Unlock the Secrets to Winning Scholarships with Kristina Ellis' Confessions of a Scholarship Winner

SMark: Book was ok, if you get it skip the first three chapters, they only talk about her life and give you no insight into the college process

United States on Feb 20, 2023

1973catalina: I like that it was understandable and experiences from writer. I just wish it gave me more information of how to look for scholarships.

United States on Oct 25, 2022

Amazon Customer: tldr: it's a biography and not actually helpful.

Canada on Nov 24, 2020

Amazon Customer: This is a crap book don't buy it.

I got barely anything from this book. The only useful thing I got was about making references, that is all (about 1 page).

United Kingdom on May 26, 2017

Indira Rampersad: I read this book a second time and this is what I conclude:This book was not truly written for parents, it was written by a 24 yr old college graduate woman who beat the odds while attending high school, and made it through an awesome college! The reality is that to get into college you need great grades, not just good, and a more meaningful life (except if you are recruited by a technology company or you have super wealthy parents with college connections).

She shares that top colleges/universities want a package deal. They want to recruit someone who is academically inclined (AP courses, Honor Roll), has over come some setback (family, emotional, academic via financial/emotional, environmental and i.e... abuse, alcohol, divorce, etc), and that is willing to go the extra mile (had a meaningful job, volunteered after school, baby sat siblings, did chores, help with household upkeep, comforted a parent because they were depressed, and any experience that a kid today is going through...they have a long list on us...) to learn and acquire knowledge.

She correctly states that colleges want meaningful applicants and not those that tout old ideas. The thing about this book...

United States on Feb 20, 2015

Maxwell Arnold: Pretty good insight - and Kristina has quite a story that is very admirable. I do have to say I'm moderately underwhelmed by this book, however. Admittedly, there are many resources that I hadn't been aware of, as well as some facts about the scholarship world in general that I got out of reading this book (such as the list of weird scholarships, and the fact that some scholarships actually go unclaimed). But I have two small issues with the book, and how it's written...

1. It's written specifically for a high school student

I dropped out of high school when I was sixteen (never went back), and am undergoing post-secondary education as a mature student. Many of the resources and strategies mentioned in this book are tied directly to one's guidance counsellor. Truthfully, I've never really even had a guidance counsellor. I was able to reverse-engineer some of it to be a useful guide... but if she ever considers writing a second edition, there should be some advice for more mature applicants - especially with many people in their 30's and 40's going back to college nowadays (there's a 40-something in my undergraduate class, for context).

2. It's a little too...

Canada on Dec 09, 2014

JayC: I'll be honest, I was impressed with Ms. Ellis' interview but I was concerned by some of the negative reviews that the book may not help a solid family. I was pleasantly surprised! The book is a perfect blend of knowledge and inspiration and applies to everyone. Yes Ms. Ellis comes from an impoverished background and is a minority. However, several of the scholarships she won don't use either factor in awarding winners. Since she had average grades and test scores and her background wasnt a factor, there must be another reason she won. The secret is HARD WORK! Ms. Ellis worked hard to fill her resume with volunteer work, activites and achievements. Ms. Ellis time and time again explains that winning scholarships takes preparation, strategy, and effort. She has helped explain the preparation and devised the strategy. The effort comes from you. That's why any student can do it despite background or academic ability. We all have the ability to WORK HARD! Ms. Ellis does an excellent job of guiding students how to best direct their effort so it will pay off with scholarships while adding inspiration and motivation along the way. When the effort has been put in, Ms. Ellis expertly...

United States on Apr 29, 2013

DRSams: I have two daughters, ages 14 (almost) and 16. Wow, am I glad this book came into our lives--with not a second to spare! It will save us thousands and thousands of education dollars, all for the cost of a Starbucks coffee and a breakfast sandwich.

What I like about CONFESSIONS OF A SCHOLARSHIP WINNER is that the author LIVED IT. Her story is amazing. This makes this book very personal, very real. If you're looking for a book containing a list of thousands of scholarships--this is not it! Besides, you can find that kind of information on the Internet (the author shows you how). As a result, it is as much a inspirational/motivational book as it is a "how to" book. The author basically becomes your very own college scholarships mentor or coach. Very unique approach--and a good one.

The author shows you everything you need to know to go after scholarships of all sizes. How to write essays, what to concentrate on, how to make every word count (sort of like Twitter!). It's amazing how every word does, in fact, COUNT! In addition, she shows you how to create your own personal formula for success. I really loved the section where she goes inside the mind of a scholarship...

United States on Mar 26, 2013