2007 AWARD WINNING BOOK IS GETS NOMINATED FOR PRESTIGIOUS BENJAMIN FRANKLIN AWARD FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

Before the bell of midnight rings, a counselor at the small and elite college consulting office of THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS CONSULTANT located on the Westside of Los Angeles, California quietly announced to the students that P.J. Finer's book, The Applica-Phobia of College Admissions, has been nominated for the US State Department’s new and prestigious Benjamin Franklin Award for Public Diplomacy to be awarded in Spring of 2008.

The book, which won the USA 2007 Book News second finalist slot in October 2007, has made its entry into not only bookstores across the US, but into the UK, Germany, Netherlands, Italy, Japan, China,Australia among a host of other countries, and receiving great recognition.

One student whose excitement showed said, "The goal of this book is to not only make an awareness to us, but others that there is help for students as they approach the admissions process. The author is also going to donate a portion of all the proceeds made to the ALS society, in an effort to find a treatment and cure for this ruthless and relentless disease.

This new award was officially announced by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in January 2007 at the Department’s first Private Sector Summit for Public Diplomacy reflects the Secretary’s conviction that the solutions to the challenges of the 21st century will come from all sectors of American society working together.

The Awards will be presented in four categories: corporations, academic institutions (schools, universities, etc), and not-for-profit organizations (non-governmental organizations, foundations, associations, etc.) and individuals in Spring 2008.

P.J. Finer, a graduate of USC and UCLA, has been a college admissions counselor since 2003. Well aware of the anxieties associated with college applications, she developed a program that streamlines the process, allowing each student shine before the admissions committee. This helps students and parents deal with the fear and frustration for applying for college.

The book is now available at Barnes & Noble, Borders, Amazon, Target, Wal-Mart, and other fine stores.