Choosing College

Cut through the noise and make better college and career choices This book is about addressing the college-choosing problem. The rankings, metrics, analytics, college visits, and advice that we use today to help us make these decisions are out of step with the progress individual students are trying to make. They don't give students and families the information and context they need to make such a high-stakes decision about whether and where to get an education. Choosing College strips away the noise to help you understand why you’re going to school. What's driving you? What are you trying to accomplish? Once you know why, the book will help you make better choices. The research in this book illustrates that choosing a school is complicated. By constructing more than 200 mini-documentaries of how students chose different postsecondary educational experiences, the authors explore the motivations for how and why people make the decisions that they do at a much deeper, causal level. By the end, you’ll know why you’re going and what you’re really chasing. The book: Identifies the five different Jobs for which students hire postsecondary education Allows you to see your true options for what’s next Offers guidance for how to successfully choose your pathway Illuminates how colleges and entrepreneurs can build better experiences for each Job The authors help readers understand not what job students want out of college, but what "Job" students are hiring college to do for them.

Examines the everyday experiences of high school seniors as they choose their colleges and demonstrates that college choice is a more complex social and organizational reality than has been previously understood.

In his introduction, former drug czar William J. Bennett supports this reference for its "tough-minded analysis of the quality of instruction, the level of academic standards, the campus political atmosphere, and the extent to which the liberal arts tradition is respected...." These evaluations are intended to help conservative parents and students steer away from colleges whose programs lean too heavily toward the political left; in effect, conversely, it can also help liberal-minded folk find the less tradition-bound schools. Entries describe and assess 110 top colleges and universities in essays of about 3,000 words, focusing on the school's academic, political, and social climates. They name outstanding professors, describe curricula, comment on the administration's policies towards issues such as sexual harassment and free speech, and describe the range of student organizations and activities found on campus. Quotes from students and professors are included. Entries also include information on tuition, enrollment, and SAT scores. This second edition contains 10 more essays, updated coverage of every school, a new essay on liberal learning, and increased coverage of student life. c. Book News Inc.

“By far the best college guide, for both its honesty and its insights.” —Thomas Sowell Over the past decade, Choosing the Right College has established itself as the indispensable resource for students—and parents—who want the unvarnished truth about America’s top colleges and universities. It is the most in-depth, independently researched college guide on the market, using on-campus sources to turn up the best—and worst—aspects of nearly 150 schools. Just as important, Choosing the Right College covers the intellectual, political, and social conditions that really matter, including: · The integrity and rigor of the curriculum · Which courses and professors to take—and which to avoid · The prevalence of politics in the classroom and the state of free speech—all highlighted with ISI’s unique “traffic light” · Living arrangements, safety, and other keys to student life · How to get a real education at any school Beyond all that, this brand-new edition of Choosing the Right College features a host of innovations, including: “So You’re Looking For...,” top-five lists of colleges for all types of students; a quick list of each school’s strengths and weaknesses; an insider’s look at the pros and cons of online education; and more. This new edition of Choosing the Right College also provides the financial information families need in this age of soaring tuition. What are the most overpriced colleges—and which are relatively good values? What is the average student-debt load? To cap it all off, Choosing the Right College introduces the groundbreaking feature “Blue Collar Ivies”—in-depth reports on the best affordable colleges in all fifty states. Choosing the Right College 2014–15 will completely change the way young people make a life-altering decision.

College students are often wrought with indecision about who they are, their future, and their interest. Without help, this uncertainty can cause students to panic, particularly when they are being pressured to define their college major. This new guide helps college students make that decision and many more with confidence and ease. It addresses the problems many undeclared students have, including the fear of making the wrong decision, little awareness of their skills and interests, and a lack of information about majors and careers. First, readers will learn about the key components of a college major decision. Next, they will quickly and systematically pinpoint the best majors for their interest and skills. Finally, readers will be able to learn more about the college majors that interest them most, as well as careers that relate to these majors. Packed with information, this book covers 120 majors that link to 250 careers. Author Laurence Shatkin, PH.D., gives readers an overview of each college major and provides additional information about specializations in the majors, the typical sequence of high school and college courses, and related CIP program codes, everything students need to know to overcome panic and lay the foundation for a rich and rewarding education.

Prospective college students and their parents have been relying on Loren Pope's expertise since 1995, when he published the first edition of this indispensable guide. This new edition profiles 41 colleges—all of which outdo the Ivies and research universities in producing performers, not only among A students but also among those who get Bs and Cs. Contents include: Evaluations of each school's program and "personality" Candid assessments by students, professors, and deans Information on the progress of graduates This new edition not only revisits schools listed in previous volumes to give readers a comprehensive assessment, it also addresses such issues as homeschooling, learning disabilities, and single-sex education.

All parents want their children to be successful in college. For most, success means that their children graduate from college with a good job or are accepted to Graduate School. This book is for parents who want to help their children achieve the success they desire in college and beyond. Clearly, there are paths that lead to those two goals, paths that are often unknown or unclear to parents and students alike. For that reason, the author describes and emphasizes the key factors that lead to college, employment and career success. Parents also receive much useful advice on how to help their children capitalize on their natural talents, find their stride and pursue their dreams. The early chapters quickly take readers through the years prior to college, so parents with children who are not yet in college can determine if they are ready and what they need. In fact, some students may benefit from taking a year off after high school. For parents with children about to enter college or already in college, the author has included the information, tools, techniques and suggestions that both parents and students need. Parents will learn how students can avoid the ugly side of college life, how students can select their major and career direction, the three areas in which students must excel, the universal success skills students should develop, the 18 myths that students believe, the importance of accomplishments, the value of preparation and much more. Most importantly, parents will learn to play an effective supporting role in student success. Each chapter of this book covers a topic that all college parents should understand and address. With the information provided, parents will have the ability to help their children chart a course that can significantly improve their chances for success, during and after college.

"A guide for students and families that demystifies the college process"--

This book examines the search and selection process for college and university presidents in its variety and intricacy. Chapter I examines the question of the importance of presidents and searches. Chapter II describes the process of presidential succession at a private liberal arts college. Chapter III discusses the tasks required at the start of the search. Chapter IV illustrates the importance of confidentiality by presenting, in disguised form, the search process for a president of a flagship state university. In Chapter V the authors discuss conflicts over privacy and publicity in the search process and in American society generally. Chapter VI presents an account of the 1983 search at the University of Florida in the glare of Florida's open meeting and open records laws. Chapter VII examines the significance of disclosure laws. Chapter VIII describes the Winthrop College (South Carolina) search conducted with the help of a consultant. The following chapter goes on to explore the implications of consultants in search processes. Chapter X describes the Rice University (Texas) search process and illuminates the ways in which members of a search committee can court a candidate. Chapter XI examines the two-way process in which candidate and institution must each choose and be chosen. Over 250 references and an index are included. (JB)