From the author of What Colleges Don't Tell You, a plan to help parents of middle and early high school students prepare their kids for the best colleges

In order to succeed in the fiercely competitive college admissions game, you need a game plan-and you have to start young. In this empowering guide, Elizabeth Wissner- Gross, a nationally sought-after college "packager," helps parents of seventh to tenth graders create a long-term plan that, come senior year, will allow their kids to virtually write their own ticket into their choice of schools.

Parents should start by helping their kids identify their academic passions, then design a four-year strategy based on those interests. The book details hundreds of opportunities available to make kids stand out that most high school guidance counselors and teachers simply don't know about or don't think to share. This indispensable guide should be required reading for any parent whose child dreams of attending one of the country's top colleges.