B+ Grades, A+ College Application: How to Present Your Strongest Self, Write a Standout Admissions Essay, and Get Into the Perfect School for You

by Joie Jager-Hyman

ABOUT THIS BOOK...

This alternative college guide from a former Dartmouth assistant admissions director-turned-consultant gives non-straight-A students advice on the many options available to them and tips on how to identify, gain admittance to, and pay for the schools that will allow them to flourish.

Less-than-perfect grades? No problem!
Contrary to popular opinion, you don’t need to have a 4.0 GPA or a perfect jump shot to get into a good college. This insider’s guide reveals easy tweaks that will pay off big-time in showing admissions officers that you as a whole—not just your SAT scores—are a perfect fit for their incoming class. With stellar advice on getting into schools that will allow you to thrive, this handbook reveals how

- Find great colleges that are a good match for your strengths (and will overlook less-relevant weaknesses)
- Painlessly beef up your application
- Tailor extracurriculars to showcase your uniqueness
- Make sure your recommendation letters emphasize the right qualities
- Write original essays that reveal traits beyond your transcript
- Make an impression on admissions officers and college interviewers
- Create an early-admissions strategy to increase your likelihood of acceptance
- Help your chances if you’re deferred
- Get into brand-name schools through the side door
- Communicate about learning disabilities or special circumstances
- Get scholarship money based on attributes other than grades
- Customize your financial aid strategy

Includes an appendix of 130+ selective colleges to consider!

Genres: College, Education

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[kam · Rating 4 out of 5]

So... I actually read this book. Not like I flipped through it—I read ALL THE PAGES. It was okay, I guess. Panic induced reading is never really that fun, and especially not at 3 in the morning. It's also somewhat out of date, considering it was written in 2013. Also: not entirely sure why I'm writing a review? But I did, so here you go.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great at helping my college admission's progress!! I read this in chunks at a time (whenever you reach a part of your application you need help on) since this is not a story, but a helpful guide of different tips.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son is solid B student and has been discouraged for some time because everything he hears online and in school is that in order to get into a selective college he has to have perfect grades. After reading this book and learning more about the application and admission process, we both feel much more at ease. There are plenty of non-academic things he can do to help increase his chances of admission. He is already planning to work on his extracurricular resume and get more involved in his after school activities. Also, I didn’t realize how beneficial it is to apply early action/decision and how doing so can actually help him get accepted! This book shares wonderful insider advice and admissions information to help students like my son find a great school for him. Thank you for writing something that addresses this often overlooked type of student!! He is already much more confident with moving forward in this process…he’s even redoing his college list!

[Wendy Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though this book is written for "B" students, it is applicable to any student who wants to ace the college application process. Dr. Jager-Hyman provides the perfect blend of practical tips and real-life examples. Even an A student will find great information like the following:

- How to get awesome recommendation letters
- Help deciding whether to focus on the ACT or SAT test
- How to write a resume/accomplishments doc that does not repeat what is listed elsewhere in the application
- How admission counselors read through applications (Dr. Jager-Hyman used to be one)
- Merit aid and need-based financial aid tips
- How parents can help (and hurt) in the college application process
- A comprehensive high school Junior-year and Senior-year college application timeline

I highly recommend this book to everyone facing the college application process.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book that not only speaks to the needs of students with B grades, but also students with learning disabilities and special circumstances. My daughter is dyslexic and we have been struggling with how to make this known on her college applications. She is a brilliant math student, but her English grades do not accurately reflect her academic abilities because of the dyslexia. She has been granted extra time to take exams in school, but before this book we didn’t even know it was possible to do so for the ACT and SAT! For her college applications, it was such a relief to have an official viewpoint on how she should convey her learning disability without making it seem like she is using it as a crutch. This book serves as a wonderful guide for students with learning disabilities and how to put a positive spin on something often viewed in a negative light.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I certainly disagree with certain points the author attempts to sell, but there is definitely some merit to pieces of advice that the author gives.