Love the Journey to College: Guidance from an Admissions Consultant and Her Daughter

by Jill Madenberg, Amanda Madenberg

Overview

Are you dreading the college application process? Have no fear. An experienced college counselor and her daughter show you how to make the journey manageable—and fun!

Jill Madenberg draws upon her 20-plus years of counseling experience while her daughter Amanda—a student who just recently went off to college—adds tips and personal stories. Whether you are wondering how to choose high school classes and activities, create a realistic college list, get the most out of a campus visit, or maintain a positive and healthy attitude, Love the Journey to College will help you make educated decisions throughout the process—and show you how to do it with a smile.

As the daughter of an experienced college counselor, Amanda Madenberg has been visiting colleges for as long as she can remember—on family vacations, weekend road trips, and school holidays. Even at a young age, she took interest as her mom spoke with tour guides, admissions counselors, and students on campus to get a feel for life at a particular school. Most importantly, Amanda greatly enjoyed her own college application process—from visiting campuses to writing supplemental essays. Writing as both a typical high school student and as the daughter of a college counselor, Amanda lends a unique and entertaining perspective to Love the Journey to College.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781682613498
Publisher:	Post Hill Press
Publication date:	08/01/2017
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.30(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Jill Madenberg has been a college admissions professional in New York since 1993, serving as a certified high school guidance counselor and independent college consultant in Long Island, near New York City. She has visited hundreds of college campuses and has worked as a regional recruiter for two specialized colleges in the Northeast. Jill earned her bachelor’s degree from The George Washington University and master’s degree Summa Cum Laude in counseling and guidance from New York University.

Jill is a longtime member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), Higher Educational Consultants Association (HECA), and the National Association of College Admissions Counselors (NACAC). She speaks regularly to students and their families about the college admissions process and has conducted webinars and seminars to other professionals learning about the college process. Jill has been interviewed for articles in The New York Times and USA Today, as well as for features on National Public Radio and Fox News.

Amanda Madenberg has had a passion for writing since elementary school, and being a published author has been a dream from an early age. Nurturing her love for journalism, and inspired by her high school English teacher’s passion for all things oriented to writing, Amanda held several editorial positions on her high school newspaper. She's contributed feature articles to her local weekly paper, and wrote for the online magazine Teenink.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments xi

Introduction xiii

How to Use This Book xvi

Part I High School Résumé

Chapter 1 Knowing Where and When to Start 3

Chapter 2 Choosing High School Classes 9

Chapter 3 Choosing High School Extracurricular Activities 16

Chapter 4 Preparing During the Summer 23

Chapter 5 Understanding Standardized Testing 27

Part II Logistics of Applying to College

Chapter 8 Staying Proactive and Starting Early 41

Chapter 7 Organizing Everything 47

Chapter 8 Demonstrating Interest and "Playing the Game" 52

Chapter 9 Visiting Colleges 58

Chapter 10 Making a College List 71

Chapter 11 Recognizing College Criteria: What Do Colleges Consider? 84

Chapter 12 Hooks and Ways of Enhancing Your Application 94

Chapter 13 Getting Letters of Recommendation 104

Chapter 14 Using Common Application, Naviance, Universal Application, Coalition for Access, and More 111

Chapter 15 Interviewing 118

Chapter 16 Writing Essays and Supplements 123

Chapter 17 Assessing Types of Applications and Responses 130

Chapter 18 Procuring Financial Aid 148

Part III Mental Health

Chapter 19 Maintaining Positivity and Optimism 161

Chapter 20 Keeping Your Mouth Shut! 164

Chapter 21 Parenting Throughout the Process 173

Chapter 22 Mulling the Future 180

Chapter 23 Keeping the Proper Perspective 187

Chapter 24 Knowing What I Did Right 191

Chapter 25 What I Wish I Had Done Differently 194

Chapter 26 Tips for Incoming First-Year College Students 197

Chapter 27 Amanda's Archive (Amanda's Common App Essay and Sample "Why" Supplement) 203

Epilogue 207

About the Authors 210

Index 212

Editorial Reviews

"Preparing for college is a daunting task filled with a myriad of tough questions and hard decisions. Jill and Amanda Madenberg's Love the Journey to College is an effective tool that will help high school students make wise choices early on in the process so the journey is successful and enjoyable. A wonderful read and I highly recommend it."

Dan Domenech

"Love the Journey to College is comprehensive, readable and engaging discussion of what can be a complex process known as college admissions. Jill Madenberg's experience as a guidance counselor and college consultant provides an expertise and breadth of knowledge that are invaluable as she discusses the full range of issues involved in preparing for, applying to and enrolling in college. Amanda's very recent, lived, experience as the student going through the journey adds a dimension to the process that is honest, fresh and enlightening. This book is a great resource for parents and students, starting as early as ninth grade and all the way through until freshman year."

Susan H. Murphy

"Jill Madenberg draws on her extensive experience as a college counselor to create one of the best books on how to get into college that I have read. But this is not just another admissions how-to book. Jill and her daughter Amanda offer advice, wisdom, and a uniquely candid and personal window into how students and parents intersect in the college admissions journey. My hat's off to the authors for creating a book which is readable, strategic, and sane!"

William Shain

"Jill Madenberg's book is a perfect illustration of her care and thoughtfulness in helping families navigate "the journey to college." The process is laden with anxiety and pressure, and it is a breath of fresh air to work with Jill, who consistently brings calmness to her clients. She has been a trusted and respected resource for us, and we are grateful for Jill's extensive experience, deep knowledge, and her dedication to providing holistic support for students — a commitment we share."

Jeremy Cohen

"From my perspective in the field of university student life, Love the Journey to College is a must read for parents and students considering college. Jill and Amanda take what can be a stressful process and provide tools for staying healthy throughout and coming out satisfied on the other side. This book's expert and personal advice will help you manage emotions, maintain composure, and evaluate options as the college decisions arrive. The process only happens once, so enjoy the journey!"

Richard Wolcott

"This book is a 'must read' for parents, students, school counselors and anyone else interested in college admissions. It is chock full of useful information and very helpful answers to FAQs."

Lisa Suzuki

"Jill and Amanda Madneberg capture the process of applying to college, from start to finish. Jill's wisdom as a mother, an experienced counselor and knowledgeable communicator, plus Amanda's personal and thoughtful insights as a daughter and high school student are a winning combination. The mother/daughter "hook" makes this valuable book an easy read for students, parents and educators!"

Loretta Nugent

"Jill and Amanda Madenberg have written a clear, comprehensive, highly readable guide through the, often maze like, college process. It is replete with common sense and demystifies what must be done. Each step, from the selection of colleges through completing the actual applications is laid out very clearly. This book will assist in minimizing student anxiety and in lowering parental blood pressure."

Alice D'Addario

"I love this book! I honestly think it's the best example on the market of clear, factual information and great common sense advice that works for both parent and applicant. I am frequently asked for advice about the college process, and I will recommend Love the Journey to College to everyone I know."

Marilee Jones

"Jill and Amanda Madenberg have collaborated on a remarkably readable introduction to college admissions. It is based on Jill's two decades of experience as both a school counselor and independent educational consultant and draws on knowledge gained through the very personal journey through the process with her daughter. This book is chock full of useful and up-to-date information provided with a great deal of motherly reassurance and encouragement. And the advice for high school students caught-up in the process to 'be authentically you' is a message we can all take to heart."

Nancy Griesemer

"As a long-time admissions professional in New England, I highly recommend this book for understanding the admissions process from the student's, family's, and admission officer's perspectives. Love the Journey to College is informative about every aspect of the college journey, and Jill and Amanda's joint writing style is truly special. One key bit of advice they provide: to be joyful in the search!"

William Dunfey