Fiske Countdown to College: 41 To-Do Lists and a Plan for Every Year of High School

Worried about college admissions? Start here and replace stress with a step-by-step plan.

From Edward B. Fiske, creator of the bestselling Fiske Guide to Colleges, comes the essential roadmap for getting into college without losing your mind.

High school is demanding. College prep adds another layer of pressure. Fiske Countdown to College offers a proven action plan for students and parents alike―breaking the process into manageable, year-by-year steps that build clarity and confidence.

Drawing on years of admissions expertise, this guide replaces anxiety with structure, helping families navigate each phase of the journey with purpose and peace of mind.

Inside you'll find:

• Year-by-year checklists for freshmen through seniors, with monthly action plans for students and parents.
• Avoid-the-pitfall tips from experienced families and counselors―so you know what to focus on and what to skip.
• Simple, motivating steps that make it easy to stay on track and avoid last-minute panic.
• Expert insights into the courses, activities, and priorities that shape standout applications.
• Advice that works in real life, written with warmth and accessibility for busy teens and their parents.

With 41 curated checklists, 10 "don't do this" guides, insider advice, and relatable quotes from those who've been through it, Fiske Countdown to College is your go-to tool for managing the college admissions process―without the meltdown.

Join the thousands of families who've used this trusted resource to take control of the college process―one clear, empowering step at a time.

Edward B. Fiske is the founder and editor of the Fiske Guide to Colleges. A former Education Editor of the New York Times, Fiske is known around the world for his award-winning writing on topics ranging from trends in American higher education to school reform in Southeast Asia, New Zealand and South Africa.

The guide was established in 1982 when, covering higher education for the Times, Fiske sensed the need for a publication that would help students and parents navigate the increasingly complex college admissions scene. The guide, an annual publication, immediately became a standard part of college admissions literature and it is now the country’s best-selling college guide.

Fiske has teamed up with his wife, Helen F. Ladd, a professor at Duke University, on several major international research projects regarding the development of education in various countries. Together, they are co-editors of the Handbook of Research in Education Finance and Policy, the official handbook of the American Education Finance Association. Fiske’s journalistic travels have taken him to more than 60 countries on behalf of the U.S. Agency for International Development, UNESCO and the Asia Society.

Born in Philadelphia, Fiske graduated from Wesleyan University summa cum laude, and received master’s degrees in theology from Princeton Theological Seminary and in political science from Columbia University. He is a regular contributor to the International Herald-Tribune. In addition to the New York Times, his articles and book reviews have appeared in Atlantic Monthly, Chronicle of Higher Education, Los Angeles Times, and other national publications.

A resident of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Fiske serves on a number of boards of non-profit organizations working for access to college and international understanding. He is also a founding member of the board of the Central Park School for Children, a charter school in Durham.

Bruce G. Hammond was editor in chief of The Insider’s Guide to the Colleges and was managing editor of four editions of The Fiske Guide to Colleges. He is the author of Discounts and Deals at the Nation’s 360 Best Colleges and is the school and college expert at Parent Soup, a division of iVillage.com.