My night table, much like yours, is overflowing with books. Summer offers a great break in the routine and a time to catch up on my reading.
As college admission has become increasingly competitive, more books are published. Reviewing new titles is one of the best parts of being a weekly college columnist. Here are some of my favorites:
• “Don’t Stalk the Admissions Officer… How To Survive the College Admissions Process Without Losing Your Mind,” by Risa Lewak (Ten Speed Press, $13.99.) This lighthearted book is directed at students feeling stressed out by either thinking about or being enmeshed in the college admissions process. It provides valuable, substantive advice. The chapter titles are priceless: “Finding the Right Fit: Why College Isn’t a Pair of Levis” and “Surviving the College Tour: Please God, Not Another Library.” It offers a great combination of insider tips and refreshing wit. You can read more about Lewak at www.admissionsangst.com.
• “The Sports Scholarships Insider’s Guide: Getting Money for College at Any Division,” by Dion Wheeler (Sourcebooks, $16.99). This is a terrific primer for anyone considering a sports scholarship. Chapters give details about the recruiting process, financial aid, rules about communicating with coaches as well as vital tips on negotiations. The title specifies “at Any Division.” While Division III doesn’t offer athletic scholarships, Wheeler notes that “all Divisions (including Division III) have great flexibility in packaging financial aid awards.”
The appendices are a treasure of resources with contact information, listings of which sports (in each division) are offered at each school.
• “The College Solution: A Guide for Everyone Looking for the Right School at the Right Price,” by Lynn O’Shaughnessy (FT Press, $24.99). The recent second edition has been updated with the best bargains in higher education and tips on winning scholarships. O’Shaughnessy goes beyond the brainiac, merit-based scholarships and shares how families with “average” students can receive some amazing awards. Check out her blog at www.thecollegesolution.com .
• “Neurotic Parent’s Guide to College Admissions,” by J.D. Rothman (Prospect Park Books, $16.95). If you need a good laugh at how crazy the college admissions process has become, this is a book for you. Rothman, a television comedy writer, subtly weaves good advice about encouraging students to strike a healthy balance, find their passion and communicate that to colleges. www.neuroticparent.com
Bierer is an independent college adviser based in Charlotte. Send questions to: www.collegeadmissionsstrategies.com
Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/07/10/3371968/countdown-to-college-a-summer.html#storylink=cpy
