Dr. Ellis does a wonderful job providing an easy-to-follow guide for the college preparation and application process. I love that she starts BEFORE high school to help parents think about what they need to do to look at the entire high school journey and not just junior and senior year. She is thorough, but in a way that doesn't overwhelm you. You know that she's going to cover all the important topics so you can just focus on each chapter as she presents it, without getting anxious about what's next. It feels like she is right there consulting with you. The checklists in the book are great. Finally, instead of just creating a dry, step-by-step guide, Dr. Ellis shares her own story as a mom of 3 who has already gone through this process multiple times. That was really reassuring. I highly recommend this book to middle and high school parents who want to plan for college, not stress themselves or their student out, and know they need an expert to help them. This is the book for you!

Dr. Pamela shares a wealth of advice regarding preparing your child to thrive in the 21st century. In addition to the focus on making the most of the high school years and preparing for and selecting a college that is an ideal Fit, Dr. Pamela offers tips about what you can do at home to encourage learning and build a strong foundation for your child. This is the how to guide for the teen years! Dr. Pamela shares extensive knowledge of K-12 education, public and private high schools and colleges, the factors to consider when selecting a college, aspects of the college application process, and how best to prepare. It is amazing that so much helpful information and guidance is in one book. The month by month roadmap for high school is a very nice tool and guides you with the steps to take each month to help your child make the most of high school, prepare for college, and reach their full potential.

Dr. Ellis has a twenty-year track record of success in the high school, summer program, and college placement arenas, and has put that expertise into this book. This book is written in a straightforward manner and is extremely informative. I have watched Dr. Ellis work for the past five years and taught and worked with a few of her clients. As the father of three high school students, I started the high school and college planning process before reading this book. By giving detailed monthly plans for each year of high school, this book provides an organized roadmap and specific steps that will save me time and money moving forward. Dr. Ellis identifies potential pitfalls, including the “Sophomore Slump” and plans to avoid overcome setbacks. I plan to follow the step-by-step plans outlined in this book to guide my children’s high school career, summer work, and college application process. I am grateful that she has shared her skills and talents with my family through this book and believe that her wisdom will help your family as well.

This is an excellent book for parents and their children. I expected the "how to" steps for applying and entering college...yet I got so much more. Dr. Ellis begins her guidance for the parents long before their children enter high school. She shares wonderful parenting skills that help to develop and prepare the family for a lifetime commitment to education.