A guide to college admissions provides advice for getting ahead in the process, featuring checklists, action plans, worksheets, and timelines that help the student manage the college search and application process in a stress-free manner.

Getting ready for college admissions. Courses, grades, and intellectual pursuits : what colleges look for in academic preparation ; Extracurricular activities : what you do with your time when you are not in class ; Teacher and counselor relationships : they're more important than you might think ; Tests and test preparation : which tests to take, why, and when ; Your college list : finding and choosing colleges that you're going to love ; College visits : the best way of finding out what you want in a college ; Relationships with colleges : how to make college contacts a "tip factor" in your college admissions -- Gathering application ammunition. Your activities résumé : helping colleges "get" who you are ; Collecting personal stories and anecdotes : secret weapons in writing application essays -- Wowing admissions people. To do or not to do the earlies : early action, restricted early action, and early decision ; Completing undergraduate applications : how to make your best case to colleges ; Writing admissions essays : how to be more than your GPA and test scores ; Letters of recommendation : getting others to sing your praises ; Admissions interviews : knowing exactly what to say and do -- Making your final choice. The end of the admissions road : A, Dealing with deferred admissions, wait lists, and denials ; B, Choosing your college.