Students have more power than they may realize in the college search process and Burtnett assists students in understanding and using this power to their advantage. This updated edition covers topics found in previous versions, but it also addresses changes in the admission process due to COVID and the Varsity Blues scandal. Readers will understand the factors colleges use for admission decisions, explore affordability, and learn how well they may fit in at specific schools. Numerous self-awareness exercises and frequently asked questions add to the discussion. The author also provides students a plan for each year of high school, including standardized tests, the role of counselors, appropriate coursework, college exploration, visits, the application process, college costs, financial aid, managing acceptances from multiple schools, and handling rejections and wait lists decisions. Parents and care givers will find advice for guiding their child’s transition from high school to college. Burtnett provides solid guidance in this highly recommended work for high school students and those assisting them with college decisions.

Library Journal

Chapters outline everything from the lesser-thought-of aspects of picking a college, such as preferred climate, to the nitty-gritty of financial aid. Easy-to-follow steps spanning a student’s freshman to senior years of high school provide a simple time line of when to expect to send things in, schedule college visits, and more.... Detailed FAQs have answers for many common questions, supplementing the information in each chapter with lots of helpful tips.... Parents, too, will find plenty that's useful within these pages. College-minded teens will find this guide helpful for every step of the application process.

Booklist

There are a number of books about the college admission process on shelves all over this country. Frank Burtnett has written one that will be on desks, open and used. I particularly like his FAQ sections and hands-on approach. Admission at its best is a developmental process, and Burtnett has captured this through the personal student exercises.

R. Russell Shunk, former executive vice president and former dean of admissions of Dickinson College, Pennsylvania