Fat Envelope Frenzy: One Year, Five Promising Students and the Pursuit of the Ivy League Prize
By Joie Jager-Hyman
Harper Collins (New York) 2008
$14.95, 231 pages, softcover.
Reviewed by Phygenia Young
Program Coordinator/Instructor
Forsyth Technical Community College (NC)
Joie Jager-Hyman paints an informative portrait of how race, class and other key factors influence the college admission process that may or may not lead to the arrival of the greatly anticipated “fat envelope” in Fat Envelope Frenzy. The former Ivy League admission officer artfully builds on her experiences to narrate the true accounts of five college-bound high school seniors from diverse backgrounds as they seek college enrollment. The reader-friendly work offers students’ insight on strategies and useful techniques that they may not readily know while seeking higher education opportunities.
The book emphasizes the growing push to gain admission into Ivy League schools, the anxiety that even the most accomplished students encounter during the tedious process, and the realization that such an intense focus on achievements and accomplishments does not guarantee college admission in all cases. The work defines and explores what Jager-Hyman calls the Fat Envelope Frenzy. This represents a cultural obsession that achievement and accomplishment will ensure admission to the most elite colleges (page xi). The book highlights other key factors that impact admission policies as institutions strive to address multiple goals like diversity, alumni and sports.
Ten chapters, an engaging introduction, an informative author’s note and resources section on how to use “How To” Books, shed light on a variety of topics. Some of the topics are as follows:
- The college enrollment process
- Advanced placement high school curricula
- Potential roadblocks to college acceptance
- Student, parental and others insight about the college admission pursuit
- The interview element of the admission process
- Early admission programs, letters of recommendations and the SAT
- Actual student essay examples, college enrollment acceptance and rejection notices
This book will appeal to students. However, anyone interested in the college admission process can find the information helpful. Jager-Hyman’s interesting conversational voice provides nuggets of information on a variety of subjects ranging from institutional statistics to university historical facts for students perusal. She raises several issues including inequalities, underrepresented and under-prepared students. A section addressing ways these students can be better equipped for college acceptance would enhance the work.
Fat Envelope Frenzy, a user-friendly collection of knowledge, combines resources in a one-stop format, guiding the reader to other sources for additional information. The novelistic style enhances the sharing of data, information and strategies to strengthen one’s understanding of ways to gain acceptance. It is a necessary read among college preparation materials. It offers college admission advice as one seeks to advance in the ever-competitive race to gain college admission.