College Admissions Cracked: Saving Your Kid (and Yourself) from the Madness

by Jill Margaret Shulman

How to help your kid navigate the college admissions process -- from scheduling standardized tests to writing essays -- month by month, girlfriend's-guide style.
So, your child is a high school junior. You've heard other parents with kids older than yours whisper the word "college" like it was a terminal disease. You've seen their taut, maniacal grins as they try to hold it together. The process of weathering and conquering the college admissions process with a teenager is a daunting affair for many. Advice will pour in through friends, your child's guidance counselor, and your mother's neighbor's cousin.
Thankfully, Jill Margaret Shulman, a college admissions coach, application evaluator, college writing instructor, essayist, author, and empathetic parent, is here to be your fiercest ally. She'll guide you through the entire crazy ritual that college admissions has become, month by month, breath by deep, cleansing breath, until you drop your kid off at college where she will ignore your phone calls and texts.
Come as you are -- whether chill or roiling with anxiety -- and Shulman, along with a platoon of experts and fellow parents, will help you maintain your strength and sense of self-worth, so easily lost somewhere between your teenager's screaming, "I hate you! You're ruining my life!" and typing your credit card number into the College Board's website for the twentieth time.
You've got college admissions cracked, and now, this book has got your back.

"One of the best College books of all time" - BookAuthority

Genres: Nonfiction, College, Parenting

319 pages, Paperback

Published August 6, 2019

Reviews

[Sharon Guskin]

A welcome dose of wisdom and sanity, College Admissions Cracked gives you all the information you need to feel confident guiding your kid through the process and to stay as calm as possible throughout. I loved the way the book is broken down into what to do in various seasons and the astute psychological knowledge of kids and parents (and their relationship) that drives this advice. Plus, the author clearly knows what she's talking about, from years of experience. Useful across the board for both parents and kids.

[Carin Clevidence]

This book is an incredibly helpful resource for the overwhelmed parent. I have navigated the college admissions process twice now, and wish I had had it from the start. Now I'm sending it to every friend & family member with high school aged children. It's clear, informative, and reassuring.

[Kelly]

Dear reader, I know what you are thinking. “But Kelly your kid is just a sophomore!” And while that is true, she won’t always be and I prefer to be prepared. I was the first one to graduate from college in my family. And having gone to an inner city school in the 90s, I received no help or guidance from either the school or my family. I will not do that to my kids. So this Mom has been doing her homework!
I got this from the library and it is good enough to buy! It has a timeline for Junior and Senior years. The author walks you through all of the decision making processes, with sanity saving advice.
With an ambitious teenager, I will be needing this book!

[Gwyneth]

I'd put this up pretty high on my list of recommended reading if you've got a kid going off to college in a few years. Ideally you should ready this around the end of Sophomore year. Also, it was published in 2019 and the college admissions scene can change pretty quickly (the last few years saw a new FAFSA, major Supreme Court rulings, COVID, and Trump funding cuts upending higher education) so this doesn't take the place of staying on top of the latest developments. Still, it had practical guidance and information that I haven't seen anywhere else, and it's written in an easy, conversational style.

[Naomi]

My firstborn is heading to college this fall. I read an ARC of this book just after she got some of her acceptances -- and man, do I wish I'd had it about a year or so prior! It was still helpful, though, in terms of helping me navigate the end stages of this madness that we call the college admissions process, and I'll be taking tips from it as my next kid gets ready to apply. Shulman (which is also my last name -- no relation) writes with down-to-earth humor and realistic, brass-tacks savvy. Every parent with a college-bound kid should read it, seriously.

[Pam]

As most folks at goodreads are avid readers, let me give you some advice that I learned the hard way. When you've got a student in the process of applying to college, rather than reading every guide out there, you just need one book-- College Admissions Cracked. You're welcome. Now you've got time to help your kid succeed AND still read all those other great books you've heard about on goodreads!

After reading College Admissions Cracked, complete with to-do lists and links to free online resources, you will have a complete understanding of the college admissions process. The best part is that the book follows a timeline of what your student should be doing junior and senior year... so just read as you go, and tackle the process one step at a time. Or maybe the best part is the author's approach of guiding parents through this daunting process with a firm hand but a sense of humor, giving us all the much-needed confidence to help our kids through the college admissions process.

[Sheila Hirschauer]

This is a perfect step by step book for anyone heading into college in the near future. It's broken into small segments appropriate for specific timelines - ideal to start reading when the student is entering Junior year in High School.

Reading the entire book at once is not needed ... nor is it intended in that manner. Read as you go with each section being clearly identified ("Fall of Junior year") so that you /your child know exactly what to expect in that semester of school.

Great book to help make sure you've checked all of the boxes and help reduce anxiety around the admissions process!

[Kim Friedman]

Terrific book that reviews every step through the admissions process - tours, applications, testing, etc. She breaks down each semester and things to do starting with the student's junior year. After each section, the author provides a recap in a checklist format. These were incredibly helpful! I already gifted this book to three of my friends with juniors in high school.

My only negative comment about this book is the author's constant reference to using alcohol to get through the college application process. It was silly in the first chapter perhaps, but it grew tiresome in later chapters.

"Stock up on the beverage of choice."
"Uncork that wine and celebrate."
"Gatherings of parents around a wine bottle."
"Complain to friends over wine or cocktails."

The college application process is stressful for students. We are the adults. They need our guidance, love and support. I got through it just fine without a glass of wine in my hand. You can too. <3

[Katie]

Picked this up at the library and found it to be so useful that I've bought a copy for reference. The cover art is a turn-off and I could have done with a bit less of the "it will be okay, just breathe" tone (reassuring at first but too much as the book progresses). But very good advice, great lists of resources, and helpful checklists and descriptions of what to expect for each month or semester of junior and senior year.

[Rose N.]

College Admissions Cracked is a fresh, humorous, well written How-To for parents entering the realm of college applications. The book is truly a step-by-step guide to the college search, application, and acceptance process ("The Fall of Junior Year: Five Things You Really Need to Hear Right Now" to "Spring of Senior Year: The Wait is Over"). I bought the book as my daughter was entering her junior year and I feel well prepared and on track.

[Constance Mollick]

As a mother of twins who are currently in 10th grade, I’m anxious about what junior year will bring. Jill’s humorous and straight forward approach of breaking down the process month by month has put my mind at ease. I now feel like I have a game plan and know how to tackle the upcoming year. I’m taking notes, making charts and learning how to use google calendar ahead of time so I can show my kids that I’m calm and cool when it’s game on time!! Thank you for writing this book.

[Elizabeth Benedict]

For those trying to navigate the increasingly complex, high stakes world of college admissions, this book is a prize and great guide. The author has worked in admissions offices and has helped students independently, AND has her own college age kids. She knows the ins and outs from every angle and writes in a clear, engaging voice.

[Em (Makenna)]

I received an arc of this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was okay. Some of the information was helpful, but it wasn't really the book I was looking for in regards to college admission.

[Meg Macgill]

This book was so great! I will highly recommend it to anyone about to go through the college journey. It can be read starting junior year of high school. The writer's humor was life-giving and I learned I'm not alone in feeling the overwhelm.

[Sue]

If you have a kid headed to college this book is for you! Funny and super helpful at the same time.

[Cook Memorial Public Library]

A 2019 staff favorite recommended by Erica. Check our catalog: https://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore...

[Jeremy Ginsberg]

easy, quick read

[Candie Hardin]

Quick read, basic tips for someone just getting started. If you have limited time to read these college admissions books, best off choosing from Selingo or Sawyer instead.