Rating: 
Summary: A great read -- and insightful
Review: This is one of the best books I've read recently. Steinberg paints a detailed, nuanced picture of college admissions, through following one admissions officer from Wesleyan around for a year. The book reads as smoothly and vividly as a novel but rmeains based in solid journalism. It is illuminating and disturbing, but not in a hysterical "omigod my child will never get into college and will end up in a homeless shelter" type way. It shows the noble intentions, human frailties, and bureaucratic loopholes of the admissions process plus also some of the maddening contradictions -- elite colleges like Wesleyan spend half the year travelling around the country seeking out potential applicants and encouraging them to apply, and then spend the second half of the year turning down 6 of the 7 who end up applying.
Rating: 
Summary: fair read
Review: This is quick two day read for those who have some spare time on their hands. It does not prompt any changes in thinking or raise any critical questions but serves as a straightforward but in-depth view into the subjective world of college admissions.
No book should ever serve as the sole reasoning behind college decisions but only as a complement to logical thinking, supportive parents, and a well-advised high school counselor. But if you find yourself in the crazy world of college admissions and want to read something helpful about the admission process, then pick this up - but don't expect too much.
Rating:
Summary: Should be required reading for kids, more so for parents
Review: Two things struck me most about this excellent book. First, it shows the inner workings of what colleges are up against trying to get the cream of high school students to attend. From my point of view as someone in the middle of the pack at my high school, though, it's an alien world. The idea that elite colleges would be going out and trying to get people to apply, even as fodder to boost their rejection rate for US News, was a big surprise. This book really points out the bifurcation between the academic stars, who they madly chase after, and the other 99% of students, who get a passing yawn. The second thing to strike me was the wide latitude the admissions officers have in admitting what they personally consider to be a racially diverse student body. With all due respect to the main character Ralph, I got the sense in reading this book that at least some admissions officers are on a personal quest to right what they consider to be wrong with the racial make-up of the student body. I kept thinking that when my son applies to college, I'll tell him whatever you do, don't check the Caucasian box. It's a real advantage to check the Hispanic, African American or Native American boxes. You can always make the case that you have some minority genes, if you go back far enough. This book should be required reading for students and parents. Although it takes place at a liberal arts college, it should be required for science majors as well.
Rating:
Summary: The BEST book ever for college searching students!!!!!!
Review: Two thumbs up! I was hooked on this book (Currently, I'm a junior) immediately when the admissions officer began reading the applications. After I was done with the book, it gave me a new sense of how I should go about looking for colleges. Before, I was looking at larger universities with major focus on transcript (not exactly on my advantage :-) ) like Columbia, NYU and UCLA. Now I'm looking at medium sized colleges that focuses on the personal side of their applicants because that's my strength. It helps you to take a look at your "application" and gives you an idea of how an admissions officer might look at you. If you still are hooked on transcripts, millions of activities and stuff like that, stop and read this book and hopefully it'll "re-organize" yourself so you can get in a great college!
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