I am very excited to share the release of my very first book, Achieve the College Dream: You Don't Need to Be Rich to Attend a Top School. This is a guide for students, parents, counselors and teachers, who might not realize that an undergraduate education at selective universities like Harvard, Yale, Stanford and Princeton is actually within reach.

As I high school student, I always thought that the Ivy League and other top universities like MIT and Stanford were reserved for the very rich or the true geniuses. In the book I explain how I came to learn about these universities´accessibility and generous financial aid initiatives, and the steps I took afterwards to prepare myself to be a strong applicant.  

My preparation for college involved choosing academic subjects strategically, complementing the high school curriculum with online learning and courses at local colleges, building leadership in extracurricular activities, and finding the role models and expert mentors who could advise me throughout the college application process. The book outlines all these strategies and includes resources to help all students succeed regardless of their family's economic status. 

When I moved to the United States at the beginning of my high school journey, I never thought that I would be admitted to five Ivy League universities and ultimately attend Harvard after securing over $200,000 in financial aid. I hope my story, and the tips I have collected after a decade of college admissions work, help many other students achieve their own possible college dreams.

To pre-order the book, visit this page.

Kohl's Corporation runs a very generous scholarship program that rewards young volunteers between the ages of 6 and 18. Students have until March 13th, 2015 to be nominated for the scholarship. Nominators must be older than 21 and should describe in detail the student's volunteering efforts and positive impact on people who are not related to the student. The nomination form can be accessed here. 

According to the program's official website: "Kohl’s will award approximately 2,300 local winners, 180 regional winners and 10 national winners...Each local winner will receive a $50 Kohl’s Gift Card. Each regional winner will receive a $1,000 scholarship and each national winner will receive a $10,000 scholarship for higher education. Kohl’s will also donate $1,000 to a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization on behalf of each of the ten national winners."

The 2015 Global Youth Service "Day" is April 17-19. Every year, many organizations launch contests and activities that enable both children and teenagers to come together and serve their communities in creative ways. This year, the Disney Friends for Change Grants are awarding $500 to young people in the United States who would like to launch service projects in a wide range of areas. Visit the program's official page for more information and application instructions.