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Suggested Reading

The Gatekeepers: Inside the Admissions Process of a Premier College, by Jacques Steinberg

(A review from Library Journal)
New York Times education reporter Steinberg takes us behind the scenes to experience the arduous and even grisly process of admissions at a major New England college. From fall 1999 to spring 2000, Steinberg shadowed Wesleyan University admissions officer Ralph Figueroa as he traversed the country recruiting students. The author had the unprecedented opportunity to attend admissions meetings with Figueroa and his colleagues in which the applicant pool of 7,000 was reduced to 700 openings. Steinberg also followed six students through the admissions process and carefully documented their personal experiences, backgrounds, and interactions with the admissions officers to discover why some students stand out in the officers' memories and actually become bargaining chips in meetings with their colleagues. Although the author explicitly states that this is not another "how-to" manual for gaining admission to college, it nonetheless reveals that there are no set formulas and that the decision rests on factors that may not be wholly within the control of the applicant.

Mark Alan Williams, Web Lib. & Document Storage Svcs., Hines ,VA Hosp., Chicago
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Paying for College Without Going Broke, published by The Princeton Review

(A review from Amazon.com)
Paying for College Without Going Broke offers insider strategies for maximizing financial aid and minimizing college costs. Particularly helpful for parents who will be sending a child to college within a few years, the book explains how parents can pan ahead to improve chances of receiving financial aid, calculate aid eligibility, complete the financial aid forms, negotiate with the financial aid office, learn about education tax breaks, and manage special circumstances such as a single-parent household or an independent student. Paying for College Without Going Broke is updated yearly.

The College Admissions Mystique, by Bill Mayher

(A review from Ingram)
In this fresh and plain-spoken book, an admissions pro demystifies the difficult process of applying for college. With humor and an insider's knowledge, he untangles the web of emotions and misinformation that makes the process so hazardous. Bill Mayher covers practical issues, including discovering colleges, narrowing the search, finding financial aid, and using college counselors to the best advantage.

Letting Go, by Karen Levin Coburn

(A review from Amazon.com)
Letting Go is about what it feels like for parents when their kids go off to college. Karen Levin Coburn and Madge Lawrence Treeger provide a compassionate approach, practical information, and advice about the physical and emotional processes of letting go. They discuss the college-age child's search for identity, independence, and intimacy; give a succinct and accurate description of how college life has changed over the decades; and provide a year-by-year breakdown of what to expect. Plus, you can read about typical and not-so-typical problems including date rape, crime, eating disorders, drug and alcohol use, and sexual issues. Of special note is the focus on orientation and the freshman year, including the disorientation parents feel once the drop-off has been made.

Harvard Schmarvard, by Jay Mathews

(Review from Amazon.com)
Think that your life's growth, success, and happiness depend on which college you attend? The higher-profile school, the better, right? Wrong! Neither is true.
Written by, yes, a Harvard grad, Harvard Schmarvard rebuts the perception that image is everything when it comes to college and emphasizes this simple fact: What you will be measured by in life is your talent and energy, not your college's name. Packed with practical information and insider tips, this must-have guide will help you determine which school fits you. Inside, you'll find:

  • How to survive the application process without losing your sanity or sense of humor
  • Tips on writing essays, visiting campuses, and keeping cool during your college interviews
  • The truth about search letter scams and the early admissions game
  • Plus loads of other invaluable insight!

So take a deep breath and exhale your worries and fears. Let Harvard Schmarvard debunk the myths, expose you to the truth, and clear your mind so you can weigh what's really important.

Taking Time Off, by Colin Hall and Ron Lieber

(Review from Library Journal)
"If you could be doing anything you wanted right now, what would it be?" ask the authors of this timely introduction to temporary alternatives to college. Thirty-three students, some graduates, some still in school, tell of how they used time off from college-either before or during-to help build housing for the poor, teach disabled people how to ski, model for the jet set, fight in the Gulf War, and promote Arab-Jewish conflict resolution. They did it in their own communities or in faraway places like the Faroe Islands or Zimbabwe. For many, it was hard work; some faced realities they had never encountered before. In the process, however, they gained maturity and self-confidence. The authors, both recent graduates of Amherst College, do a laudable job of covering multiple options and shedding enlightenment on the subject from every angle. An excellent resources section gives the names of organizations to contact for further assistance. The youthful writing will appeal to college-bound adolescents.

Arla M. Lindgren, St. John's Univ., New York
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

The Uncollege Alternative, by Danielle Wood

(Review from Library Journal)
Wood's engaging debut is part pep talk and part advice manual for those who want to skip college either temporarily or permanently. Although Wood doesn't cite the statistics she uses to argue that a liberal arts degree is not necessary in today's job market, she does make a compelling case especially in the first section, which includes short self-tests designed to help readers determine what career to pursue. The next three sections contain descriptions of specific occupations one can investigate domestically and abroad. These range from temporary internships on organic farms and entry-level positions at Hollywood talent agencies to careers in adventure travel. Though realistic about job demands and employment prospects, Wood is at times not as informative as necessary: for example, when she discusses applying to Cogswell Polytechnic College or the Culinary Institute of America, she fails to indicate how competitive admission really is. She does, however, give specific contact information and provide the reader with a number of money-earning ideas. Her casual tone will appeal to readers in their late teens and early twenties.

Cheryl Van Til, Kent Dist. Lib., Comstock Park, MI
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.