Written by Christopher Parsons, M.A. in English, Founder of The College Planning Center. With over 25 years in education, Christopher has guided thousands of families through their college admissions journey.
🎯 Keynotes (Quick Scan) for New Book Gives Students a Winning Strategy for College Admissions "Hunger Games"
- Learn how The New Hunger Games turns the stressful process of getting into college into a game-based journey with a plan.
- Learn how The College Planning Center helps students turn college admissions odds in their favor.
- Read about real families who got better college planning and financial aid results.
- Find practical steps for crafting a strong college résumé, writing standout essays, and mastering SAT/ACT prep.
- Find out why this new book about college planning is a must-read for high school students and their parents.
A High-Stakes Race to Get into College
For many high school kids today, getting into college is a matter of life and death. Getting in is quite challenging because there are so many people who want to get in and so few spots open. There are just a few seats, yet thousands of people want them. Teenagers are under a lot of pressure to write the “perfect” student resume with brilliant essays, leadership roles, internships, and good grades so they can get into the school they want to go to.
Many families believe that the modern college admissions process is stressful and daunting, like being in a real-life Hunger Games arena. The College Planning Center has seen this happen before, and they help students and parents navigate through the confusion by giving them college planning help that is organized and easy to follow.
New Book Promises to Turn the Odds in Students’ Favor
Amid this intense climate, a veteran education consultant is offering a new game plan. Christopher Parsons – a 25-year educator and founder of The College Planning Center (CPC) in South Carolina – is launching a book aimed at demystifying the admissions gauntlet.
The New Hunger Games: Turning College Admission Odds in Your Favor will come out on September 15, 2025. It uses a creative, game-based method to help students and parents plan for college with confidence. The title is a nod to Suzanne Collins’s well-known dystopian series. It changes the admissions process from a game of chance to a challenge that can be won with planning and strategy.
Parson’s goal is to replace anxiety with empowerment, making “may the odds be ever in your favor” more than just a catchphrase.
Author Background — From Classroom to College Planner
Parsons has a lot of experience to share. He has worked in education for almost 25 years and has a lot of experience in both high school and college. He has helped hundreds of students get into college as the President and Founder of The College Planning Center.
His track record is formidable: 97% of CPC students in recent graduating classes have gained admission to one of their top three college choices, and those students collectively earned over $4.7 million in scholarship and financial aid offers in a single year.
This real-world success informs every chapter of his new book. “I’ve seen how the right guidance can truly change a student’s future,” Parsons said. “That’s why I wrote The New Hunger Games — to share the proven strategies that have worked for my students, especially with families who may not have access to private counseling. Every student deserves a fighting chance at their dream school.”
Game-Based Guide to College Planning
In The New Hunger Games, Parsons utilizes a new metaphor to get people interested: he compares kids to “Career Tributes” getting ready for the college admissions arena. He compares the road to college to the stories of Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark to make it sound like an adventure.
Even though the comparisons are fun, the book gives good, step-by-step advice on how to get ready for college. It talks about how to write a great resume for a student, make a college list that fits their skills, and plan their studies for standardized tests like the SAT and ACT.
Parsons dedicates chapters to demystifying financial aid and scholarship searches, offering guidance on navigating FAFSA and comparing aid offers. He also provides insider tips on writing compelling personal narratives — essentially college essay tips to help applications shine — and advice on overall application strategy and timing.
All of these topics are part of a “Admissions Game” plan that is tailored to each student’s interests and goals. The message is clear: students can improve their chances of getting into college if they have the right plan, preparation, and attitude.
“Why I Wrote This Book” — Parson’s Vision for Students and Parents
Parsons says the idea for the book came from seeing too many students approach college applications with dread. “The college admissions process has started to feel like a fight for survival for so many kids,” he explained. “I wanted to flip that script. By framing it as a game — one you can learn how to play — my hope is to inject some optimism and agency back into the process.”
He notes that the goal is not to make light of the challenges, but to show readers that even in a fierce competition, strategy and knowledge can empower them. “When students and parents understand how to build a plan, how to tell a story in their applications, and how to find colleges that fit them personally, the stress level goes down and success rates go up,” Parsons said.
“I hope families who read this book will feel not only more prepared but also more excited about this journey. College planning should be an adventure – one that leads to the right school for each student, not just the most famous name.”
Families can also find additional free resources through The College Planning Center’s online blog and counseling services, which expand on many of the strategies featured in the book.
Timely Advice as College Admissions Only Get Tougher
Education experts say this book comes at a pivotal moment. High school guidance counselors, traditionally a key resource on the path to college, are often stretched thin. In U.S. public schools, one counselor is responsible for advising around 400 students on average — far above the 250:1 ratio recommended by the American School Counselor Association.
Because of these huge caseloads, many students don’t get enough personal college advice. As a result, families turn to private counselors or comprehensive guides as alternatives. At the same time, getting into college is harder than ever. Universities get more applications than ever before and have some of the lowest acceptance rates in history.
Financial pressures are mounting as well — the cost of tuition has roughly doubled in the past two decades, making scholarship and aid strategies even more crucial for the average family.
In this environment, The New Hunger Games positions itself as more than just a book; it’s a timely education strategy manual for navigating a daunting system. “Think of it as a guidance counselor in print,” Parsons said. “Not every family can hire a private consultant, but now they can access many of the same insights through The College Planning Center for the price of a book.”
How to Get The New Hunger Games
The New Hunger Games: Turning College Admission Odds in Your Favor will be available starting September 15. Readers can find the book through major retailers — including Amazon and Barnes & Noble — as well as via The College Planning Center’s website.
Early buzz suggests it could become a go-to resource for parents and students looking for an edge in admissions, or simply some peace of mind. In a landscape often compared to a battlefield, Parson’s lighthearted yet informative approach seeks to remind families that with preparation and savvy guidance, “the odds” can indeed be ever in their favor.
Key Takeaways for New Book Gives Students a Winning Strategy for College Admissions "Hunger Games"
- You don’t have to feel like you’re fighting to get into college. Planning and strategy can change the odds.
- The New Hunger Games gives the college planning process a new, creative, and hopeful look.
- The College Planning Center gives families the same information that successful applicants use.
- Every student should be able to get help with planning for college and getting financial aid.
- Planning for college is less of a fight and more of an adventure that can be done with the right attitude.
🧠 FAQ: College Admissions and The New Hunger Games
He wanted to turn the stressful process of getting into college into a game-like, strategic way that gives students and parents more power.
Christopher Parsons started the College Planning Center, an education consulting firm that helps families plan for college, get in, and get financial aid.
High school students, their parents, and teachers who want to know how to make it easier for them to get into college.
Yes, it gives you step-by-step instructions on how to write personal stories and essays that will help you get into a competitive school.
No — while The College Planning Center is based in South Carolina, The New Hunger Games provides strategies that apply nationwide.
Of course.The book speaks about FAFSA, how to seek scholarships, and other strategies to assist families pay for college.
It uses a creative, story-based structure to make learning about how to get into college fun, useful, and easy to understand.
Big stores and the College Planning Center's website will have the book on September 15, 2025.
The New Hunger Games is a full college planning guide that acts like a "counselor in print." It can't replace personalized advice, though.
Parents can help their kids by telling them to plan ahead, stay organized, and use trustworthy sources like The New Hunger Games and The College Planning Center.
Special thanks to Christopher Parsons for writing this blog post.
Christopher has a strong educational background, including Doctoral studies in English Literature and Creative Writing, a Master’s Degree in English, and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and History. He also has a background in Mass Communications and Public Relations/Marketing.
He has successfully won scholarship offers from prestigious schools and over $250,000 in grants and scholarships. His real-world personal experience resonates well with today’s students.
