Cover -- Table of Contents -- Introduction -- Part I: A Plan of Action -- Chapter 1 A Journey Begins -- College Application Process -- Questionnaires: Student and Parent -- What Does It Say? -- Chapter 2 How Does College Work? -- College Semesters and Schedules -- Associate's Degree -- Community Colleges -- Majors and Minors -- Bachelor's Degree -- A Little of Both -- Study Abroad -- Cooperative Experience -- Graduate School -- Go Forward with a Plan -- Part II: GPS Your Trip -- Chapter 3 Let's Get Ready -- Assessments -- The Process -- Stay Organized -- Chapter 4 Your Guidance Counselor and Department -- Naviance -- Other Resources -- Chapter 5 Majors and Reputations -- Visualization Exercise: Career Research -- Book of Majors -- Putting It All Together -- Reputations Matter -- Rankings -- Declaring Your Major -- List of Schools -- Part III: Components of the College Application -- Chapter 6 The Big Three: Academic Index -- Course Selection and Vigor -- Grade-Point Average and Rank -- College Admissions Tests -- SAT Subject Tests -- Chapter 7 And Three More -- Extracurricular Activity Sheet/Resume -- Letters of Recommendation -- College Essays -- Other Items to Include -- Part IV: Schools and Applications -- Chapter 8 Do You Have What It Takes? -- College Websites -- How Many Schools? -- Getting Feedback -- Attitude Is Everything -- Final List -- Chapter 9 Online Applications -- Access and Email -- Public Education Systems -- The Application -- Additional Materials -- Admissions Office -- The Common App -- Individual Schools -- Immediate Decision Days -- U.S. Military Academies -- Early Decision versus Early Action-Big Difference -- Regular Decision versus Rolling Decision -- Application-Tracking -- Part V: Costs and Cash -- Chapter 10 Tuition and More -- Total Cost of Attendance -- Net Price Calculator -- Your Cash -- Budgeting.

Chapter 11 Financial Aid -- Grants and Scholarships -- Loans and Work-Study Programs -- Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) -- Pep Talk -- Part VI: Theirs and Yours -- Chapter 12 Their Decisions -- Campus Safety -- Retention and Graduation Rates -- Campus Visit -- Chapter 13 Your Decision -- Financial-Aid Award Letters -- Rank Them -- Final Date of Decision: Universal May 1st Deadline -- Part VII: Success on Campus -- Chapter 14 Topics to Anticipate -- Orientation -- Time Management -- Roommates and Living Arrangements -- What to Bring to College -- Greek Life -- Chapter 15 Topics to Contemplate -- Senioritis -- Learning Styles -- Binge Drinking -- Date Rape -- Drug Use -- Hazing -- Health and Wellness -- Academic Integrity -- Part VIII: How It Plays Out -- Chapter 16 This Is Awesome! -- For Students -- For Parents -- Chapter 17 I Hate It Here -- For Students -- For Parents -- Appendix A: Glossary of Key Terms -- A -- B -- C -- D -- E -- F -- G -- H -- I -- L -- M -- N -- O -- P -- R -- S -- T -- U -- W -- Appendix B: More Feedback and Tips -- Appendix C: Timeline -- Index -- A -- B -- C -- D -- E -- F -- G -- H -- I -- J -- L -- M -- N -- O -- P -- Q -- R -- S -- T -- U -- V -- W-Z.