Foreword
Acknowledgments
Introduction: Trust Me: It's Possible
Glossary: Key Terms to Navigate This Book and the College Applications
Chapter 1: A College Education: The Path to Prosperity and Opportunity
Going to College vs. Getting a Job
The Importance of College vs. Graduate School
Chapter 2: Selective Colleges: A Most Affordable Option for Low-Income Students
The Policies that Make Top Colleges AffordableWhy Harvard Might Be a Student's Cheapest Option
Chapter 3: The Meaning of High Achievement: What Admission Officers are Looking ForThe "Holistic" Application ReviewAcademic SkillsExtracurricular ParticipationCharacter
Chapter 4: Meeting the Academic Admission Requirements at No CostChoosing the Best Possible High SchoolPursuing a Rigorous CurriculumPreparing for Standardized TestingThe Role of Parents
Chapter 5: How to Succeed in Extracurriculars Without Spending MoneyFind What You LoveExplore Opportunities at SchoolExplore Opportunities Outside of SchoolScaling Your Initiative
Chapter 6: Finding Accessible College Counselors: The Expert and the Role ModelFinding a College Counseling ExpertFinding a Role ModelMy Essential College CounselorsChapter 7: How to Choose Target Colleges in Three StepsThe "Right" Number of Target CollegesLikelihood of AdmissionCritical CharacteristicsStrategies to Explore Colleges
Chapter 8: Applying for College Admission: What it Takes and How to Do It for FreeApplication RequirementsMain Application FormsUniversity SupplementsStandardized Test ScoresWhat Do the ACT and SAT Test?What Are the SAT Subject Tests?When Should Students Take Standardized Exams?How to Report Standardized Test Scores to CollegesEssaysSupplemental MaterialsRecommendation LettersSchool ReportsResume or Curriculum VitaeApplication FeesApplication TimelineChapter 9: Securing Financial Aid to Pay for CollegeFinancial Aid From UniversitiesScholarships From External Organizations
Chapter 10: Accepting an Offer: The Last Step in the College Application Process
Appendix: Convinced It's Possible? College Preparation Timelines and ResourcesEpilogue: An Open Letter to the Dreamers
Glossary
About the Author