Study Aids

Written with professional insight into higher education, Get the Degree Without Losing Your Mind merges personal effectiveness disciplines with study skills techniques to help modern students manage their increasingly busy lives. 

Today’s students are more distracted than ever before. With hacks to help students retrain their brains for maximum focus and concentration, Get the Degree Without Losing Your Mind connects with students of all backgrounds and experience levels, from traditional undergraduate and graduate students to student-athletes and trade school students, especially midcareer professionals pursuing part-time education. Every modern student can learn to become more successful and productive with Get the Degree Without Losing Your Mind. 

By addressing academic advancement and personal effectiveness through a holistic lens, this educational resource helps students increase their focus, concentration, productivity, and performance without sacrificing other important aspects of their lives. Students who follow the advice in this book will be able to increase their impact inside and outside the classroom while seeking their life’s work. 

Generative AI was not used in the writing of this book. The contents of this book are based solely on the author's knowledge, research, and personal experience.

BIG SHIFTS IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS AHEAD!
College acceptance has changed in big ways since the pandemic, and you need to know how. Now, learn about the shifts in and strategies for a vibrant high school journey and college acceptance at your dream schools from nationally beloved and renowned Admissions Advisor, Dr. Deborah Bedor.
In this book you will learn the following important items that will take your application to the next level.
Develop Your Exceptional Applicant Mindset Big, bold, creative ideas to differentiate you from the crowd of other intelligent students stuck in a standardized educational world.
Write Your Winning Application You'll use this unique resource as an “anthology of activation” that will inspire you to take the pieces of your high school life and combine them with the six most important success factors for college applications and Acceptance.
Wise Advice From Expert Mentors Nationally-renowned subject experts mentor you in these pages, so you can differentiate yourself via projects in computer science, machine learning, artificial intelligence, research sciences, mathematics for national competitions, debate, athletic leadership, business, humanities, and music.
Admissions doesn't care what you do--they care why you do it and how thoughtfully and passionately you can express your journey.

Did you know that it takes the average college admissions officer less than seven minutes to decide whether or not to admit a student to their school? That’s just part of the reason why, for parents in both the U.S. and around the world, helping their child get into a top U.S. college or university can be a baffling ordeal. Everyone has heard the horror stories about the student with the perfect test scores and stellar GPA who was rejected by their first-choice school, and sometimes even their second-choice school. Exactly what are admissions officers at elite American schools looking for? And, more importantly, what can students and their parents do to help them rise above the competition and win entry to the school of their dreams?

The 7-Minute Admissions Decision: Making Every Second Count to Gain Acceptance to Your Dream School has the solution.

Written by Sean Ma, Founder/CEO of Ma Academy and President/Board Member of Shanghai Leighton School and a BA and MA graduate of Columbia University, The 7-Minute Admissions Decision cuts through the rumors and confusion around the U.S. college admissions process and gives the reader insight into what admissions officers at top institutions are actually looking for; then gives students the tools to build a secondary school career and create an application that will grab admissions officers’ attention and make them want to say yes.

In the book, Ma takes the reader through the same process he uses with his clients, first helping their student maximize their high school years in terms of preparing for the college and course of study of their choice, then guiding the reader through each element of the application process and how to utilize it to their best advantage. The book includes interviews with admissions officers at top schools where they share what they’re really looking for in an applicant to their school, along with stories of real-life students who have successfully applied his methods and won admissions to their dream schools.

Packed with real, actionable insights and following a proven method that has worked for thousands, The 7-Minute Admissions Decision will serve as a valuable tool to help parents help their children prepare for the future, achieve their dreams, and ultimately live the lives they want to live.

This book offers a candid and unflinching account of the PhD experience in a sector marked by precarity, insecurity and intense competition. Throughout the volume, current and former PhD students reflect on their varied journeys, addressing challenges such as balancing study with family life, navigating ethical dilemmas and managing mental health.

The collection brings together a diverse range of voices from the PhD community, sharing personal thoughts, lived experiences and "in-the-moment" accounts of life as a doctoral candidate within the context of higher education.

By demystifying the PhD journey and offering valuable insights, this book serves as essential reading for both PhD students and their supervisors.

A practical, easy-to-read guide that aims to help undergraduate students cope with the demands of English and Creative Writing degrees.

Written by lecturers and industry professionals with decades of experience in writing and higher education, this book also includes hints and tips from previous students. Find out what your tutors are looking for when marking your work, how to avoid common pitfalls, what the difference between clear and creative writing is, how to organise and behave on your work placement, and how to structure and research that all-important first assignment.

This guide demystifies academic language and marking processes so that you can make the most of your degree.

Written in a lively and accessible manner by a former Dean of Undergraduate Admissions at Stanford University, this book will enlighten prospective college applicants and their parents, teachers, and guidance counselors about many of the practical, fundamental, philosophical, and ethical issues involved in the selection of any college freshman class.

Academic Writing for Military Personnel is a manual for writing clear and effective academic prose. Authored by an experienced writing instructor and a retired military officer, both of whom teach in a professional military education institution, it is designed for members of the armed forces who are entering, or perhaps re-entering, the academic community, and having spent much of their careers either writing in the professional military context or not writing at all.

The book not only teaches officers how to write convincingly, but also explains why a sound grasp of academic writing can enhance their effectiveness in their regular duties, particularly as they reach the more senior levels of service. Chapters focus on the value of written communication skills, the difference between professional (staff) and academic writing, the research process, the writing process, academic professionalism, and common writing problems and challenges. A particularly innovative final chapter discusses how officers can use the knowledge that they have acquired through their professional experiences in the academic context. Specific examples – chosen with a military audience in mind – are integrated throughout the text to provide the reader with relevant and practical guidance.

The revised edition incorporates new examples from a more diverse set of authors, takes into account recent changes in communication technologies, and reflects new advancements in the scholarship of teaching and learning.

As the only comprehensive guide to effective academic writing designed specifically for military personnel, this book will be a crucial addition to the libraries of junior and senior officers in militaries worldwide.

Available formats: trade paperback, accessible PDF, and accessible ePub

A degree is no longer a passport to success in today’s job market.

Going to university used to be a passport to future success, but that’s no longer the case. For some students, it’s still a good choice that leads to a successful career after graduation, but for many their degrees are worthless pieces of paper. Choose the wrong program and graduation is more likely to lead to disillusionment and debt than a steady paycheque.



Yet parents, guidance counselors, and politicians still push higher education as if it’s the only option for building a secure future. In this book, Ken S. Coates and Bill Morrison set out to explore the many educational opportunities and career paths open to Canadian high-school students and those in their twenties. This book is designed to help young adults decide whether to pursue a degree, enrol for skills training, or investigate one of the many other options that are available.

Undergraduate fees for universities and colleges across Canada have more than doubled in every province over the past decade. Today, the average student debt load after graduation is almost twenty-thousand dollars.

Individuals considering a post-secondary education are looking for intelligent, resourceful ways to fund their education without mortgaging their future. Those currently in school are trying to find ways to cut their spending, increase their income, and make it to convocation without incurring massive debt.

Sink or Swim is the answer to their troubles. This book will guide students through their post-secondary education, encouraging them to live within their means by being creative with their lifestyle.

• Inside tips on admissions
• Profiles of 100 top colleges
• Hundreds of scholarship sources

• In-depth profiles of the top 100 colleges for African American students
• Black Excel's exclusive list of hundreds of scholarships
• The "Get-the-Money Guide"
• Extraordinary sample essays
• Invaluable Internet resources

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Application is the ultimate resource for the 60,000+ students applying to medical school every year in the US. With a detailed breakdown of each part of the medical school application, discussion about knowing when the student is good enough, and a self-reflection checklist if a student doesn’t get into medical school, The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Application is the must-have companion for students as they are filling out their applications every spring.

The current approach to finding scholarships to reduce college costs is not giving families the results they need. College costs continue to rise and so does student loan debt. As a recipient of an academic college scholarship as well as several outside scholarships, Jean O’Toole was able to attend Wagner College, but she and her family still had to pay for the remainder of her education with student loans. A different approach is needed to provide families with different results.

In Scholarship Strategies, Jean simplifies the scholarship application process in easy-to-follow steps which any student can incorporate into their already busy schedules. She provides students and parents with a clear plan to decipher which scholarships have the best chances of winning and should be applied to. This easy-to-follow, out-of-the-box approach was developed over a decade of working with thousands of students, giving students and families ownership of the scholarship search process to build on the efforts that their school counselors are already providing. A future can be designed without college debt, and Scholarship Strategies with its 25 clear strategies, along with 15 additional ways to reduce college costs, helps students live that future.

Complete Guide to Academic & College Planning for Teens

The College Bound Planner is your step-by-step comprehensive college planning guide to organize every step of your high school education while preparing smart goals for college.

Get your teens ready now! College may seem far away but thinking ahead and understanding how things work will help your teen prepare. In these uncertain times, parents and students are feeling even more anxious about how to approach college readiness. This book provides advice and guidance starting at freshman year of high school up through senior year. This step-by-step guidance empowers students to take control of their academic futures and thrive, no matter what the future brings.

Develop skills for a lifetime of success. The College Bound Planner helps teens master skills including note taking, studying, test taking, and writing essays and research papers. Being college ready is also about having life skills such as time management, critical thinking, problem solving, decision making, and communication, as well as the discipline and drive needed to succeed. This college planner is the best college planner to get a teen ready for college.

Inside, you’ll find:

• Academic direction and academic planning tips
• Good study skills and life habits to set yourself up to succeed
• Ways to stay organized and how to do proper goal setting
• Guides to prioritizing your personal goals while participating in extracurriculars
• How and when to apply for college using proper college planning
• What to do to get ready for your first day as an undergraduate college student

If you liked What Color Is Your Parachute?, Fiske Guide to Colleges 2021, or Teens' Guide to College & Career Planning, you’ll love The College Bound Planner.

The Truth About Career Planning and the College Search Process

“…the go-to guide for students to find the right path, at the right time, for the right tuition amount to lead to their best career outcome.” ―Anna Costaras and Gail Liss, authors of The College Bound Organizer

#1 New Release in Education Research

Society's guiding “truths” about higher education are now incorrect. In What Every Parent Needs to Know About College Admissions, Christie Barnes helps parents and students alike cut through the noise and find the best school, which might not always be the most prestigious or expensive one.

College planning re-examined. All economic levels are getting vastly incorrect information for college and career planning, leading to anxiety-ridden youth and crippling student debt. Less affluent students are being led to more expensive options and high achievers feel compelled to apply for college at the most prestigious institutions. But, whether it’s a state school, safety school, or public school―there are other options beside an overpriced private school. It could be, but it might not be.

A guidance counselor for parents. Learn that it’s not just about the “right” college, it’s about the “right fit” college. Using statistics, experts, and multi-factor analysis to clarify what should and should not be a worry in college planning, Barnes helps parents identify better, and often overlooked, options. In this guide, she dissects the top ten parental worries about  how to get into college, including college applications, college admissions, college requirements, and college acceptance.

Inside find:

• The first comprehensive individualized career and academic planning guide available to parents and teens
• Details on new innovative programs endorsed by schools, colleges, and HR departments
• A bonus “Academic Planning Guide”

If you enjoyed books like Launch, Prepared, or Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be, you’ll love What Every Parent Needs to Know About College Admissions.

This is Your #1 Go-To Guide To Get You Through the American University Admissions Process

#1 New Release in College Guides

University admissions in the USA is becoming tougher than ever. Nearly three million students are expected to enroll as first-time freshmen in colleges and universities in the United States this school year. How can you prepare, get organized, and stay focused throughout the search and admission process?

Applying to college can be intimidating and overwhelming for both teens and parents. The process is a maze of standardized tests, school research, university fairs, applications, interviews, CVs, essays, and deadlines. This university planner will guide you easily through each stage of the process, from recruiting letters of recommendation to applying for financial aid. This organizer has all the tips to help you submit your best application.

This University organizer helps students understand what USA admission officers are looking for in an applicant and help students of all backgrounds learn to prevent common mistakes that are made on applications. Learn more about the American admission process this University Bound Organizer, especially about:

• Building a personal profile
• Researching universities to identify schools that are a good fit
• Securing letters of recommendation
• Developing your university application essay
• Apply for financial aid and scholarships
• Sort and manage application results
• How to make a final decision

If you have read Teens’ Guide to College & Career Planning, College Admission: From Application to Acceptance, Step by Step; or Fiske Guide to Colleges 2021; you’ll find The University Bound Organizer to be your most valuable resource for planning and securing your future.

Eliminate Your Student Loan Debt

Step-by-step approach to financial freedom: David Carlson is the author of the book Hustle Away Debt and founder of the millennial personal finance blog Young Adult Money. In Student Loan Solution David explains what student loan borrowers should be focusing on. He provides a 5-step approach to help you understand your loans, your options, and how to improve your greater financial life, while paying down your student loan debt. Learn how to take advantage of strategies that help you make more money, save more money, and ultimately pay down your student loans faster.

Everything you need to know about student loan debt: Student loans are complicated. College financial aid terms like “federal direct subsidized” and “GRAD Plus” mean little to most of us. Each type of student loan is slightly different, with its own set of rules and repayment options. Student Loan Solution explains everything you need to know about your student loans including how they work, repayment options and opportunities for loan forgiveness, and plans for managing and paying down your loans. David Carlson covers it all.

De-complicate your life: By the time you are done reading this book, you will understand student loans, gain control of your finances, and be armed with strategies to improve your finances.

Don't be a statistic: For millions of Americans, paying for college meant taking out loans. If you are one of the 70% of college graduates burdened with these loans, Student Loan Solution could change your life. Fight the student loans epidemic affecting 40 million borrowers―learn the best way to pay off the college degree you worked so hard to earn.

Student Loan Solution has the tools you need to start your student loans repayment with a bang. Learn how to:

• Pay off your student loan debt
• Personalize your student loan repayment plan
• Live a happier, financially smarter life

College Applications, College Admissions, and College Planning Guide

“Using The College Bound Organizer is one way to help you stay focused on what is really important.” —Edward B. Fiske, bestselling author of Fiske Guide to Colleges

#1 Best Seller in College Guides

The College Bound Organizer is your step-by-step comprehensive college planning guide to organize every step of the college application process from college search through college admission.

College admissions is tougher than ever.  Over 20 million people in the U.S. try to get into college each year. Each of these students applies to many schools—5, 10, perhaps as many as 20—and each of those applications has a daunting number of T’s to cross and I’s to dot. With standardized test taking and school visits, the college application essay to write and forms to fill out, there is so much to do. Applying to college is intimidating and overwhelming for both teenagers and parents.

College bound? The challenge is to be well informed, prepared, focused and organized throughout the multi-step college search and admission process. Your solution is The College Bound Organizer, the ultimate guide you effectively navigate this complicated and stressful process.

The College Bound Organizer helps you:

• Understand what admission officers are looking for in an applicant
• Prevent common mistakes students make on applications
• Build a personal profile
• Plan an individualized testing schedule
• Research colleges to identify good fit schools
• Develop a balanced list of schools
• Secure letters of recommendation
• Complete and submit applications accurately and on time
• Develop your college application essay
• Apply for financial aid and scholarships
• Ace interviews
• Sort and manage application results
• Make a final decision

If you have found books such as Teens' Guide to College & Career Planning, College Essay Essentials, or College Admission helpful, you are going to love The College Bound Organizer.

#1 Best Seller in High School Test Preparation, SSAT & COOP ─ Comprehensive boarding school guide

• What is boarding school really like?
• What are my chances of getting into U.S. boarding schools?
• How do I evaluate private schools vs. public schools?

What is boarding school really like? U.S. boarding schools offer a superb preparation for college bound students, but they are not for everyone. American Prep is the only comprehensive guide for parents and students interested in investigating, applying to, and succeeding at these great schools. Meticulously researched and thoughtfully written, American Prep is an essential guide through the world of U.S. boarding schools – their history and culture, their resources and support systems, their opportunities and challenges – and the only book that leads you through the entire prep school experience. You will learn about:

• Why boarding schools are increasingly valuable in the 21st century
• The pros and cons of private school vs public school
• How to select a school that is right for your student and your family
• How to navigate the admission process – detailed insider advice
• The emotional challenges of prep school for students and families – what to expect and when
• How to secure generous financial aid for prep school
• Student success on campus – getting in is only the first step

An insider's perspective on U.S. boarding schools: Award winning writer/critic Ronald Mangravite has multiple perspectives on the American prep school world. An alumnus of the Lawrenceville School, he is a current prep school parent, an alumni class officer, and an admissions volunteer. His extensive teaching experience includes universities and private schools, with service on admissions and curricula committees. He holds degrees from the University of California, Berkeley and UCLA.