The College Bound Organizer: The Ultimate Guide to Successful College Applications

by Anna Costaras, Gail Liss, Edward B. Fiske (Foreword by)

Overview

Your step-by-step comprehensive guide to organize every step of the college application process from college search through college admission.

College admissions is tougher than ever. With standardized test taking and school visits, the college application essay to write and forms to fill out, there is so much to do. Applying to college is intimidating and overwhelming for both teenagers and parents.

The challenge is to be well informed, prepared, focused and organized throughout the multi-step college search and admission process. Your solution is The College Bound Organizer, the ultimate guide to help students effectively navigate this very complicated and stressful process.

The College Bound Organizer helps students:

Understand what admission officers are looking for in an applicant

Prevent common mistakes students make on their applications

Build a personal profile

Plan an individualized testing schedule

Research colleges to identify schools that are a good fit

Develop a balanced list of schools

Secure letters of recommendation

Complete and submit applications accurately and on time

Develop the college application essay

Apply for financial aid and scholarships

Ace interviews

Sort and manage application results

Make a final decision

“Planning ahead and ‘getting there first’ can do more than help students get into a good college—it can provide them with life skills, a solid education, and lifelong friends.” —

Business Insider

“Using The College Bound Organizer is one way to help you stay focused on what is really important.” —Edward B. Fiske, bestselling author of Fiske Guide to Colleges

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781633536845
Publisher:	Mango Media
Publication date:	01/01/2021
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	234
File size:	7 MB

About the Author

Anna Costaras holds a BS and MBA from New York University Stern School of Business. She is the founder of a college-bound mentoring program for underserved students from her community. She is actively involved with Adventures in Learning, an educational enrichment program for children in need of after-school support, as a volunteer and college mentor, and has served on the Board of Directors. Anna is a veteran of the college application process, having guided her three children on their paths— graduate and undergraduate— to Cornell University, Wake Forest University and New York University.
Gail Liss earned a MBA from New York University Stern School of Business, studied at The London School of Economics and holds a BA from the University of Rochester. Gail serves on the Advisory Board of Young Women’s Leadership Network, which supports The Young Women’s Leadership Schools and College Bound Initiative. Gail has extensive experience with the college application process and has served as a coach and advisor. She has also counseled her three children: two graduates of Brown University and one graduate of Wesleyan University.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Getting Started: Fact Finding – This chapter helps students gather the personal, family and high school information that is required repeatedly on all college applications. Chapter 2 A Snapshot of Your High School Years: Who Are You? – Students are guided on how to build their resume using worksheets to compile a complete history of their involvement in clubs/extracurricular activities, sports, community service, awards, competitions, and work and summer experience. Advice on how and when to request recommendations is also included in this chapter. Chapter 3 Testing A to Z: Track Your Scores – All aspects of standardized testing including identifying test dates, recording registration deadlines and test locations, and developing a master test schedule are covered in this chapter. Chapter 4 Researching Schools: Getting Acquainted – This chapter advises students on how to effectively research colleges to identify appropriate schools. Instruction is provided on what to observe and take note of during on-campus visits and online searches, how to arrange and keep track of on-campus and alumni interviews, and how to manage correspondence with school representatives. Chapter 5 Define Your Choices: You’re Ready to Apply! – Included are all the steps necessary to ensure that applications are received and each file is complete. Chapter 6 Paying the Bills: Show Me the Money! – Tools and recommendations are presented on how to apply for financial aid and scholarships, manage deadlines and accurately compare aid packages. Chapter 7 The Home Stretch: You’re Almost Done! – Strategies and guidance are provided on how to sort through acceptances, handle deferrals and waitlists, and choose the best-fit college. Chapter 8 The Interviews: Conversations with College Admissions Professionals— Candid responses from high school and college representatives offer valuable insight into the college process.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“Using The College Bound Organizer is one way to help you stay focused on what is really important.” —Edward B. Fiske, bestselling author of Fiske Guide to Colleges

“As a college admissions professional, I am always looking for new resources that I can recommend to people that are either supporting someone looking at attending college or someone that wishes to attend college themselves. This book is a great resource as it is very practical in nature and walks you through the steps that you must follow to be able to get into the college that you wish to attend. The book has a ton of great worksheets that are easy to follow and complete and, by the end, you have answered most of the important questions that you need to answer to make an informed decision. The book also has a ton of great tips that they share to help streamline this process for all. The book is written for people that truly need it which makes the book such a valuable resource.” —Dad of Divas

Interviews

Anna Costaras and Gail Liss are co-founders of Bound to Organize, LLC, an educational consulting firm, and co-authors of The College Bound Organizer. Anna and Gail understand how stressful the college search and application process can be. As mothers of six college graduates, they have been through the process in their own homes and have worked with college bound teens as mentors and advisors. These longtime friends-turned-business-partners created The College Bound Organizer, the first and only comprehensive workbook and definitive guide for every high school student on the college track. How did Anna and Gail come up with the idea? Their story begins 25 years ago on the trading floor of a large New York based commercial bank. The two young women bonded instantly, forming a close personal friendship that helped them get through children’s birthday parties, kindergarten separations, middle school cliques, high school course selections and ultimately, college admissions. If raising three kids each seemed overwhelming at times, applying to college turned out to be downright staggering. Six students, 40 college visits, 71 college applications and two career women brought to their knees. Anna and Gail quickly discovered that the application process had changed dramatically since they applied to college. More complicated and confusing than ever, it necessitates a level of expertise and savvy that practically requires a master’s degree in business. Which, luckily, Anna and Gail have, making them the perfect guides for students planning to attend college. Combining their career expertise with everything they’ve learned from their own children’s experiences, their goal was to share their organizing system with the college bound community. They’ve packed The College Bound Organizer with worksheets, checklists, charts, tips and advice that make it easy-to-use for parents and teenagers alike. After all, who wouldn’t want to successfully navigate the college search and application process with less stress and anxiety? Two moms. Six kids. One great idea.