What if you had colleges coming after you instead of the other way around? The hidden little secret of college admissions is that most schools are desperate... desperate for great kids who do things differently and will make their campuses vibrant and exciting. And you don't have to be an A student, the president of your student body, or the winner of the national spelling bee to do this. Any student can become someone that colleges compete for if you follow the recommendations in this book. The Secret of NTAs: Unusual activities that make you stand out Breaking the Zone: Take advantage of where you're from and who you are Striking the Nerve: Decode what colleges believe in, then match those values Your Application Team: Getting references, teachers, and counselors to boost your odd And much more No matter where you are in your high school career, you can start these things today and vastly increase your odds of getting into the competitive college of your choice.