Deluged with messages that range from Its Ivy League or bust to It doesnt matter where you go, college applicants and their families often find themselves lost, adrift in a sea of information overload. Finallya worthy life preserver has arrived.The Enlightened College Applicant presents a no-nonsense account of how students should approach the college search and admissions process. Instead of providing recycled entrance statistics or anecdotal generalizations about campus life, authors Belasco and Bergman incorporate cutting-edge data and research to pull back the curtain on critical topics such as:Whether college prestige really matters,How to maximize your college admission prospectsWhich schools and degrees provide the best return on investmentHow to minimize the costs of a college educationWhat college-related skills are valued in the job market,and much more. Whether you are a valedictorian or a B/C student, this easy-to-read book will improve your college savvy and enable you to maximize the benefits of your higher education.

Andrew Belasco, PhD, is a higher education researcher, counselor, and CEO of College Transitions, an education consulting firm. His work has been published in the nations top higher education journals and featured in dozens of media outlets, including the New York Times, Washington Post, Boston Globe, Forbes, CBS Money Watch, and NPR, among others.Dave Bergman, EdD, has over a decade of professional experience that includes work as a teacher, high school administrator, adjunct professor, and independent education consultant. As co-founder of College Transitions, Dave oversees the collegetransitions.com weekly blog, reaching an audience in the tens of thousands and also writes for news outlets including the Charlotte Observer and phillyburbs.com.

DedicationAcknowledgementsCollege Reframed: An IntroductionChapter 1: The Big PictureChapter 2: College Reframed: What Really Matters in a CollegeChapter 3: Getting In: Admission MythbustersChapter 4: Getting In: Improving Your OddsChapter 5: Getting In: ApplyingChapter 6: Planning the Financial EndChapter 7: College Advice for the Career Minded: So You Want to Be aTen Key Takeaways& ConclusionsBibliographyAppendix AAbout the Authors