Looking for something to read this weekend? Here are my top book recommendations for students preparing for college.

For Application Strategy:

• "Who Gets In and Why" by Jeff Selingo — Inside look at how admissions actually works
• "Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be" by Frank Bruni — Perspective on the college prestige obsession

For Essay Inspiration:

• "On Writing Well" by William Zinsser — The classic guide to clear, compelling writing
• "Bird by Bird" by Anne Lamott — For when you're staring at a blank page

For Personal Growth:

• "Mindset" by Carol Dweck — Understanding growth vs. fixed mindset
• "Grit" by Angela Duckworth — Why perseverance matters more than talent

For Career Exploration:

• "Range" by David Epstein — Why generalists triumph in a specialized world
• "Designing Your Life" by Bill Burnett & Dave Evans — Applying design thinking to life decisions

Reading widely is one of the best things you can do for your intellectual development — and it'll make you a better writer too. Win-win.