Kpakpundu Ezeze - Dream College: How to Help Your Child Get into the Top Schools

A CONFLUENCE OF PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES laid this project's foundation. The origins of this guide span three decades of service in secondary and higher education. In various capacities, I had the honor of learning from caring mentors at Lexington, Wellesley, and Washington-Lee high schools, respectively. I expanded my experience as an educator in my service as an administrator with the Upward Bound programs at Boston College, Worcester State College, and Howard University. At Wellesley College I held the position of Head of House-Academic Advisor, and at the University of Pennsylvania I was an Assistant Dean and a Residential Dean in the College of Arts and Sciences; in these two positions I was fortunate to interface with undergraduates on a daily basis. In many ways how I think about education in general and about urban secondary education in particular has been informed by those many discussions among students, faculty, and administrators. In 1989, I launched my own educational consulting firm, Future Quest, Inc., offering guidance to primarily first-generation college-bound youth, who otherwise could not afford to pay for private consulting services but had the greatest need of guidance and support. The company has been in existence for twenty years and has assisted thousands of students with the educational planning and college placement process. Of particular interest has not simply been getting admitted to one's top-choice college, but also the importance of thriving academically and socially once in college and graduating on time. This book tried to catalog the insights I acquired through working with students and education industry professionals in the aim to benefit future generations of college-bound youth and their families.

A number of individuals have imparted invaluable advice and support during the course of this project. For their genuine friendship, fellowship, and direction on many aspects of this assignment, I am especially grateful to Sharon M. Alston, Donna Atkinson, Kevin Carlstein, Carol Cromer, DD Eisenberg, Audrey T. Hill, Andrea Hines, Steve Hines, Vera Faulkner, Michael Ferby, Bernadine Francis, Joyce Hemmons, Rebecca Lamb, Marie Lindsay, Norma Paige, Joe Steele, Glenn Tunstull and Regiie Van Lee. The insight of colleagues and valuable perspectives of former clients speak in the interview contributions that frame each chapter. To my copy editors, Ellen Olmstead and Stephanie Harzewski, I extend special thanks for their exacting eye, advice, and encouragement.

I am also indebted to countless former students, without whom this project could not have been possible. I wish to thank all of my students for their energy and vitality. That youthful spirit has enabled me to feel young, when the reality is I am in the winter of my life. Among those students from whom I have learned and hopefully I have inspired, some stand out among the many: Tanique Adell, Chancellor Agard, Tyler Brooks, Christian Calloway, Derric Daniels, Jasmine Drake, Helena Edwards, Nicole Falls, Neferteneken Francis, Sarah Greenberg, Christina Harastock, Patrick Jefferson, Aaron Jenkins, Constance Lindsay, Nnamdi Obodo, Allen Pinkney, Justin Silvey, Jasmine Smith, Erik Torenberg, Frank White, Jr., and Joshua Williams.

To my sister, Patricia Ann Holland, who passed away in 1975, I give a special acknowledgement for her unconditional love and support throughout our childhood and young adult years. In many ways, her untimely death inspired me to make contributions to the field of education; in certain positions I aimed to contribute to the lives of those who were less fortunate, a trait which she admired most in my character. Through my work in general with young people, and with this project in particular, her love of life and the values for which she stood live on bittersweetly. Over the decades, students development and hope for the future have continuously affirmed life in the face of challenges. I would be honored if she finds this energy, which was very much a part of her own character, reincarnated here.

And finally I want to thank any individuals whose names I may have unintentionally omitted; I can only hope that they see their insights reflected through the course of this book.