Applying to college can be one of the most stressful times in a student’s life. Not only are you faced with the task of finding the perfect school for you, but you also have to find scholarships to be able to go to the school you want. These two intertwining obstacles require a lengthy application and a seemingly perfect essay. The essay topic is crucial to demonstrate your values, creativity, and depth of knowledge, and the writing is important because it reflects … More >>
#1 by A. Tapia on July 1, 2010 - 5:37 pm
This book established its credibility immediately by highlighting a forward by Randell Hansen, a publisher and owner of several college-targeted texts and websites such as The Complete Idiots Guide to Study Skills. Hansen underlines the need and uses of the text, and puts forth some valuable advice of his own.
The Complete Guide to Writing Effective College Applications and Essays not only covers the process of writing the essay and application as the title suggests, but also delves into so very much more- the title simply does not do it justice. Students are given information on many aspects of the college process, such as choosing a college and community, standardized testing, finding funding, jumping through all the hoops associated with starting college, and even tips on navigating the first year.
The author has a funny style, which makes the prose and advice very approachable, which likely makes this stressful time easier on the high school student. She tends to leans heavily on own experience, but also provides many examples through the illustrative case studies sprinkled throughout the text. At times the case studies seem a little out of date, such as one that began “”I attended college in the 70s,” but, overall, her does of reality is helpful for potential college students.
Once the book moves beyond the basics of college, and begins with the actual writing of the essay, the reader will find the process to be easier and more manageable due to her easy-to-follow directions and engaging style. Two shining chapters set this book apart from the competition: a chapter full of starter prompts for essays, and a chapter of sample essays. Overall, this is a great selection for a junior or senior in high school and highly recommended.
Rating: 4 / 5
#2 by Jill Hart on July 1, 2010 - 7:53 pm
It hasn’t been THAT long since I was young and applying for college and I certainly wish I’d had a book like this one to guide me. Kathy Hahn’s book, Effective College Applications and Essays, walks young people through the stages of finding the right college, getting the application proces started and completing the ever-dreaded essay portion.
In the book, Hahn stresses the fact that the “college essay can be the deciding factor in whether you get accepted to a particular college,” and attributes the entire second half of the book to advising and guiding students through the essay-writing process. The author gives readers an idea of what colleges are looking for in the essay portion of their application as well as a section of “thought-starters” to help get them started writing. Hahn also includes example essays to give readers a clear idea of the principles that she’s teaching throughout the book’s chapters.
In today’s society where so many high school graduates go on to attend college, this book is one that all students should have access to. It’s well written, easy to follow and will give the reader a head-start in their college application process.
Rating: 4 / 5
#3 by John E. Roper on July 1, 2010 - 9:45 pm
Making the transition from high school to college can both exhilarating and frightening. Having someone guide you step-by-step through the process of applying for scholarships and presenting yourself as a prime candidate for admission to the university you are considering is invaluable. “The Complete Guide to Writing Effective College Applications & Essays for Admissions and Scholarships” by Kathy L. Hahn and Colleen M. Loew fills this vital need in a prospective student’s life in an engaging and conversational manner.
The guide provides a wealth of information on how and where to apply for scholarships. Additionally, the book includes several sample essays to help students see how others have approached the often dreaded application essay. Yet possibly the greatest aspect of Kahn and Loew’s work is the personal touch. This is seen in the style and tone of much of the writing, making the reader feel like they are sitting down face-to-face with a sympathetic teacher or college counselor who has taken a personal interest in helping them overcome all hurdles.
As a high school teacher who has worked with hundreds of students over the years, I have fielded a lot of questions from both seniors and their parents regarding preparations for college. I am glad to add this well-written and informative guide to my list of recommended resources.
Rating: 5 stars
Rating: 5 / 5
#4 by Kristen L. Watson on July 1, 2010 - 10:52 pm
This book is a useful reference guide for high school juniors or seniors seeking assistance with college admission essays and applications. The authors effectively tailored their writing style to the high school-aged audience. A personal story from the author in the introduction was a great way to garner interest from the reader immediately.
Rather than boring the reader with endless paragraphs of advice, the authors utilized numerous case studies throughout the book. Also, ideas for essays were given, as well as hypothetical scenarios to trigger the brainstorming process. A step-by-step guide of writing an admission essay was extremely helpful with the inclusion of sample essays. College applicants would benefit greatly from both the scholarship and debt sections in this book. Overall, this guide is a valuable tool for any student undergoing the stressful process of applying to college.
Rating: 4 / 5
#5 by Katherine Calore on July 1, 2010 - 11:44 pm
This book’s promotional material says it will provide the reader with the tools necessary for completing a college application and writing a strong entrance essay. I found that it did more than that: it helped me think in terms of life strategy, looking at my daughter’s academic career as a whole and not simply as a series of events to be gotten through on the way to college.
The authors place the real start of the college application process back in eighth grade, when students start signing up for electives. It moves forward from there, asking if the individual student is cut out for college, what the student is looking for in a college, and then telling the student how to prepare to apply for the college of their choice. The authors are realistic and their questions are helpful in developing a strategy.
The authors begin talking about writing effective admittance essays in the second section. By then, I was more excited about the prospect of helping my daughter write them, because I could see the value and worth in them. (As a side note, I appreciate the insight that, if students hate writing these essays, college administrators hate reading them. And yet, the authors point out that the essays are crucial, because they help administrators figure out who a person really is beneath that GPA and list of accomplishments.)
The authors write in an accessible, folksy style. I’m sure for some that will be a selling-point, though I must confess, I found it distracting. The authors include a lot of case studies, though, and I particularly liked those: stories from real college applicants, putting flesh on the authors’ advice.
Over all, I highly recommend this book. It will be one I return to again. I would give it 4/5 stars.
Rating: 4 / 5