Getting into college has become an obsession — and not just with anxious students. Parents, too, are intensely involved in all aspects of the search and application process. “Expert” advice is easy to find, but nothing beats the hard-won wisdom of those in the front lines — the parents of recent high school graduates who ran the application gauntlet and lived to tell about it. In this handy, upbeat guide, hundreds of parents discuss their thoughts, strategies, struggles — even their failures — in navigating this tricky process. Filled with tips, tricks, humor, and horror stories, it's a book to help parents help their kids — and themselves — succeed. Compiled by admissions consultant Rachel Korn, the book includes do’s and don’ts, common sense psychology, valuable perspectives, and much more. How to Survive Getting Your Kid Into College tosses a lifeline to every stressed-out parent of a prospective collegian.

Getting into college is one of life’s most daunting challenges. Why not let the experts help? The experts in this case include dozens of college consultants, admissions officers, parents, and, best of all, hundreds of students who have experienced the process firsthand. Individual chapters cover such topics as getting started, preparing for the SAT, deciding which colleges to apply to, perfecting applications and essays, putting one’s best foot forward in an interview, and what to do for extracurricular activities and summer vacations. Additional chapters explain what to look for when visiting schools, how to get financial aid, getting support from counselors and parents, dealing with rejection and acceptance, and how to pick the right school. This expanded edition includes special “Counselor’s Corner” features, material on “How to Survive Getting Your Kid into College,” Harvard Law grad Jay Brody’s discussion of how to write the best application essay, and much more.

A sought-after packager of high school students shares 272 secrets to help parents get their kids into the top schools Targeting the savvy parents of today's college-bound teenagers who seek to gain a proven edge in the college admissions process, this book reveals 272 little-known secrets to help parents get their kids into the school of their dreams. Did you know? -A child's guidance counselor can help reverse a deferral. -A parent can help get a child off a waiting list. -There is a way for students to back out of Early Decision once they've been accepted. Based on the controversial insider information Elizabeth Wissner-Gross has gleaned from working as a highly successful packager of high school students and from interviews with heads of admission at the nation's top colleges, this book empowers parents by decoding the admissions process.

"Through first-person testimonies, this anthology demonstrates the transformative power of higher education and its impact on the working class"--Provided by publisher.

The best financial planner Michelle Singletary ever knew was Big Mama, her grandmother. Big Mama raised Michelle and her four brothers and sisters on a salary that never reached more than $13,000 a year. Yet at her death, Big Mama owned her own home, had paid off a car loan, and had a beautiful collection of Sunday-go-to-meeting church hats and a savings account that supplemented her Social Security check and small pension. Most important, she had taught Michelle “7 Money Mantras for a Richer Life.” Those mantras serve as the inspiration for this straight-talking book of practical personal financial advice that really works. The 7 Money Mantras are: 1. If it’ s on your ass, it’s not an asset! 2. Is this a need or is it a want? 3. Sweat the small stuff. 4. Cash is better than credit. 5. Keep it simple. 6. Priorities lead to prosperity. 7. Enough is enough. Michelle Singletary is a syndicated columnist for The Washington Post whose popular personal finance column appears in more than 120 newspapers. She’s also a mother of three children who understands what it’s like to live on a budget. In a plainspoken, sassy, no-nonsense voice, Michelle provides answers to the financial issues that confront almost every household: how to teach children the value of money; how to address money issues in a relationship or marriage; household saving tips; getting the best loans; and much more. “This book is about saving enough money to have choices,” she writes. “It’s about feeling free to be cheap if you can’t afford to buy a ton of gifts at Christmas. It’s about eliminating wasteful spend-ing so you can begin to save and invest. It’s full of uncommon commonsense lessons and guidance on the way people should use their money.” With humor and down-home financial wisdom, Michelle Singletary offers practical and realistic advice that will help you live well with the money you have. Michelle Singletary on . . . Romance and Money “It’s okay to say: ‘Honey, I love you and everything, but if you need money, ask your mama.’” Credit Cards “We are minimizing our financial potential by making minimum credit-card payments.” Car Buying “If you want to save money, keep your car until you’re on a first-name basis with the local tow-truck drivers.” Leasing a Car “You, too, can drive a car you can’t afford and then have to give it back. It’s crazy.” Gift Giving “Generosity isn’t about how much you spend. It’s about how much thought you put into the gift.” Penny Pinching “I once bought a stick-shift car because it was $1,000 cheaper than the automatic in the same model. There was just one little problem. I couldn’t drive a stick-shift. But at least I saved $1,000!”

Be the Change celebrates the personal transformations of men and women who, by working to change the world, changed themselves. Featuring interviews with over 1,000 volunteers, from everyday people to business and community leaders to celebrities, the book combines hands-on advice on ways to get involved with enlightening real-life stories from those who did. Inspirational yet practical, it’s the perfect companion for readers who want to stop daydreaming about a more fulfilling life and a better world and take action to do so. Includes forewords by President George H. W. Bush and Tom Brokaw

Longlisted for the FT/McKinsey Business Book of the Year Award 'Readers looking for good news will love this book. Jonathan Tepperman makes a compelling case, in lively and personal prose, that strong leaders willing to forsake political orthodoxy for good ideas can actually solve the toughest problems the world faces.' Ann-Marie Slaughter, author of Unfinished Business The world's most intractable problems solved: ambitious lessons in leadership and hope from free-thinkers and innovators who have tackled our biggest challenges From immigration reform to energy resources, from political paralysis to inequality and extremism, we are beset by a raft of huge and seemingly insurmountable issues. The daily newspapers, the rolling 24-hour television news, portray a world in terminal decline. What goes under-reported are the success stories. Here, taking ten of the most knotty issues we face today, Jonathan Tepperman examines unsung individuals' bold and innovative attempts against all odds and expectations to solve some of the important problems governments have struggled with for decades. Each chapter tells the story of one government that's found a way to avoid the snares that entangle most of the others. The solutions described in the book aren't speculative: they've all already been tried, and they work. Controversial, provocative but always stimulating, Tepperman here offers a powerful, data-driven case for optimism. Written with flair and an infectious exuberance, The Fix is a book to restore hope to the pessimistic, and offer both practical advice and inspiration in a time of relentless bad news.

A time of tumult, your children's transition from high school to college can also be a time of growth. This book shows you how. Almost Grown is a guide for parents to the final years of high school and first years of college, offering intelligent counsel not only in practical issues such as developing a college search plan or handling questions of money, sex, and substance abuse, but also in the psychological issues that arise during this family transition. Writing as both psychologist and parent, Patricia Pasick tackles the key question of how mothers and fathers can foster adolescents' growth and autonomy while maintaining family connections and stability. She also explores the unexpected: the impact of the changing family on younger siblings, the benefits and frustrations of college students' returning home, the challenges and opportunities that nontraditional families face, and more. Pasick delves into another critical yet underplayed aspect of the college transition: how parents' lives change. Almost Grown guides readers through this major step in adult development and new start to adult partnerships. Almost Grown contains advice from high school and college admissions counselors across the country and, at the heart of the book, stories of personal experience from parents and adolescents who are making, or have made, the transition.