Admission Matters 
By Sally Springer and Marion R. Franck
Jossey-Bass (San Francisco, CA) 2005
$14.95, 295 pages, soft cover
Reviewed by Joe A. Edun
Counselor/College Admissions Adviser
Walter Johnson High School (MD)
Sally Springer and Marion Franck, authors of Admission Matters, wrote it because they believe that understanding “the college admissions process can empower students and their families to make good choices for themselves and allow them to retain their balance and sanity at the same time” (xv). They focus on admission to selective colleges, organizing the book into the following chapters:
- Why has college admissions become so competitive?
- What do selective colleges look for in an applicant?
- How do colleges make their decisions?
- How do colleges (and students)differ: Finding what fits
- Where should you apply?
- The Big Tests
- Deciding about early decisions and other early options
- Applying well
- Paying the bill
- Making your decisions after the colleges make theirs
- What matters most: Advice to parents and students.
The authors discuss historical and other factors that have brought the college admission process to its current competitive level, including the ongoing and somewhat controversial issue of ranking colleges and the effect on college applicants. High school college admissions advisers caution their college bound seniors to look beyond the name of a college and consider their own specific educational interests, what they seek from a college, opportunities particular colleges offer which might enable students to use their skills, special talents and abilities, the campus environment and other criteria in deciding where to apply. The book supports college admission advisers’ college search tips by asking students to seek colleges that fit their personalities, learning styles and academic interests (p. 90).
One of the book’s many strengths is its clarity. It is written for both students and their parents in an easy to understand, conversational style. For example, on the college visit, the authors write, “As a parent, you can provide an extra set of eyes and ears on the visit and serve as a sounding board for reactions” (p. 93). For the student, the authors offer, “Fall visits can be a great way to experience a campus. The disadvantage of a fall visit is that you will probably miss some school back home” (p.92).
While the contents of Admission Matters may already be familiar material to high school college advisers, the book should be commended for its breadth of coverage of the subject. An example is the chapter on early decision and related options, where it mentions the early notification programs of certain colleges, meant to recruit select regular decision applicants about a month earlier than others.
In insightful comments about the “SSR” or Secondary School Report, the authors advise high school seniors, especially those in large public high schools, that because “a detailed letter [of recommendation] can help, so it is to your advantage to get to know your counselor to the greatest extent possible. This is especially important if aspects of your record or background can benefit from explanation” (p. 159). They add, “the more your counselor knows about you, the better.”
The information on financial aid in this book is as detailed as can be, though individual colleges do have their own financial aid formulas. The book discusses loan types, savings plans, work-study and merit-based aid and warns applicants against scholarship scam specialists. Overall, high school seniors will find the information in Admission Matters helpful as they prepare for the college applications process.
Back to NACAC's Current Book Reviews.