Sixth Edition Now Available

Learn about the all new edition.

NACAC is proud to present the fifth edition of Fundamentals of College Admission Counseling.

(Please note – this book is only available on Kindle)

Kindle edition, available on Amazon – $99.99

About the Textbook

The fifth edition equips practitioners with the core knowledge and skill sets necessary to effectively assist students and families with postsecondary planning and college enrollment.

Completely updated, the textbook is the definitive classroom resource for graduate education programs in secondary school counseling. It is also a must-read for practicing counselors, particularly those new to the profession.

Chapters Included

I. College admission counseling form and function

  • Chapter 1 – The Counseling Landscape Cheryl Holcomb-McCoy, PhD and Laura Owen, PhD
  • Chapter 2 – The Dynamic Ecosystem of Higher Education: Implications for College Admission Counseling James Dean Ward, PhD and William G. Tierney, PhD
  • Chapter 3 – Framework for College Counseling: Considerations for Novice and Continuing Professionals LaVerne Ware, PhD and Jonathan D. Mathis, PhD
  • Chapter 4 – College Counseling: Making it Work Lisa Sohmer
  • Chapter 5 – Increasing College Access and Success Ronald E. Hallett, PhD, Tenisha Tevis, PhD, and Marissiko M. Wheaton
  • Chapter 6 – The Use of Data in College and Career Readiness Trish Hatch, PhD and Danielle Duarte
  • Chapter 7 – Counseling the Crowds: Using Creativity and Accountability to Serve Large Caseloads Esther B. Hugo, EdD
  • Chapter 8 – Technology Tools for the Savvy School Counselor Christi Campbell

II. Elements of the transition to postsecondary education

  • Chapter 9 – The Early Years: Exploring Postsecondary Options in Middle and Elementary Schools Robert Bardwell
  • Chapter 10 – Academic Planning for High School Students: Careful Choices Cultivate Postsecondary Opportunity and Success Grant H. Blume, PhD
  • Chapter 11 – Postsecondary Options Patrick O’Connor, PhD
  • Chapter 12 – The College Search, the College Choice, and Applying to College Christopher W. Tremblay, EdD
  • Chapter 13 – Foundations of Standardized Admission Testing David Hawkins
  • Chapter 14 – The College Essay: Helping Students Find Their Voice Rod Skinner
  • Chapter 15 – Writing an Effective College Recommendation Letter Rod Skinner
  • Chapter 16 – Advising Students and Families About Paying for College Melissa Clinedinst
  • Chapter 17 – Institutional Needs vs. The Public Good: How Finances Impact College Success Angel B. Pérez, PhD
  • Chapter 18 – Facilitating College Participation and Success Before They Even Arrive: A Community Cultural Wealth Perspective on College Transition Raquel M. Rall, PhD

III. Working with specific populations

  • Chapter 19 – Working with Diverse Student Populations Chrystal A. George Mwangi, PhD
  • Chapter 20 – Problems and Strategies for Counselors in Brokering Postsecondary Educational Opportunities for Marginalized Student Populations Adrian H. Huerta, PhD and Kristan M. Venegas, PhD
  • Chapter 21 – Counseling First-Generation Students and Families: Access, Affordability, Admission, Attainment Stuart F. Chen-Hayes, PhD and Melissa S. Ockerman, PhD
  • Chapter 22 – Serving Undocumented Students Ann Marano and Alice Dolbow
  • Chapter 23 – Students with Learning Disabilities and the College Application Process Terence J. Houlihan
  • Chapter 24 – Counseling International Students at US High Schools Anne Richardson and Tara Nicola
  • Chapter 25 – Advising the Transnational Applicant Beth Gilfillan, PhD and Kathleen Schultz
  • Chapter 26 – Building Culturally Relevant School-Family-Community Partnerships that Promote College Readiness and Access Julia Bryan, PhD, Dana Griffin, PhD, Lynette Henry, PhD, and Beth Gilfillan, PhD

Copyright Requests

NACAC asks that all copyright requests for Fundamentals of College Admission Counseling be submitted in writing directly to NACAC. NACAC will not accept any requests made through a third party. If you have any questions or would like to submit a request, please contact ETcalendar@nacacnet.org.

​​Desk Copy Requests

NACAC asks that any individual requesting a desk copy of Fundamentals of College Admission Counseling submit an official request on department letterhead to ETcalendar@nacacnet.org. The request should include the course title, instructor, course description, anticipated course enrollment, and dates course will be offered.

**Please note that NACAC’s policy is one desk copy per institution.