Even idiots can get into the best schools in the country. That is, based on the title of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Getting into Top Colleges, which was co-written by a Guilderland resident.
Marna Atkin said she was approached to provide expert assistance on the books, and was one of two co-authors for the instructional guide on the college application processes.
Atkin was born in New Jersey but moved to the Capital District while in high school.
`This whole [writing] part of it was new to me,` she said. `I know what I know.`
She has lived in Guilderland for 30 years, for about as long as she has counseled at Albany High School.
`I loved every day of what I did,` she said.
Atkin retired a year ago, in June 2008, but noted she loved her experience as a counselor.
`It was a great fit,` Atkin said of the transition to writing.
She said she has never written a book before and is not a professional writer, although did pen sections of the book.
She said she was brought onto the project because of her knowledge of the ins and outs of the admissions process.
Although she received her undergraduate degree in elementary teaching, the market was saturated, and she decided to continue her education and sought a master’s degree in counseling. She attended Boston University initially and eventually received a graduate degree from the University of Massachusetts.
Atkin said one trend she has noticed in the college admittance process is the difficulty of getting into a top school.
`It’s a very different process than it was 10 years ago, and a completely different process than it was 20 years ago,` she said.
She said schools once deemed `safety schools` no longer carry that title, and it has become harder to get into good schools across the board.
She said the book deals with Ivy League schools but also has a good cross-section of other top-notch schools.
Atkin said schools look for a variety of factors when gauging a potential student, such as academics, community service and personal passions and goals that sets one apart from other candidates.
Atkin offered a piece of advice to any student seeking college admission.
`What you do in high school and how you do it is going to have an impact on the rest of your life,` Atkin said.
She advised students to begin the selection process early, work hard and challenge themselves if getting into a top school is important to them.
`Otherwise you’re just not going to measure up to the rest of the applicants,` she said.
Atkin said a Brown University representative told her that 85 percent of applicants fit the `criteria` of the school, meaning their grades and service record is comparable to those in the school, but the ones that get selected are the ones that `shine on paper.` She said the essay, community service record or outstanding adverse family or personal circumstances often make the difference.
Ian Leslie, who worked with Atkin on the book, said he enjoyed the experience. Leslie’s background is in writing and journalism, and he is a graduate of the University at Albany, now working in South Carolina.
`Working with Marna was a great experience,` he said. She’s very wonderful.`
While Leslie’s background is not in counseling, and Atkin’s is not in writing, he said they complemented each other, and he appreciated her years of experience working with kids.
He described the development process as `intense,` and taking place over a short period of time.
Leslie said a mutual friend introduced him to Atkin and the entire process started last March and was completed by April. The writing portion of the project began last June, he said.
Leslie said he took a lot out of the project, but he learned a lot about the intricacies of the college application processes.
He said he was surprised to learn about how the graduation rate for high school students was as high as it has ever been, and to learn that students are waiting as long as possible before making a decision on where to attend college.
He added that there are more variables now than ever before in the selection process.
`A lot of it is common sense,` he said.` The niche of it is how difficult this process is.`
Atkin also runs a private counseling business, Atkin College Counseling, a company she started last year after her retirement, and she has helped families and students through the college application process. Information can be found at www.AtkinCollegeCounseling.com.
She said she provides brainstorming advice for admissions essays as well as guidance and assistance with applications and the `search and selection` process.
`It was a natural transition,` she said.
She said she has not advertised her services too much, but has garnered 12 clients so far, ranging from the Guilderland Central School District to Voorheesville, North Colonie, Schalmont, Albany Academy and even one student from Long Island.
`All did very well in terms of their goals,` Atkin said.
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