Winning the College Admission Game: Stratgies for Parents & Students

Peter Van Buskirk was always one of the few admission deans who was willing to tell it like it is. His chapter on "What Colleges is Want" is a gem and could only have been written by someone who spent the better part of his career doing just that. As a school counselor myself, I am weary of books that sensationalize and distort the reality of the admission process. This one lifts back the curtain on college admission and also... Read Full Review

You have to really want to understand how college admission works to like this book. It is not written in a sensational or glib way like so many "get into college" guides. It gets at the driving forces behind how colleges set enrollment goals and then recruit and admit (or not) to meet them. Van Buskirk's writing is a blend of practical advice and scholarly insights - very challenging and very helpful for students and parents... Read Full Review

The only thing wrong with this book is that I got it when my daughter was a junior and not a freshman or in the eight grade. It is actually two books in one. One is for the student and one for the parent(s). It tells what you should be doing year by year which leads into how the colleges choose their students. It goes into the importance of the student doing the work, the essay and the choosing of the right college for... Read Full Review

With wisdom, insight, and realism, Peter Van Buskirk tells it like it is. This book provides practical advice for how to succeed in the college admissions process, not just survive. The best part is that as a parent and an admissions professional, Van Buskirk knows that "winning" the game means something different for every student. The objective is to identify and gain admission to the colleges that will best fit each... Read Full Review

I highly recommend this book for high school students planning to apply to competitive colleges and for their parents. The book gives an honest and straightforward explanation of the process, from the earliest college visits to how to what to do if offered a spot on a college waitlist. This is actually two books in one -- one geared to parents, the other for students. While some of the content overlaps, the advice,... Read Full Review