There are hundreds of books available that coach kids on writing college application essays, improving SAT scores and trying to beat the admissions system. Admissions Confidential is a definitive look at why those books don't work. Toor lifts the veil on a process that anxious parents and high school students have never had decoded before. And they may be shocked to find out: - that elite colleges spend thousands of dollars recruiting students they will never admit - why some students at the bottom of their high school classes are admitted to top schools when the valedictorians are rejected - how pricey independent college counselors can hurt an applicant's chances - why admission to a top school depends on who reads your application - why the top of the class at a high-performing high school may end up at their second and third choiceWritten in engaging first-person and covering the entire admissions process - from recruiting to enrollment - Admissions Confidential is a year in the life of a college admissions officer.