Achieve the College Dream

María Carla Chicuén is an education advocate with over ten years of experience at renowned organizations such as ACT, Harvard University, the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, Minerva Schools and Miami Dade College. After a challenging high school journey as a recent immigrant from Cuba, María Carla won admission to five Ivy League schools and ultimately decided to attend Harvard after securing over $200,000 in financial aid. These early experiences fueled her deep passion towards higher education access, dedicating special efforts to encourage achievement among minority and low-income youth in the United States and Latin America.

Foreword
Acknowledgments
Introduction: Trust Me: It’s Possible
Glossary: Key Terms to Navigate This Book and the College Applications
Chapter 1: A College Education: The Path to Prosperity and Opportunity
Going to College vs. Getting a Job
The Importance of College vs. Graduate School
Chapter 2: Selective Colleges: A Most Affordable Option for Low-Income Students
The Policies that Make Top Colleges Affordable
Why Harvard Might Be a Student’s Cheapest Option
Chapter 3: The Meaning of High Achievement: What Admission Officers are Looking For
The “Holistic” Application Review
Academic Skills
Extracurricular Participation
Character
Chapter 4: Meeting the Academic Admission Requirements at No Cost
Choosing the Best Possible High School
Pursuing a Rigorous Curriculum
Preparing for Standardized Testing
The Role of Parents
Chapter 5: How to Succeed in Extracurriculars Without Spending Money
Find What You Love
Explore Opportunities at School
Explore Opportunities Outside of School
Scaling Your Initiative
Chapter 6: Finding Accessible College Counselors: The Expert and the Role Model
Finding a College Counseling Expert
Finding a Role Model
My Essential College Counselors
Chapter 7: How to Choose Target Colleges in Three Steps
The “Right” Number of Target Colleges
Likelihood of Admission
Critical Characteristics
Strategies to Explore Colleges
Chapter 8: Applying for College Admission: What it Takes and How to Do It for Free
Application Requirements
Main Application Forms
University Supplements
Standardized Test Scores
What Do the ACT and SAT Test?
What Are the SAT Subject Tests?
When Should Students Take Standardized Exams?
How to Report Standardized Test Scores to Colleges
Essays
Supplemental Materials
Recommendation Letters
School Reports
Resume or Curriculum Vitae
Application Fees
Application Timeline
Chapter 9: Securing Financial Aid to Pay for College
Financial Aid From Universities
Scholarships From External Organizations
Chapter 10: Accepting an Offer: The Last Step in the College Application Process
Appendix: Convinced It’s Possible? College Preparation Timelines and Resources
Epilogue: An Open Letter to the Dreamers
Glossary
About the Author