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 25 actual college-admission essays
complement information on how parents can help without hurting, what it
takes to ace the 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.