Two books have rocked my world this spring. First, I read, What Colleges Don't Tell You (And Other Parents Don't Want You To Know) by Elizabeth Wissner-Gross. While the book is written for older high schoolers and their parents - those closer to the college acceptance maze - most of the advice is geared to those who got themselves in gear much earlier on. I was so glad to be reading this book before high school even started. Wissner-Gross's advice is amazing. She's a professional "packager" of high school students, and shares her extensive experience with her readers. It's practical, logical, and although lofty at times, completely do-able. You must read this book if you are serious about getting your child into the college of their choice.
The second book, What High Schools Don't Tell You (And Other Parents Don't Want You To Know) was written in response to the first book. The subtitle of the books is "Create a Long-Term Plan for Your 7th to 10th Grader for Getting into the Top Colleges" and, as promised, it gives the reader baby steps to follow in order to set your student up for a top-shelf admission package. Don't be dismayed by the title; you don't have to have set your eyes on the Ivy League for this book to be meaningful. Following the steps proposed by Wissner-Gross will make any student with good grades (not perfect - good) and decent test scores more appealing to selective schools.
While these books were not written specifically for homeschoolers (in fact, she doesn't even mention homeschooling anywhere within either book) they will be invaluable to you as a homeschooling parent. We play the roles of teacher, coach, guidance counselor and parent (plus many others too diverse to name!) so we must be informed of the rigors of the college admission process. It's our job. What High Schools Don't Tell You will be $15 well spent.
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