There are parenting books out there on every topic, from prenatal planning to, no doubt, how to helicopter parent your-retirement-age kids. But college admissions advice books fall into an ever-growing category of their own. Some brim with useful, practical tips from experts in the field, and others ... fall at the opposite end of the spectrum. So at the start of every book review, you'll find a 5-star rating. It's a quick assessment, followed by a list of pros and cons, and a full review. Those stars are based on certain expectations. I believe that a really good college advice book...
- Teaches the reader something new, offers a new perspective and yields practical tips and insights into the way the college admissions system works.
- Presents information in an accessible, user-friendly manner, so the reader doesn't have to grapple with glossaries or fumble through the index.
- Has been proofread, fact-checked and subjected to reality checks too.
- And does it with a little humor and personality.
- Above all, a good college advice book does not turn me - or you - into a churning, anxious mass of dread, or foster feelings of inadequacy or fear because our children are not Nobel prize-winning, all-star class valedictorians.
Five stars: A book that exceeds all those expectations. It's well written, entertaining and, above all, useful. By the time I'm done reading, its pages are dog-eared and yellow sticky notes flutter from the margins. In short, it's a book that brings something new to the table, even for seasoned college parents who thought they knew it all.
Four stars: A book that meets all those expectations, and makes the college admissions process easier and less scary.
Three stars: Meets most of the expectations above and is helpful, despite any flaws. (Fact checking, however, is non-negotiable.) This could mean a poorly organized, dull and/or not terribly well-written book that still contains some really helpful tips.
Two stars: A book with severe flaws, but at least a few helpful tidbits. Worth reading, perhaps, if you can borrow it from the library.
One star: Ouch. Don't waste your time.
So, read on. Check out the books and then click the "write your own review" button and add your two cents too.
