freshman-level reading passages.
4. The science reasoning test (40 questions, 35 minutes)
5. Score 1-36, subscore 1-18, is all multiple choices.
SAT vs. ACT
Content:
1. The ACT contains the Science Reasoning Test which covers the use of data representation, research summaries and conflicting viewpoints in the natural science. The SAT does not.
2. About 7% of the ACT math questions are based on trigonometry. The Does not test trigonometry.
Structure:
1. The test questions on the SAT get increasingly harder with each section. They do not on the ACT. In SAT Reading Section, the passages increase in difficulty, but the questions following the passages are in no particular order of difficulty.
2. The ACT is all multiple-choices. The SAT has "Student-produced response" math questions.
3. Both about 3 hours. ACT has 215 questions, SAT has 154 questions.
Scoring:
1. No penalty for wrong answers on SAT, ACT.
2. Score structure is different. I did not go over the score structure of ACT and SAT, since they are quite irrelevant to preparation of these tests, although detailed subscores are helpful to strengthen the weak points.
Some infos about test
1. p 186 Memorize formula, although all the formula are given in the test booklet.
2. p187. There are no negative answers or answers greater than 9,999. Percentages must be filled in as .75 or 3/4, not 75.
Other tests:
1. PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10
There tests make eligible for scholarship and special programs, such National Merit Scholarship or National Achievement Scholarship, Score high will be identify as Semifinalists.
Timeline for Testing
1. PSAT: exam is October, definitely take in junior year, recommend PSAT 10 in sophomore year.
2. SAT or ACT: spring of junior year, or fall of senior year for second chance. For early admission, take exam in fall and spring of junior year.
3. SAT subject: take as soon as possible after you have completed the related courses.
4. AP tests: exam in May. Take as soon as possible after you have completed the related courses. This score may help you to earn college credit.
Chap 11 How to win free cash for college
$238.9 billions financial aid.
助学金:指国家的钱，需要 financial need,一般叫Financial aid
奖学金: based on academic or personal achievement, 一般叫 scholarship.
types:
1. Grants or scholarships : no need pay back.
2. Federal work-study (FWS): need work
3. Loans: need pay back.
4. State Aid, e.g California's CalGrants, Georgia's Hope Scholarship.
2 criteria:
.need-based met by combination of grants, work-study or loans.
.merit-based: award for skill, not related to student's financial need.
.private scholarships can be need-based, merit-based or both.
Federal Financial Aid: all based on financial need, except unsubsidized Stafford loans, PLUS loans, and Consolidation loans.
.Federal Pell Grants: max to $5,775. no need to pay back.
.Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant
.Teacher Education Assistance for College and High Education Grants (TEACH grants).
.Federal Direct Stafford Loans: through Direct Loan Program, Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) program. subsidized (government pays the interest) vs. unsubsidized.
.Federal Plus Loans.
.Consolidation Loans.
Campus-based Programs : administered by the college financial aid offices.
.Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG): range $100 - $4,000
.Federal Work-Study (FWS).
.Federal Perkins Loans.
Financial Forms
.Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Should be completed as soon of Oct 1, deadline is usually Feb 1, could be earlier if applying for early admission. After one month of submitting FAFSA, receive a SAR (Student Aid Report).
.College Scholarship Service (CSS) Financial Aid PROFILE Service.
Earliest deadline for register is Dec 15 at www.collegeboard.org. Deadline for submitting is Feb 1. financial aid outside federal government.
.Business/Farm Supplement
.Non-custodial Parent's Statement
.College's Financial Aid Form
.Federal Income Tax Returns.
公式: COA - EFC = Financial Need
Cost of Attendance (COA: tuition, room and board, books and supplies, travel expenses)
Chap 12 Admissions for special groups
1. p211 Athletic scholarships are awarded for a maximum of one academic year and be renewed each year.
2. Home-schooled students. p218 According to Home School Legal Defense Association, there are over 1 millions home-schooled students, representing about 1% of those who are of school age. Consider take AP or CLEP tests.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews