Getting in Without Freaking Out: The Official College Admissions Guide for Overwhelmed Parents

I am so thankful to Ms. Matthews for writing this book. This should be required reading for all parents who have children applying to colleges. I have read a number of books on appyling to colleges, many with good advice, but this is the one I would choose if I only had time to read just one book on the subject. The book was well-written with excellent advice. There was also a healthy dose of humor and entertainment, and don't we stressed out parents need more of that to lighten up with? It is broken down in such a way that it was easy to pick up and read for as much time as I had, put it down, and pick right back up later. It helped me to prioritize and remember what is truly important and necessary. Thank you, Ms. Matthews. You certainly made this process less stressful, and my relationship with my son is most likely much better than it would have been had I not read your book. My son narrowed his search down to just 3 schools thanks to your advice, the apps are in, and now we are practicing secret #37: breathe! I would recommend this book over any other "getting into college" book out there.

This book breaks away from the pack by combining practical, hype-free admissions advice with a refreshing dose of reality therapy. In addition to soup-to-nuts application guidance, the book offers parents advice for preventing the college admissions process from straining our relationship with our kids (I strongly suggest reading this book with your college-bound daughter or son). The author wisely cites studies showing that a good parent-child relationship is a far greater predictor of academic and life success than SAT scores or selective college acceptance! Thank you -- I needed that.

I am the father of a high school junior. This book was recommended by my son's guidance counselor. She told my wife and I that she wished she had written it, because it had great advice and a way of taking the terrifying edge off the college admissions process. This book makes you -- and your kids -- remember what is really important, and helps them express who they really are in their applications, without the kind of hype that all the admissions officers have been on to for years. It is not only wise but refreshingly funny. a must-have for any family with a college-bound kid.

This book will save you and your parents lots of time worrying about stupid things and tell you what you can really do to get into a school that's right for you. Be sure to read the sections on essays and SATs, and read the advice about focusing on fewer schools. You will feel much better after you read this book, believe me. You will know what is worth spending your time on as opposed to what part of the admissions process is just hype.

A friend of mine gave me this book, and I thought it was going to be another one of those "how to work the system, pump up the application" tomes. I was pleasantly surprised -- relieved! -- to find that this was a totally different kind of book. This author knows how to put college in perspective. She is wise, right on target,and funny as all get-out. I don't know why, but I started reading from back to front, with the "Ultimate Acceptance l;etter" from parent to child. By the time I got to the first essay, 'Relax, It's Only College" I had exclaimed out loud so many times that my high school daughter insisted on reading the book too. She LOVED it! We are spreading the word to everyone in our situation. Bogus books about beating the system just beat us down. Parents, kids; This is the one you need!