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| Acknowledgments | |
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| Introduction | |
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| Why Has College Admissions Become So Competitive? | |
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| It Used to Be Simple ... But Not Anymore | |
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| Which Colleges Are the Most Selective? | |
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| Why So Much Interest in Such a Small Group of Colleges? | |
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| The Importance of Fit | |
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| The Rankings Game | |
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| Concerns About Rankings | |
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| Why Are Rankings So Popular? | |
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| Looking Ahead | |
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| What Do Selective Colleges Look for in an Applicant? | |
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| How College Admissions Has Changed | |
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| What Matters Now | |
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| The Academic Record | |
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| Standardized Tests | |
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| Engagement Beyond the Classroom: The Extracurricular Record | |
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| Personal Qualities: The Person Behind the Paper | |
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| Hooks | |
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| Fitting It All Together | |
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| How Do Colleges Make Their Decisions? | |
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| Who Works in Admissions? | |
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| Ambassadors and Gatekeepers | |
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| What Happens to Your File? | |
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| Tentative Decisions | |
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| Making the Final Decision | |
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| Building the Freshman Class | |
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| The Role of Your High School Counselor | |
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| A Few Words About Independent College Counselors | |
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| The Parents' Role | |
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| How Colleges (and Students) Differ: Finding What Fits | |
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| So Many Choices: How Do You Begin? | |
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| Some Questions to Ask Yourself | |
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| Liberal Arts Colleges | |
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| Research Universities | |
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| What's in a Name? | |
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| Other Types of Four-Year Institutions | |
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| Which Kind of College Is Best for You? | |
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| Curriculum and Requirements | |
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| Colleges with Special Affiliations | |
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| The Intangibles | |
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| What Makes for a Quality | |
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| Undergraduate Experience? | |
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| Getting the Information You Need | |
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| Where Should You Apply? | |
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| Start at Your Counseling Office | |
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| The College Visit | |
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| Selectivity and Your College List | |
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| Determining Your Chances | |
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| Some Cautions About Data | |
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| Self-Assessment and Research: The Keys to a Good College List | |
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| A Word About Finances | |
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| The Big Tests | |
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| The SAT | |
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| Considering the ACT | |
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| Which Test Should You Take? | |
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| Test-Optional Schools | |
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| The Special Case of Special Accommodations | |
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| The SAT Subject Tests | |
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| A Special Word to Parents About Standardized Tests | |
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| A Postscript on the Future of Standardized Testing | |
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| Deciding About Early Decision and Other Early Options | |
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| The Pros and Cons of Early Decision | |
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| Early Action | |
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| Should You Apply Early Decision or Early Action? | |
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| More Things to Consider | |
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| Applying Well: Part I | |
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| Getting Off to a Good Start | |
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| Using the Common Application | |
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| Writing an Effective Personal Essay | |
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| An Important To-Do List | |
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| Applying Well: Part II | |
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| Getting Great Letters of Recommendation | |
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| Shining in Your Interview | |
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| Highlighting What You've Accomplished | |
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| Special Talents | |
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| The Student Athlete | |
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| Tips for Homeschoolers | |
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| You've Finished Your Applications-Now What? | |
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| Paying the Bill | |
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| How Do Colleges Determine Your Financial Need? | |
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| The Verification Process | |
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| Why Do Need-Based Packages Differ from College to College? | |
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| How Can You Estimate Your Financial Need? | |
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| What Goes into a Financial Aid Package? | |
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| How Is Your Package Put Together? | |
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| Will Your Need for Financial Aid Affect Your Chances of Admission? | |
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| What About Merit-Based Aid? | |
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| Financial Aid and Your Decisions | |
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| Another Word About Early Decision | |
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| Planning Ahead When Your Child Is Young | |
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| A Special Note About Financial Aid in Tough Times | |
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| Making Your Decision After the Colleges Make Theirs | |
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| How Will You Be Notified? | |
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| The Special Case of Early Decision | |
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| When It Is Your Turn to Decide | |
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| Spring Admits | |
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| Taking Another Look | |
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| Revisiting Financial Aid | |
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| How Wait-Lists Work | |
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| A Word About Senioritis | |
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| Celebrate and Enjoy! | |
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| What Matters Most: Advice to Parents and Students Some Parting thoughts for Parents | |
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| Some Parting Thoughts for Students | |
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| Epilogue | |
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| College Research Worksheet | |
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| Common Application 2009-10 | |
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| Sample Student Information Sheet for Letters of Recommendation | |
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| Financial Aid Comparison Worksheet | |
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| Cost of Attendance Worksheet | |
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| College Preparation Time Line | |
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| Glossary | |
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| Resources | |
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| Notes | |
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| About the Authors | |
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| Index | |