The College Admissions Mystique

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely the Best!
Review: As an educator, former college counselor, and parent, I urge those gearing up for the college process to put this book at the top of the pile. In short, the author understands what parents and their children truly need to know in order to get through this often mind-numbing process. Well-written, smart, and spiced with enough anecdotes to make it a truly enjoyable read, this book succeeds where others fall short. Do your family a favor and read this book---you'll be glad you did.

Rating:
Summary: Parents of College Bound Students: This one's for you
Review: I am a high school student, currently in the midst of the college process. A friend of mine gave me this book about a month ago. After reading no more than five pages I was overcome with the compulsion to send it to my parents. The book is readable, well written and Mayher says the things that students want their parents to know. It is hard to get in to college, and the pressure to get into the "right" college can be overwhelming. More importantly, the average person doesn't really know much about that "right" college they want their son or daughter to go to, just that it's "good."
His experience as an educator and college counselor have given him extremely valuable information about the college process. Mayher suggests a pro-active search for the right college for each individual. He makes light of the myth of college selectivity, and covers topics that can take you through the entire process. I would suggest reading this book well before your child begins the college search, it can help you understand how to attack the problem and open lines of communication.

Rating:
Summary: Not bad, but not superb.
Review: This book is not bad, but not as good as "The Fiske Guide To Getting Into the Right College" (my top choice), or "Making It Into A Top College" (my second choice).

This book is very good and different from other college guides in saying that to buy prestige and not substance by going to selective colleges is like buying status in purchasing cars during the '50s. Nobody bothered to check under the hood. People just assume that brand means everything.

The best part of the book is chapter 16 about how to make yourself a college list. It is very realistic. It saves one from aiming too high or too low in college selection.

I think the biggest lack in this book is that the author does not recommend a set of colleges that he thinks is better than the selective colleges that he so distasted of. Such a list would have guided the students and parents to better college choices.