As a mother of two, I can only imagine the trepidation that lies ahead when the time comes for me to help my daughters navigate their journey into college. When it does, there is no one I trust more than Pamela Donnelly to be our guide. Not only does she offer solid strategies and important information, but her intuition as a mother and her deep heart are invaluable. -- Marcia Cross, Professional Actress (Desperate Housewives, Melrose Place) / Mom

Amazing book---the difference between your child living by design and by default. I wish I'd had this 21 years ago---it would have made all the difference and saved my wife and me a fortune. Pamela Donnelly's message is a crystal ball, determining in no small way your child's future. -- Joel Bauer, Current Client, Dad, Marketing Expert, Author-How to Persuade People Who Don't Want to Be Persuaded

"Finally, wisdom from the trenches. A rare combination of insight, wry humor and heart. A must-read." -- Dr. Jessica G. Price, Attorney and Educator, Los Angeles, Harvard University, Yale University Alumna

After my daughter Jamey’s first round of SAT and ACT testing, we learned that being a straight-A student does not necessarily translate into standardized testing excellence. We began consulting with Pamela Donnelly to ensure that when colleges reviewed her applications they wouldn’t see a disconnect between her GPA and her test scores. Boy, are we glad we did. Jamey achieved a 5-point increase on her ACT score, and acceptance into her dream school, Vanderbilt University, with $52,000 in grants. It's nice to know who you can trust as a parent when the stakes are so high. -- Nancy Gallegos, Operations Manager/Mom, Long Beach CA

Trusting an expert who is also a mother is great. I looked at many other options before deciding to chose Pamela Donnelly. I know she actually cares about students, and that is important to me as a parent. Others have made me feel like a number; she made me feel like an informed mother. -- Juliet Zita, Tax Preparer/Mom, Los Angeles CA

USC is in our family, and it was family tradition for my daughter to apply, but it made us nervous because we knew her writing skills needed strengthening. She is now a sophomore at USC and loves it. Trusting Pamela Donnelly was the right decision at the right time, and a really smart investment. No matter where the road leads, I know Natalie will always remember Ms. D as one of the pivotal influences of her teenage years. Every parent needs to know an expert to turn to, because it is impossible, impossible to do all of it by yourself. -- Nora Gaghinjian, Restaurant Owner/Mom, Glendale CA

Thanks to working with Pamela Donnelly and her staff, my average section score on the SAT leaped. My essays improved, and I got into 9 of the 11 schools I applied to! I am so excited to be attending my #1 choice, Sarah Lawrence College. I loved working with Pamela Donnelly and Valley Prep since they really get how it feels to be a teen with all this pressure. It really helped me achieve my goals to know that they understood me. I’m now aiming for a writing career and a great future working for a major magazine. It's great that other people can read in her books what I was able to learn firsthand. -- Taylor Burke, Sarah Lawrence College Student, Journalism, Pacific Palisades, CA