Achieve the College Dream: You Don't Need to Be Rich to Attend a Top School

by Maria Carla Chicuen (Author)

Students with few resources rarely apply to top colleges. Even when they have the academic and extracurricular merits to be admitted to institutions like Harvard, Yale and Princeton, these students usually opt for less selective universities. Many ignore that top colleges are actively seeking outstanding candidates regardless of their economic background. What’s more, a great number of colleges offers generous financial aid to make sure every student can afford to attend.

This book is the definitive resource to help high-achieving, low-income students access the best possible college. The author draws from her extensive experience in education to provide advice on important aspects of the path to college such as pursuing a strong high school curriculum, preparing for standardized exams, complementing learning at school, developing leadership, and finding expert help and role models―all through affordable strategies. In the book, the author also guides students through the college application and selection processes, as well as the steps to obtain enough financial aid.

From the very first page, the author sheds light on her own journey to college through deeply personal vignettes, demonstrating by example that students with few resources can reach and succeed at the top universities in the United States.

Review
Achieve the College Dream: You Don’t Need to be Rich to Attend a Top School is the sort of guide that does more than offer step-by-step instructions about how to pique admission officers’ interest, how to pursue a rigorous curriculum and how to explore extracurricular activities that don’t empty out the bank account. Maria Carla Chicuen has written a guidebook to inspire other students to reach for the stars. Achieve the College Dream provides an inspirational message from someone who has been there, done that and wants to inspire ― nay, convince ― others it can be done. (Miami Herald)

Achieve the College Dream is a comprehensive guide to finding and affording the right college for students from all economic backgrounds. Designed especially for those of limited economic means, it is valuable for all students―rich, poor, or middle-income―with its well- organized, chronological approach to preparing for and applying to college.

It also is the story of a family that achieved the American Dream against formidable odds. As a fellow first-generation college student and financial aid recipient at an earlier Harvard, I am delighted to see that Maria is providing both inspiration and an important roadmap for the next generation of aspiring college students. (William R. Fitzsimmons, Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid, Harvard University)

What a good subject to write a book about! The topic of the second chapter―how selective universities are usually the most affordable option for low-income students―is particularly important, as it is often ignored or looked at with disbelief.” (Jorge Domínguez, Antonio Madero Professor for the Study of Mexico in the Department of Government and Chair of The Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies at Harvard University)

I'm always encouraging my students to aim high and apply to Ivy League schools, but reading a first-hand account will provide them with the guidance they need to get there. This book can help me guide students into creating a better future for themselves and their families. (Anabel Basualdo, Teacher of the Year, International Studies Charter High School)

Achieve the College Dream manages to do something very few college resource books have been able to do in the past: it inspires! By mixing her sophisticated understanding of top-tier college admissions with her energizing personal narrative of perseverance, Maria breaks down a convoluted and often times misunderstood process, into a digestible, easy-to-follow set of recommendations that all students can benefit from. This is a remarkable resource for all high-achieving students (and their parents) who never thought an elite college education was within their grasp―this book proves it is! (Daniel Edeza, talent scout at the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, former senior assistant director of admissions at Yale University Office of Undergraduate Admissions)

Achieve the College Dream: You Don't Need to Be Rich to Attend a Top School addresses the unique and urgent concerns of a population of students who are largely underrepresented at our country's most selective colleges. ‬

This book is clearly and powerfully written. It is both a terrific tool and an inspiring story. It is comprehensive and from-the-heart. I have been waiting for a book like this for a long time. I wish I could give a copy of this book to every one of my students!‬ (Joshua Steckel, College Counselor, NYC Department of Education; Co-Author, Hold Fast to Dreams (The New Press, 2014)‬)

Achieve the College Dream is superbly written, easy-to-follow, and will serve as a valuable tool for high-achieving, underrepresented students, all of whom have the potential to succeed in selective institutions but often lack the advice or resources to navigate the college application process. The knowledge and skills gained through reading this book will allow students to not only apply but also to thrive in college.

As a first generation American and college graduate, I personally identify with María’s story and mission to educate new generations of students. Achieve the College Dream is the book that I (and the world of higher education) have been waiting for. (Jessica Acosta, former college counselor and Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions, Tufts University)

About the Author
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.