Deluged with messages that range from "It's Ivy League or bust" to "It doesn't matter where you go," college applicants and their families often find themselves lost, adrift in a sea of information overload. Finally--a worthy life preserver has arrived. The Enlightened College Applicant presents a no-nonsense account of how students should approach the college search and admissions process. Instead of providing recycled entrance statistics or anecdotal generalizations about campus life, authors Belasco and Bergman incorporate cutting-edge data and research to pull back the curtain on critical topics such as: -Whether college prestige really matters, -How to maximize your college admission prospects -Which schools and degrees provide the best return on investment -How to minimize the costs of a college education -What college-related skills are valued in the job market, and much more. Whether you are a valedictorian or a B/C student, this easy-to-read book will improve your college savvy and enable you to maximize the benefits of your higher education.