Essays That Worked for College Applications: 50 Essays That Helped Students Get Into the Nation's Top Colleges

This is a good addition to any high school English teacher's library or guidance counselor's office collection. The book includes many examples of essays written to accompany the college application and it describes some "do's and don'ts" that high school students may wish to review before writing their own college admissions essay.

I bought this for my son, a rising senior in high school. I was surprised that he immediately picked it up and read it, and said it was very helpful to him. However, I was also surprised that it included some essays that were very short, but conveyed a unique thought process. I would be scared to death for my son to send a couple of paragraphs and have that be his one shot at promoting himself. Admissions counselors would probably like this book, mainly because it would promote more variety for them, as they have to wade through hundreds of writings.

I am an educational counselor and received all four of the new "Essays That Worked" books recently. These newly revised editions are perfect for any applicant stumped by or anxious about writing a personal statement. The essays are inspiring, and the advice is frank and fresh. The authors did a great job of updating these classics, and I highly recommend them to anyone applying to college, law school, business school, or med school.