The College Conversation

A Practical Companion for Parents to Guide Their Children Along the Path to Higher Education

By: Eric J. Furda, Jacques Steinberg

Narrated by: Eric J. Furda, Jacques Steinberg

From an Ivy League dean and a college admissions expert, a guide to help parents support their children as they navigate their way to college

The College Conversation is a comprehensive resource for mapping the path through the college application process that provides practical advice and reassurance to keep both anxious parents and confused children sane and grounded. Rather than adding to the existing canon of "How to Get In" college guides or rankings, Eric Furda and Jacques Steinberg provide a step-by-step approach to having the tough conversations on this topic with less stress and more success.

The book is organized around key discussions and themes that trace the chronological arc of admissions and financial aid--beginning before the assembly of a list of potential colleges and continuing through the receipt of decisions--with a final section that includes advice on the first year of college. The topics include preliminary conversations about the search, and specifically how parents can think about their children's interests and what kind of college would best suit them; choosing a college (based on its curriculum, culture, and community); writing the most effective essays; assessing acceptances, including considerations of finances and aid; and making the transition from high school to college life.

The College Conversation will provide parents, students, and counselors with the credible, level-headed information often missing in this process, as well as a much-needed dash of perspective borne of experience.

You can’t go wrong

Solid advice to calm the anxiety. My son is a junior and I think it’s giving me a good foundation

The Cs And Is

We had already started a rough draft of schools and data points but this will help refine our search and communication.

This is a fantastic guide, from two very experienced experts

This is a great book for parents with college bound children. I feel confident starting the process of supporting my daughters along this journey. There is a lot involved and they lay it out in a thoughtful program with many practical tips along the way.

For average students not valedictorians.

Good for people who are completely new to the college scene. Waste of time for people who went to college. My wife and I both have graduate degrees and understood the simple information.
The information was also only relevant for average students. My son is a valedictorian and national merit scholar. I found almost no helpful information in this book. It was a waste of time.