Jill Madenberg draws upon her 20-plus years of counseling experience while her daughter Amanda—a student who just recently went off to college—adds tips and personal stories. Whether you are wondering how to choose high school classes and activities, create a realistic college list, get the most out of a campus visit, or maintain a positive and healthy attitude, e will help you make educated decisions throughout the process—and show you how to do it with a smile. As the daughter of an experienced college counselor, Amanda Madenberg has been visiting colleges for as long as she can remember—on family vacations, weekend road trips, and school holidays. Even at a young age, she took interest as her mom spoke with tour guides, admissions counselors, and students on campus to get a feel for life at a particular school. Most importantly, Amanda greatly enjoyed her own college application process—from visiting campuses to writing supplemental essays. Writing as both a typical high school student and as the daughter of a college counselor, Amanda lends a unique and entertaining perspective to e.