| I grew up in a solidly middle class family. I honestly | | | | for them. |
| did not know that NOT going to college was an | | | | She could have been less "academic" about the |
| option. On the other hand, it never occurred to me | | | | process -- there were lots of detours through her |
| (or my parents) to apply to an Ivy League college -- | | | | experience. She also has lot of ideas and opinions |
| too expensive and way to Eastern. | | | | about the admissions process. |
| Even so, I have always had this secret fascination | | | | If you are interested in applying to the Ivy League or |
| with the idea of Harvard or Yale -- kind of like a | | | | have a child who wants to apply this is arguably |
| sociological study in how the other half lives. Fat | | | | valuable information. For the rest of us -- just skim |
| Envelope Frenzy gave me a whole new perspective | | | | over those and follow the storyline. |
| on education in the 21st century and the Ivy League. | | | | The most profound sentence in the whole books is |
| Joie Jager-Hyman followed five high school seniors in | | | | near the end: "Past experience suggests that the |
| their quest for admission to Harvard. These kids are | | | | particular college a student attends is far less |
| remarkable (and a little intimidating). All but one of | | | | important than what the student does to develop his |
| them has achieved more in their short lives than | | | | or her strengths and talents over the next four |
| most of us will achieve over the course our fifty | | | | years." |
| years. And believe it or not, the "under achiever" is | | | | This is a great "bedtime book"; you can read a little |
| something of a relief in this line up of super achievers: | | | | every night for several weeks and not lose the |
| - Felix, the child of Chinese-American doctors who | | | | storyline. Fat Envelope Frenzy is recommended |
| grew up in Philadelphia. He achieved perfect scores on | | | | reading for anyone applying to college or who has a |
| all seven of his Advanced Placement tests, has | | | | child looking at college options |
| toured internationally , and edits and online science | | | | Here is the Harper Collins synopsis: |
| magazine. | | | | A former Ivy League admissions officer, Joie |
| - Nabil, son of a Memphis gas-station attendant, is a | | | | Jager-Hyman follows five bright and eager high |
| math wiz who takes multivariable calculus at the | | | | schoolers-students from diverse ethnic, social, and |
| University of Memphis, just for fun. | | | | financial backgrounds-as they each put their best |
| - Andrew , a New Orleans native who survived | | | | foot forward on the road they hope will lead them |
| Hurricane Katrina is a tennis-playing class valedictorian | | | | to the hallowed halls of Harvard University. |
| and does charitable work at his church. | | | | At once a remarkable true story of dedication, |
| - Lisa, is an internationally ranked gymnast who is | | | | achievement, and heartbreak and a guide for success |
| weighing college against the Olympics. She got a | | | | in an ultra-competitive environment, this important |
| B-plus once -- in Driver's Ed. | | | | work deserves a place in the home of every family |
| - Marlene, the daughter of impoverished Dominican | | | | that has ever dreamed of receiving that coveted |
| immigrants. She is the "underachiever" with excellent | | | | "fat envelope" in the mail. Jager-Hyman also offers a |
| test scores but a less than perfect school | | | | startlingly frank appraisal of the college admission |
| attendance record. | | | | process and the important roles race and class |
| Jager-Hyman does a good job of making each one | | | | continue to play in a student's efforts to attend the |
| of the characters vibrant and real. I got very involved | | | | best school possible. |
| in their ups and downs and couldn't help but routing | | | | |