The College Admissions Mystique

by Bill Mayher

Book Overview

In this fresh and plainspoken book, admissions professional Bill Mayher demystifies the college application process, guiding students and parents through this too often anxiety-filled ritual. He... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0374525137
• ISBN13: 9780374525132
• Release Date: January 1998
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.5" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Very original book on the subject

This is a very original book. It does not give specific college recommendations. The author makes the case that there are tens of colleges that offer exactly what you need in terms of academic and life experience. The colleges are as individual as the college bound students themselves. Therefore, the author feels it is futile for him to come up with generic college lists. He wants instead all the students and their families to conduct their own research to come up with their own selection of attractive colleges. The author does a very good job of teaching us how to conduct such research. Beyond the obvious tips (websites, school counselors, college guides, college visits) he mentions several other ways to research colleges. One is to scrutinize in detail the course catalogues of colleges. These are available online. This may be one of the quickest and most insightful ways of contrasting differences between colleges. This seems evident. However, after reading nearly 15 college guides this is the first time I read about it. Bill Mayher also includes interesting material regarding the limit of the SAT in estimating either intelligence or future college success. He mentions that an increasing number of colleges, including several selective Northeastern liberal colleges, are doing away with testing requirements. He shares interesting findings on the theory of multiple intelligences and emotional intelligence referring to the work of Howard Gardner and Daniel Coleman. According to Gardner and Coleman, there are many other dimensions to intelligence that ultimately determine success in life that are not captured by the SAT. Mayher has an insightful understanding of Early Decision and Wait List. He is very pragmatic in his recommendation on when and how to use Early Decision and how to deal with Wait List. Mayher also makes original suggestions such as taking a year off between high school and college. This is to allow oneself to mature and render the upcoming college experience more meaningful instead of a potential grinding continuation of high school. He also suggests that if you want the prestige of a BA from a top college such as Harvard, there is a really easy way. Do it through Harvard's evening extension program. You will avoid any foreboding testing and GPA requirements. Yet, you will have identical classes with the same textbook, teachers, etc... He argues that you will earn a degree that is indistinguishable from the one you would earn by attending the regular day classes. Even if the above tips are not for everyone, they are worthwhile to consider. Let me recommend other excellent books on the subject. Hernandez "A is for Admission" and "Acing the College Application" are both excellent. "The Early Admission Game" by Avery and Fairbanks is a must for any one aiming at the most selective schools. Also, many of the Greenes' Guides written by the Greene brothers are very good. These include "Inside the Top Colleges",

Absolutely the Best!

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.

Parents of College Bound Students: This one's for you

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.

Great book for new admission and high school counselors

As an admissions professional, I highly recommend this book will as required reading for all new admission officers. It gives the reader a great perspective on what is happening on the other side of the coin. Mayher does an excellent job of reminding us of the panic and worry that goes through a young person's head while waiting for the acceptance letter.Some of the information is more relelvant to the hyper-competitive East Coast market, but even parents students in the Midwest, South and West will be able to glean helpful hints from this fine work.Mayher promotes a very pro-active search (which is the best way to find the best college for you) and while it is not a glorified advertisement like Loren Pope's Colleges that Change Lives, it does present some ideas for what constitutes "quality" in an institution.