10 Useful Books to Help Your College Admission

With colleges and universities becoming more and more competitive, the admissions process has, in turn, become more complicated to the point where college admissions barely resemble the admissions process of your parents’ generation. As such, you might be feeling alone and overwhelmed as you try to find the right college for you and start sending out applications.

Fortunately, you aren’t as alone as you think. No matter what kind of support you need, there is a book out there to answer your questions and help you feel prepared. Below are 10 useful books to guide you every step of the way throughout the college admission process.

College Admissions 101

When tackling the admissions process, you first have to narrow down which universities you want to apply to, as different institutions may have different application guidelines. After you have narrowed down your list, you can take the application process step by step. These books can help you find the right college for you and get your application organized:

College Handbook 2018

(By: The College Board )

This book is updated every year and is geared towards helping students narrow down their college search. It contains extensive information on all accredited 2-year colleges (i.e. Bainbridge College) and 4-year universities, including majors and minors, demographics, statistics, and admissions requirements.

Admission Matters

(By: Sally P. Springer, Jon Reider, Joyce Vining Morgan )

This book is a guide for stressed-out parents and students of all backgrounds (including homeschoolers, students with disabilities, transfer students, and international students).

It contains advice from admissions professionals on how to narrow down the college search and stay organized from start to finish.

College Admission: From Application to Acceptance

(By: Robin Mamlet, Christine VanDeVelde )

Containing the input from actual deans of admissions from the US’s most prestigious institutions, this book authoritatively answers all of your questions about the admissions process and advises you on how to prepare for college starting from your sophomore year of high school.

Prepping for the SAT

Most colleges and universities require some form of standardized test in order to be considered for acceptance. The most common test is the SAT. Here are some resources to help you succeed at the SAT:

The Official SAT Study Guide

(By: The College Board )

This study resource comes directly from the producers of the SAT and includes 4 practice tests from the same writers who produced the official SAT and scoring on the College Board website, practice essays and examples, math explanations, and study strategies.

Kaplan New SAT Premiere 2017 with 5 Practice Tests

(By: Kaplan )

Kaplan, as the name suggests, is one of the premiere names in test preparation. This updated version includes 5 practice tests in the book and online (including scoring for the online practice tests), practice questions with explanations, online support, video tutorials, and strategies for tackling the math and essay portions.

The Ultimate Guide to SAT Grammar

(By: Erica L. Meltzer )

If you struggle with grammar (and even those who don’t) will benefit from the detailed explanations of the grammatical concepts that will appear in the Writing section. This section has a learning section as well as exercises to practice in context.

Prepping for the ACT

Alternatively, you may be required to take the ACT. Most universities will specify if they prefer you to take the SAT or the ACT or if either one will do. If you are explicitly required to submit an ACT score, here are some resources to get you ready

The Official ACT Prep Guide

(By: ACT )

Coming directly from the makers of the ACT, this book explains the entire testing process from beginning (registering for the test) to end (receiving your results) and gives you strategies for succeeding in each section. The online portion also includes three practice tests which include the optional writing portion.

Ultimate Guide to the Math ACT

(By: Richard F Corn )

This ACT study resource focuses exclusively on the math portion, breaking down each mathematical concept covered in the ACT and giving you the chance to brush up on your weak points. This math resource stands out because you can use this book as a stand-alone study resource or in conjunction with other official prep guides.

The Complete Guide to ACT English

(By: Erica L. Meltzer )

This comprehensive resource explains all grammatical concepts tested in the ACT and gives students the opportunities to apply the individuals that they have learned in context. The book also includes a practice test.

International Admissions

International students can face different requirements from domestic students. For example, some may be required to take an English language proficiency exam, while others might no. If you are an international student, here is an excellent resource to help you figure out which requirements pertain to you and how to prepare to study abroad

International Student Handbook 2017

(By: The College Board )

This comprehensive handbook includes both 2-year and 4-year institutions so that students from abroad can explore their options beyond just the most well-known colleges and institutions and figure out the admissions requirements for international students in each one.




In short, the college admissions process doesn’t have to be a daunting, solitary journey. You can find a wealth of resources on how to select the right college and organize your application, study, and practice for the SAT or ACT, and answer any questions you might have, especially if you aren’t a traditional domestic student. All of the books on this list are written by professionals in college admissions or those with experience in admissions tests, so no matter which book you choose, you are sure to get the assistance you need so that you can get into the college of your dreams.

Amanda Wilks, Boston University graduate, Editor and Reviewer of SchoolChoices.org. Twitter: @AmandaWilks01.