Admissions by Design: Stop the Madness and Find the Best College for You

by Lisa Fisher

The race to matriculate into the most-prestigious-university-possible is killing America's students. There is a better way!

"Admissions by Design" is a poignant, unorthodox, and thorough guide that upends the traditional paradigm of college admissions. Incorporating the latest research in brain science and human development and using stories from her nearly 20 years of work with students, Lisa Fisher offers students practical tools to reframe the college admissions process to one of an inspired and authentic journey toward self-discovery.

Building from the root of the word admission, meaning toward purpose, and tying the college admissions process to the development of self and to emerging trends in economic development, the author argues that the admissions process shouldn t be about getting into a prestigious name school, but about a journey to knowing one s self, heeding one s callings, and identifying the right fit school that will serve as the catalyst to embracing a purpose-led life.

Presenting facts and details about the ways in which the current system of college admissions negatively impacts students, the author challenges prevailing methods and offers new ideas and solutions to reinvent the approach to college admissions to be more humanistic and student-centered. This practical guide challenges students to define and pursue their unique paths and offers hands-on tools to help students in their process of self-discovery and in identifying and applying to the right fit college. "

Genres: Nonfiction

279 pages, Paperback

First published March 29, 2016

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I had had this book when I was in high school and getting ready for college. I was the kid that always did what was expected of me, I moved forward with my college plans with the goal of finding a good job at the end. I did realize a couple of years in that being a lawyer wasn't for me, partially thanks to my husband, I'm very glad I came to this conclusion and decided not to pursue a career just because it would make me money. I changed my major to education, I didn't know what else to do, it was a good job, a reliable job, and I'd always liked school. I liked teaching, but I have learned that I don't like being a teacher. I have, over the years, put pressure on my daughter to have a back up plan, to have something reliable in the wings in case her lofty dreams don't pan out. In the last few years, I've come to realize I've done her a disservice with the best of intentions. Doing "what I was suppose to" didn't make me happy or fulfilled, and has caused me much stress. I had been shifting my view and interactions with her before I read this book.

I can't wait for my daughter to read this, and hopefully take advantages of the advise and exercises held within it. When she has finished it, I plan on working through it myself to help me find my true purpose and passion and what I want to do in the world.

I think that every guidance counselor, parent, and student need to read this. Self-discovery is crucial to knowing your path in life and the idea that we aren't locked into one job or future is true and wonderful.