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Achieve the College Dream: You Don't Need to be Rich to Attend a Top Schoolis the sort of guide that does more than offer step-by-step instructions about how to pique admission officers' interest, how to pursue a rigorous curriculum and how to explore extracurricular activities that don't empty out the bank account. Maria Carla Chicuen has written a guidebook to inspire other students to reach for the stars. Achieve the College Dream provides an inspirational message from someone who has been there, done that and wants to inspire - nay, convince - others it can be done.
List of contents
Foreword
Acknowledgments
Introduction: Trust Me: It's Possible
Glossary: Key Terms to Navigate This Book and the College Applications
Chapter 1: A College Education: The Path to Prosperity and Opportunity
Going to College vs. Getting a Job
The Importance of College vs. Graduate School
Chapter 2: Selective Colleges: A Most Affordable Option for Low-Income Students
The Policies that Make Top Colleges AffordableWhy Harvard Might Be a Student's Cheapest Option
Chapter 3: The Meaning of High Achievement: What Admission Officers are Looking ForThe "Holistic" Application ReviewAcademic SkillsExtracurricular ParticipationCharacter
Chapter 4: Meeting the Academic Admission Requirements at No CostChoosing the Best Possible High SchoolPursuing a Rigorous CurriculumPreparing for Standardized TestingThe Role of Parents
Chapter 5: How to Succeed in Extracurriculars Without Spending MoneyFind What You LoveExplore Opportunities at SchoolExplore Opportunities Outside of SchoolScaling Your Initiative
Chapter 6: Finding Accessible College Counselors: The Expert and the Role ModelFinding a College Counseling ExpertFinding a Role ModelMy Essential College CounselorsChapter 7: How to Choose Target Colleges in Three StepsThe "Right" Number of Target CollegesLikelihood of AdmissionCritical CharacteristicsStrategies to Explore Colleges
Chapter 8: Applying for College Admission: What it Takes and How to Do It for FreeApplication RequirementsMain Application FormsUniversity SupplementsStandardized Test ScoresWhat Do the ACT and SAT Test?What Are the SAT Subject Tests?When Should Students Take Standardized Exams?How to Report Standardized Test Scores to CollegesEssaysSupplemental MaterialsRecommendation LettersSchool ReportsResume or Curriculum VitaeApplication FeesApplication TimelineChapter 9: Securing Financial Aid to Pay for CollegeFinancial Aid From UniversitiesScholarships From External Organizations
Chapter 10: Accepting an Offer: The Last Step in the College Application Process
Appendix: Convinced It's Possible? College Preparation Timelines and ResourcesEpilogue: An Open Letter to the Dreamers
Glossary
About the Author
About the author
María Carla Chicuén is an education advocate with over ten years of experience at renowned organizations such as ACT, Harvard University, the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, Minerva Schools and Miami Dade College. After a challenging high school journey as a recent immigrant from Cuba, María Carla won admission to five Ivy League schools and ultimately decided to attend Harvard after securing over $200,000 in financial aid. These early experiences fueled her deep passion towards higher education access, dedicating special efforts to encourage achievement among minority and low-income youth in the United States and Latin America.
