From the Authors of the Bestselling Book on College Admissions

The college admissions process is changing; and it is becoming even more competitive. But parents – and to a lesser extent students and guidance counselors – are not exactly in tune with the new admissions landscape. Now, a revamp to a classic bestseller is once again about to revolutionize the admissions world.  The new book, Getting In: The Zinch Guide to College Admissions and Financial Aid in the Digital Age (Wiley, 978-1-1180-0597-2; May 2011) offers practical advice, online resources, and interactive exercises to help kids and their parents conquer this stressful, anxiety-provoking, and seemingly life-changing experience.  The book helps families figure out which schools might be right for them, how to get in, and how to pay for it.

Originally published in 1983, Getting In! quickly became the number-one best-selling book on college admissions. It revealed what went on behind the closed doors of the nation’s selective schools and explained – clearly – what kids could do to improve their chances of admission. Well, a lot has changed since then! More kids are applying than ever before and a large part of the college search and application process is done entirely online.

So what makes this book different from –and better than -- the dozens of other resources and websites out there? 

Getting In! is the only book that offers expertise from both top college admission officers and leading high school college counselors. Written with a digital sensibility, it also leverages the power of Zinch.com, the largest online social network connecting applicants with colleges. Likened to a “LinkedIn for young people,” Zinch streamlines the college search process, by allowing students to create professional profiles, search for programs, and get matched to schools and scholarships. The 3-year old site has grown quickly, to more than 3 million student profiles and 850+ universities.

Getting In addresses money issues head-on and even tackles athletics and admissions from an insider’s perspective. The book strips away the myths of recruiting, coaches’ admission “clout,” and scholarships.

Here are just a few tips found in the book:

On choosing the right school:

Don’t ask a kid if he prefers a large school or a small school. How could he possibly know what a large school or large classes are all about? High school kids have never been in a class with more than 35 other students. And even at small liberal arts colleges, everyone winds up taking a few large lecture classes. So don’t start off the college search by eliminating large universities. You may know them off your list later— for better reason—but don’t start your search by eliminating schools for the wrong reasons.

On improving your odds:

-  Don’t make dumb mistakes or typos on the application. Admission officers don’t take perverse pleasure in rejecting kids. But you make their job (sadly) easier when you have mistakes or typos in your application or essay. You may be qualified; but so will lots of other kids. And their applications won’t contain a dumb mistake.

-  Give admission officers a reason to like you and remember you: a hook.

-  Remember that good colleges are looking for the well-rounded class, not the well-rounded kid. They want a few scholars for each department; a few athletes for each team; a few musicians; and a few kids for each club. Give them an easy way to slot you into one of their needs

Be digital:

- Connect with admission officers in a way they want to get connected. For example, through Zinch.

-  Scrub your Facebook page. Admission officers will look.

-  Create a link to a web page that communicates your work, your passion, your hook.