With 2,450 four-year colleges and universities in the US , over 100 of which are considered “selective” or “highly selective,” the admission process is pretty overwhelming, all the more so as it involves, for students and parents alike, one of the most important decisions they will ever make.

There is an endless supply of books, articles and Web resources available on the subject. Among them, Harry Bauld’s funny and insightful On Writing the College Application Essay and Michele Hernandez’ highly readable A is for Admission are “musts.” Both authors are former senior admissions officers (Brown, Columbia, and Dartmouth) who really know their stuff. Neither book is recent, but they remain top choices, except with respect to the recent development of “early” admissions. The Early Admissions Game, published in 2003 by two Harvard professors and a former Wesleyan admissions officer, unravels that mystery.

For college selection, there simply is no substitute for personal research: browsing college websites, attending College Day and college presentations, and making on-site college visits. American colleges welcome visitors, and students should schedule visits during the academic year or summer sessions so as to meet students, attend classes, possibly interview, and get a good feel for life on campus. (Except for Christmas break, French breaks don’t coincide with US academic vacations.) Most colleges will arrange for an overnight stay on campus, and it is a particularly good idea to ask friends, siblings, or EABJM alumni currently attending a college to host a visit.

Before you begin exploring this site, we suggest that you download and read Applying to College 2006. We have also included a 2004 ranking of US colleges, which is particularly interesting as it reflects the choices of top students. Finally, we have included links to The Montclair Kimberly Academy, an independent US school with an excellent College Counseling Office web site.