Michele Hernandez

Dr. Michele A. Hernandez, president and founder of Hernandez College Consulting, is one of America's leading experts in selective college admissions and counseling services. She is the author of five books, including the best-selling A is for Admission and Don't Worry You'll Get In.

"Breaks the seal of silence to reveal just how the nation's top schools pick who gets in—and who doesn't." —Publishers Weekly

Michele Hernandez and Dean Ouellette’s newest book,

CLIMB EVERY MOUNTAIN: The Northeast’s Best Hikes and Scrambles over 4,000 feet,

out now with Falcon Guides.

Acing the College Application: How to Maximize Your Chances for Admission to the College of Your Choice

When applying for college, good grades and high standardized test scores are not always enough to guarantee admission.  What sets you apart, argues Michele Hernandez, is the way you describe yourself in your application.  But how do you present yourself with flair, and highlight all your talents, skills, and passions, in just a few pages? 

A former assistant director of admissions at Dartmouth College, Dr. Hernandez takes you step-by-step through the entire application process, revealing the details that make or break an applicant.  From the multitude of short and longer essays to the myriad of charts, lists, and personal data sections, she offers essential advice, useful anecdotes, and vivid examples.

With this helpful, savvy book, prospective college students--and their parents and counselors--can now vastly improve their chances of getting into the college of their choice.

(Ballantine Books, August 2007)

A Is for Admission: The Insider's Guide to Getting into the Ivy League and Other Top Colleges

Complete samples of successful applications will assist you in preparing the best application essay possible. See what it takes to impress the Admissions Department at Harvard, and then gain a deeper understanding of why these essays work, thanks to the expert analysis. Looking to elevate your application? This informed, sensible guide will show you the way.

(Grand Central Publishing, September 1999)

Climb Every Mountain: The Northeast’s Best Hikes and Scrambles over 4,000 feet

Taking on one of the Northeast’s 4,000 footers is becoming a pilgrimage for Northeast residents and its visitors. While more people than ever are hiking them, there’s still a dearth of good information about each mountain and its surrounding areas, especially in winter. Climb Every Mountain fills that gap by informing adventurers—from the freshly-booted novice to the grizzled mountaineer—about the Northeast’s iconic mountains that top out at over 4,000 feet.

(Falcon Guides, May 2023)