Dec
7
Book Review: A is for Admission: The Insider’s Guide to Getting Into The Ivy League and Other Top Colleges
December 7, 2008 | Leave a Comment
This is truly an insider’s guide, as author Michele Hernandez spent nearly five years as the assistant director of admissions at Dartmouth College. Hernandez pulls no punches as she launches into full explanations on many topics, from the psyche of admissions officers to the Academic Index many Ivies use for admissions’ calculations.
For many readers, the book will be sobering. She explains how long the odds are for most students against gaining admission to an Ivy League school. It is not just about grades; Hernandez explains the many criteria that are evaluated, and how schools work to create a balance in their student bodies that can work against students who think that hard work is all they need. In fact, many students with exceptional grades are rejected on a routine basis; Ivy League schools look for both high test scores and extracurricular excellence.
Making admission all the harder, Hernandez confirms, family ties and celebrity status account for a relatively high percent of the student body. It may not be the information many eager students want to hear, but it all rings true.