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A review by shelbyl
The Golden Ticket: A Life in College Admissions Essays by Irena Smith
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
tense
fast-paced
5.0
I would have never picked up this book off a shelf. Reading (therefore stressing) about college admissions essays - No thank you! Been there done that for myself and I’d like to hide in a hole about the impending essays my children will have to write much sooner than I’d like to think about.
Reading about someone with relatable struggles who has the right amount of snark, yes please.
I picked this up after I met the author at a book event. This is a satrical memoir that goes so much deeper than college admissions essays. I think the recommendation sweet spot for this book is any parent who has a kid that is OR is not college bound. I also think anyone who wants to read about being an immigrant, dealing with depression, neurodivergence, ADHD, therapy, suicide, and/or struggling to achieve the “American dream”, would enjoy this read as well. And there are indeed tips about writing the perfect college essay - but that’s not the point - which IS the point. Just read it.
Reading about someone with relatable struggles who has the right amount of snark, yes please.
I picked this up after I met the author at a book event. This is a satrical memoir that goes so much deeper than college admissions essays. I think the recommendation sweet spot for this book is any parent who has a kid that is OR is not college bound. I also think anyone who wants to read about being an immigrant, dealing with depression, neurodivergence, ADHD, therapy, suicide, and/or struggling to achieve the “American dream”, would enjoy this read as well. And there are indeed tips about writing the perfect college essay - but that’s not the point - which IS the point. Just read it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Child death, Death of parent, Genocide, Grief, Infertility, and Pandemic/Epidemic