IN! College Admissions and Beyond

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Two expert college admissions consultants—a mother-daughter team—share their step-by-step, proven strategy for creating an application that stands out and gets you IN!

Lillian Luterman and Jennifer Bloom have been helping high school students get into choice schools for more than twenty years. For each student, their method is based on a simple concept: “be alike but spike.” Ironically, it’s often the “well-rounded student,” an ideal many applicants strive for, who gets rejected. This book shows students how to create an individual distinction by identifying a passion and “layering” it—showcasing their interest in many different ways. While guiding students through every step in the application process, this book is enlivened with instructive case studies, charts and checklists, sidebars for parents, and New Yorker cartoons.

And unlike most books about “getting in,” In!’s lessons do not end at college acceptance. Luterman and Bloom present the admissions process as an opportunity for students to mature, expand their horizons, and discover what makes them tick. This book gets students in, and gives them the tools and confidence they will need for future success.

“Be Alike”—How to optimize your GPA, standardized tests, extracurricular activities, and more.

“Spike”—How to develop a unique area of distinction that makes you stand out from your peers.

How to create a winning college application—including personal essays, activity chart, letters of recommendation, and more.

How to choose the right college for YOU, and how to prepare to attend, and afford, your top-choice school.

A mother/daughter team, Lillian Luterman and Jennifer Bloom work privately on boarding, college, and graduate school admissions with students from all over the world.

Lillian Luterman has been involved in education throughout her entire career. She began her educational consulting practice twenty years ago and has watched it expand globally. Her current clients include children of Fortune 500 CEOs and government leaders. A graduate of McGill University with a master’s degree from Emerson College, Lillian specializes in working with clients with learning problems as well as with gifted children. She lives with her husband in Westport, Connecticut.

A graduate of Harvard College, Cambridge University (U.K.), and Harvard Business School, Jennifer Bloom began working with her mother in 2005. Prior to that, she spent more than ten years in marketing and advertising. She has worked for companies such as American Express, Ogilvy & Mather, and J. Walter Thompson, creating and launching new services as well as award-winning advertising campaigns.

“An accessible, student-centric approach… Clear examples demonstrate how to incorporate individual talents and energies into an effective strategy. In! will show you how to shine.”—Ray Kim, Assistant Dean of Admissions and Academic Advising, College of Arts and Sciences, Cornell University

“In! offers smart tools that can be employed successfully anywhere one wishes to excel.”—Jared Cohen, Director of Google Ideas

“Helpful and easy-to-read… An excellent guide, especially for students trying to compete at the top level...”—Library Journal