基本上2部分: Academic Record and Personal Records. There is nothing you can do about your academic part, but personal part is craft of arts, and this part is counsellor job. Personal essay is most difficult job. Read those 2 books, you will know what application process. Yes, GOOD counsellor is useful to give your GOOD advice, but how your child benefit counsellor depend on your child, let her/he read those 2 books, she/he will know what she/he expect form counsellor.
Hope this very helpful.
The Truth About Getting In: A Top College Advisor Tells You Everything You Need to Know
Rock Hard Apps: How To Write A Killer College Application
Academic Record
.Course work
.Grade point average (GPA)
.Standardized test (SAT I or ACT, SAT IIs, APs)
.Class rank
.Grade trends
Personal Record
.Brag sheet
.Personal essay(s)
.Letter of recommendation (from teachers and high school counsellor)
.Personal interview (with an alumnus and/or on campus)
