Product Description
Steve Schirra is an undergraduate English and writing student at Kent State University. He plans to pursue a master s degree in publishing. Aside from his college guidebook writing duties, he also enjoys creative writing (check out his stuff on the Web) and journalism. He wishes to thank his friends and family for their support, especially Lisa Clarke, who encouraged him to put down the biology textbook and write. Special thanks go to the staff of the Daily Kent Stater, Andrew Hampp, Grace Dobush, and all who offered the opinions, insights, and factoids that made this publication possible. Steve Schirra ... Read more

Book Description
The past decades have seen an alarming increase in campus crime, alcohol abuse by college students, hazing and other risky student activities. There is a growing awareness of the need to make safer college campuses. While danger to students has been on the rise, the relationships between students and their universities has grown increasingly distant. The rise in danger and the loss of community on college campuses has been inadvertently facilitated by legal rules. Courts crafted legal protections for colleges which backfired: legal rules designed to protect colleges from lawsuits instead encouraged colleges to become insular and to avoid positive steps to protect student safety.

Bickel and Lake re-imagine the role of law in university/student relations. Picking up on recent court decisions and legislative initiatives, the authors describe a new legal paradigm for college safety - the facilitator university. The modern college is not a baby-sitter or custodian of students: but it is also not a mere bystander to student safety. The facilitator university balances the rights and responsibilities of students and institutions and envisions campuses which feature shared responsibility for student safety. Law can be a positive tool for improving safety and community on modern campuses. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A must read for administrators, parents, and others.
Book Review By Joel C. Epstein Associate Director & Senior Attorney

Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention

The Rights and Responsibilities of the Modern University: Who Assumesthe Risks of College Life? By Robert D. Bickel and PeterF. Lake (Carolina Academic Press, 1999).

There is an important new bookout by Robert Bickel and Peter Lake, law professors at the StetsonUniversity College of Law. The book, The Rights and Responsibilities of theModern University: Who Assumes the Risks of College Life?, considers theevolving legal nature of the American university in the final decade of the20th Century.

In the book, based on a detailed analysis of legaldecisions from dozens of tort cases involving colleges and universities,Professors Bickel and Lake describe the emerging judicial view of"university as facilitator," where higher education officialshelp students navigate their way toward full independence and individualresponsibility. The doctrine of in loco parentis is dead, but thealternative of being a passive bystander as students die or do themselvesand others serious harm through unchecked [and often illegal] behavior isequally untenable. Bickel and Lakes' work describes the evolution of theuniversity/student relationship in a style that is scholarly yet easilyunderstood by lay readers.

Thanks to their thoughtful law review articlesover the years in the Journal of College and University Law, Bickel andLake are already household names among college and university attorneys.With this compelling book their names and work are sure to become just aswell known among non-lawyer college presidents, deans, directors of studenthealth services, parents, and others professionally or personallyinterested in the way the courts have tended to treat institutions ofhigher education in cases involving tortious and sometimes criminalbehavior. The authors' lively writing style and useful case illustrationshave made accessible what through no fault of the subject has too oftenbeen seen as material fit only for lawyers.

In particular, Bickel andLake are to be credited for taking on the all too common misperception thatcollege student drinking is uncontrollable. Their strategy: address theproblems of alcohol danger and disorder directly; anticipate displacementto the surrounding community following a campus clamp down on underage andproblem drinking and work with the community to minimize the effects. Toquote Bickel and Lake, "Strict community enforcement of underagedrinking standards, with college involvement, can facilitate reducing theproblem. And, the college is in the position to assess and discipline itsproblem drinkers, even those who drink off campus." At the same timehowever, the university should avoid dictating policy or restrictions tostudents. "Students," explain the authors, "will need to beinvolved in solutions to alcohol risks and in discussions and policy makingwith regard to the problems."

Bickel and Lake's fresh discussion ofthe challenge of balancing rights and responsibilities on campus is awelcome departure from the way the writing of too many legal scholarsconfounds lay readers with the use of inadequately explained legal jargonand concepts. Given the many ways in which the legal environment impactsthe relationship between students and schools and town and gown the readercomes away from the book better informed and ready to more fullyparticipate in the discussion over what a school's drug and alcohol policyshould look like; how schools should respond to underage drinking; whatschools and communities can and are legally required to do to addresscampus crime and disorder; and, how schools can protect themselves fromliability for injuries occasioned by fraternity hazing activities andunderage drinking an drug use.

Indeed the authors present a model closelywedded to the U.S. Department of Education's Higher Education Center forAlcohol and Other Drug Prevention's environmental management approach. Assuch, the book is a must read for every college and universityadministrator struggling with how to tackle the problems of high-riskstudent drinking and the disorder it creates. University legal counsel,deans of students, campus police, residence hall advisors, policy scholars,parents, and law students as well will find the book a refreshing,informative, and provocative view of the university/studentrelationship.

With the high-profile deaths of students at Louisiana StateUniversity, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and many otherschools, the field of higher education is mobilized as never before toaddress the problem of student drinking and other drug use. This bookoffers a timely and viable guide for positive action that can change theenvironment in which students make decisions about their alcohol and otherdrug use. Bickel and Lake's facilitator model is both an adaptable socialvision for modern universities and a legal model for the courts and collegeadministrators to work with. For the non-attorney or campus administrator,the book offers something just as valuable, a clear lens through which toview the sometimes murky issue of university/student relations. ... Read more

Product Description
Introduction from the Author

There is no place in the world like New York City—too clichéd? Let me rephrase: there is nothing in the world like spending your college years in New York City. Perhaps that, too, is redundant. Those four years between high school and what you will know and fear as “the real world” will be unforgettable no matter where you mail your college transcript. But admit it: you’ve wanted to take a bite out of the Big Apple for quite some time now, haven’t you? Otherwise, you wouldn’t have picked up this book. Unless, of course, you were unaware that Fordham College was located in New York City. How naïve!

During my college search, I longed for New York City. So, I decided to take the easy way out: I applied to NYU. I applied to a few other schools, but nothing stuck out at first, least of all the Jesuit-run Fordham University. I had about as little interest in Catholicism as I did in becoming a subway mechanic. Besides, what was so special about Fordham? How was I supposed to feel about a religious school whose initials were F-U?

When you ask most New Yorkers what they know about Fordham University, they will most likely respond, “That’s the one in the Bronx?” Or perhaps they’ll simply reply, “Yeah, the Jesuit school?” And maybe even, “The football college?” While all these responses vaguely describe aspects of Fordham, no one person (Fordham-affiliated or not) can sum up the entirety of the Fordham experience in one line. Fordham is divided into three undergraduate campuses: the largest, Rose Hill, is a self-contained array of gothic buildings located in the Bronx. The next, Lincoln Center, is a slightly more modern building filled with sterling academic and arts programs in the heart of New York City. Rose Hill and Lincoln Center offer a combination of 65 majors, ranging from nautical mathematics to visual arts. Between the two campuses, FU has everything that makes a university a top-notch institution.

If this book is in your hands, then you must be asking yourself, “Is FU for me?” As you will soon learn from the horse’s mouth (the FU student body), Fordham is a unique institution that deserves its respected reputation. But is this small, NYC school your true destination? Read on and find out for yourself. Just don’t forget to pay close attention to the differences between Rose Hill and Lincoln Center. While a Fordham student is free to utilize both campuses, any graduate will tell you that only one can truly be your home.

Emily Intravia
Fordham College at Lincoln Center
... Read more

Product Description
Welcome to College Prowler®

During the writing of College Prowler’s guidebooks, we felt it was critical that our content was unbiased and unaffiliated with any college or university. We think it’s important that our readers get honest information and a realistic impression of the student opinions on any campus—that’s why if any aspect of a particular school is terrible, we (unlike a campus brochure) intend to publish it. While we do keep an eye out for the occasional extremist—the cheerleader or the cynic—we take pride in letting the students tell it like it is. We strive to create a book that’s as representative as possible of each particular campus. Our books cover both the good and the bad, and whether the survey responses point to recurring trends or a variation in opinion, these sentiments are directly and proportionally expressed through our guides.

College Prowler guidebooks are in the hands of students throughout the entire process of their creation. Because you can’t make student-written guides without the students, we have students at each campus who help write, randomly survey their peers, edit, layout, and perform accuracy checks on every book that we publish. From the very beginning, student writers gather the most up-to-date stats, facts, and inside information on their colleges. They fill each section with student quotes and summarize the findings in editorial reviews. In addition, each school receives a collection of letter grades (A through F) that reflect student opinion and help to represent contentment, prominence, or satisfaction for each of our 20 specific categories. Just as in grade school, the higher the mark the more content, more prominent, or more satisfied the students are with the particular category.

Once a book is written, additional students serve as editors and check for accuracy even more extensively. Our bounce-back team—a group of randomly selected students who have no involvement with the project—are asked to read over the material in order to help ensure that the book accurately expresses every aspect of the university and its students. This same process is applied to the 200-plus schools College Prowler currently covers. Each book is the result of endless student contributions, hundreds of pages of research and writing, and countless hours of hard work. All of this has led to the creation of a student information network that stretches across the nation to every school that we cover. It’s no easy accomplishment, but it’s the reason that our guides are such a great resource.

When reading our books and looking at our grades, keep in mind that every college is different and that the students who make up each school are not uniform—as a result, it is important to assess schools on a case-by-case basis. Because it’s impossible to summarize an entire school with a single number or description, each book provides a dialogue, not a decision, that’s made up of 20 different topics and hundreds of student quotes. In the end, we hope that this guide will serve as a valuable tool in your college selection process. Enjoy! ... Read more

Book Description
Introduction from the Author

Come and take a glimpse and see what campus life at the University of Minnesota is all about. When I first applied to the U of MN, I had no idea what I was in for. I was a Wisconsinite from a small town, and all I knew was that I wanted to live in a place full of experiences I had never been through, sights I had never seen, ideas I had never thought of, and opportunities that were unavailable in my town. I found that place here. My first year was a lot of fun, because I participated in all of the normal partying and making friends, and I discovered a little bit about myself I didn't know before. The following years, however, were even more fun, because I found myself within a diverse and ever-changing community, which I had become a part of.

The University of Minnesota was founded as a prep school in 1851, seven years before the founding of Minnesota as a state. Since then, it has become one of the largest, most comprehensive and prestigious public universities in the United States, with a faculty of national and international reputation. The University has become one of the nation's, and indeed one of the world's, most successful research and development institutions. The University of Minnesota expanded over the years to include a campus in Duluth in 1947, another in Morris in 1960, and in 1966, a campus in Crookston.

The University of Minnesota-Twin Cities is, for so many reasons, a great school. Here is a short list of just a few of those reasons:
• It is a leading research and development university in many fields.
• It is home to myriad students who come from a wide variety of ethnic, religious, and economic backgrounds.
• Although this is one of the largest campuses in the nation, there are many opportunities to build a lasting sense of community.
• It goes a long way to broaden the scope and horizons of students' lives.

The following pages will draw out, in the students' own words, more reasons why this is such a wonderful place to live and learn. So let College Prowler introduce you to this Big 10 university and what the students have to say about life here. Then come on by and take a tour, sit in on a class, and experience for yourself what it means to be a Minnesota Golden Gopher.

This is the beginning of a wonderful, hectic time in your life—and it goes quickly, so savor it, and good luck.

Amy S. Palmer, Author
University of Minnesota ... Read more

Book Description
This atlas and guide is divided into eight sections: (1) The Right Place: Explains the importance of finding a school that matches the geographic, social, and academic needs of the student. (2) College Towns Large & Small. (3) What's Your Style?: School rankings such as, sporty, artsty and best climate. (4) Trip Planning Atlas. (5) Directory of 1500+ four-year schools. (6) City/Town/Rural index. (7) Metro Area Index. (8) Road Map Index. ... Read more

Product Description
Introduction from the Author

Senior year of high school is one of the most exciting times in any teenager’s life. You’ve nearly conquered the toughest academic institution you’ve faced thus far in your young life; you’ve presumably got an easy class schedule; you’ve got a great group of friends, and your biggest social concern is who to take to the prom. Oh yeah, and then there’s a little thing called college.

Not only are you expected to get in to a college, but your parents will want you to get into an academically sound school, and you also have to find a university that you will enjoy spending the next four years of your life at. Sound daunting? It can be, and sometimes your first impressions and gut instinct regarding a certain college can be rash or uninformed. Therein lies the beauty of this guidebook.

Back when I was an impressionable senior participating in a nonstop parade of college tours, I never really had a clear-cut number one college that I wanted to attend. I’ve heard from many students that they’ll often find schools that they fall in love with, but none of the establishments I visited truly took hold of me. That is, until one fateful Sunday afternoon in November.

My parents and I were returning from a long weekend in the DC area, in which I visited about 10 schools. The last thing I wanted to do was go on another campus tour, but my parents talked me into checking out Lehigh, a school I had never heard of, in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The weather was lousy, and despite the fact that the tour guide was very pleasant, Lehigh became more of an afterthought.

I wound up applying to Lehigh among six other schools. I made four, although I got rejected from the one I liked most. Of the four acceptances, Lehigh had the best academic reputation, so I was encouraged to take another look at it. On my second tour, I fell in love with Lehigh. It was another fairly cloudy day, but something about the enthusiasm of the tour guide and the whole aura of the campus, combined with the proximity of the school to my home (New York City) and the fact that one of my best friends was attending, was enough for me to finally choose Lehigh.

Oddly enough, upon entering Lehigh as a freshman, I had no idea that the Greek scene was so enormous and that it would wind up playing such an amazing role in my experience. This book will provide you with the lowdown on Greek life, as well as over 20 other important aspects of the entire Lehigh experience.

So as you hold this guidebook in your hands, congratulate yourself on an excellent purchase. After many hours of writing, researching, and obtaining feedback from students, I’ve created the most comprehensive guidebook on Lehigh known to man. I wish I had had a copy when I was in the midst of the college search. I hope you enjoy!

Larry Koestler, Author
Lehigh University
... Read more

Book Description
The college application process is complicated, and most students need all the help they can get. If you’re wondering how to figure out what you really love to do, how to translate your interests into meaningful extra-curricular activities, and how doing this will help you enjoy yourself during the stressful college admissions season, then this is the book for you. The Road to College will show you how to prepare for college applications by starting early, learning what you love, and pursuing your unique interests.

The Road to College explains how high school students can pursue their individual passions in a variety of areas: the arts, sports, community service, government, the sciences, and more. It provides the practical advice you need to make the most of your high school experience and to prepare for life after high school. ... Read more

Book Description
A first-rate book, well worth reading.Ann Lucas has taken years of research and reflection and distilled them into an easily understood, useful volume designed to help department chairs develop their leadership skills.
--William E. Cashin, director, Center for Faculty Evaluation and Development, Kansas State University

A practical guide to developing the survival skills that chairs need in order to function as leaders and build cohesive teams in departments.

... Read more

Book Description
College students (120,000 of them) reveal what life is really like at the nation's top schools. This must-have guide gives you college rankings like no other and covers all the essentials -- from academics to social life to financial aid, and everything in between. We also provide you with all the basics: admissions criteria, deadlines, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, and more.

The unique ranking lists in The Best 366 Colleges report the top 20 schools in 62 categories. Based on how students at the schools -- the real experts! -- rated their colleges, the ranking list titles include:

·Professors Get High Marks
·Best Career/Job Placement Services
·Best Classroom Experience
·Party Schools
·Dorms Like Palaces
·Best Campus Food
·Most Politically Active Students
·Diverse Student Population
·Class Discussions Encouraged
·Best College Newspaper
…and many more!

The Best 366 Colleges also includes lists of great schools for 15 of the most popular undergraduate majors. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Your search for a top college starts here
The Princeton Review guide is not the last word in college guides, but it probably should be the first word for those seeking a top college for their strong student.If you are new to the college search process, this guide allows you to quickly winnow your search to a group of schools that would be a good fit for your child, at least on paper.The strength of the Princeton Review guide is the numbers.Detailed statistical profiles of the student body and of the recently admitted freshman class allows potential applicants to quickly see how they stack up against their competition for a spot at that school.If you want to go Ivy League, the guide will quickly let you know if you're being realistic or not.By the same token, maybe the numbers tell you that you have a real chance at getting into some schools you previously thought were out of reach.

The narratives included for each school are not the best part of the book.They provide good overview info for a first-look at a school, but you start to wonder how insightful they really are when you read the 25th review that says "the students at [fill in the blank] college work hard, but play hard too."To me, the narratives are too brief and anecdotal to be really useful.As you narrow your search from 2200 schools to 300 schools to 20 or 25, you'll want to augment your library with something like Fiske Guide to Colleges 2008 (Fiske Guide to Colleges), which I think makes an excellent companion to the Princeton Review guide.It's a little less numbers-intensive and provides narratives that, in my view, give a better feel for the learning and living environments at these colleges.

All-in-all, the Princeton Review guide is a must-have for families looking at top schools, but not the whole story.

Excellent Resource
This is an excellent resource for both parents and students who are researching colleges. One piece of information it uniquely provides is the range of SAT and ACT scores for incoming freshmen.

BEST COLLEGE BOOK---HANDS DOWN!!!
I'm a college counselor and this is THE book I recommend to the large majority of my studnets. The descriptions of schools are SPOT ON in most cases and it's written by students so it doesn't have the problem of other guide books of trying to pigeon-hole every school as a nerd school or party school. It might not be helpful for kids who aren't as academically sound, but for those who are it's the only book you need!

Amazing
This book is great for anyone looking at different colleges. This book rates the colleges on dorms, campus security, and is filled with details. Male/Female ratio, the size of the classrooms, and even quotes from students that have attended these schools. These schools range from all over the US.

The item of preference for any collection catering to students who are college-bound.
THE BEST 366 COLLEGES is superior to most college guides on the market: for one thing, it provides high school to college-level students with information based on the responses of over 120,000 college students who provide insights on the realities of their institution of choice. For another, it offers unique rankings of the schools in over sixty categories based on student ratings of not just academics but financial aid, dorms and more - and it offers tips to high schoolers on how to prepare for admission to a college of choice. With all that under one cover, this becomes the item of preference for any collection catering to students who are college-bound.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
... Read more

Book Description
MacTaggart discusses the early indicators of a college or univerity's neeed for a turnaround. He and his colleagues outline financal trends and other indicators of distress, as well as benchmarks for the various stages of an effective turnaround strategy. Academic Turnarounds will help trustees, presidents, and faculty members diagnose whether they are in denial about the true condition of the insitution they are charged with preserving. Donors, state officials, accreditors, and others interested in the quality and vitality of American higher education will find direction in this book. Academic Turnarounds assists leaders to develop dramatic, purposeful strategies to revitalize challeneged colleges and universities. What are the early warning signs that a college or university needs a turnaround? Waiting too long in the hopes that something other than dramatic, purposeful action will relieve a distressed institution is an all-too-common failing among trustees and other leaders. This book outlines the financial and other indicators of distress well as indicators of the stages in an effective turnaround strategy. It helps trustees in particular diagnose whether or not they are in denial over the true condition of the institution they are charged with preserving. ... Read more

Book Description

Paying for college is a formidable challenge for many students and their families. Fortunately, there are schools across the nation that combine academic excellence, reasonable tuition, and generous financial aid packages. America’s Best Value Colleges profiles 150 schools that have low to moderate tuition rates and that are likely to help students by providing financial aid, scholarships, and grants.

America’s Best Value Colleges includes:

[bulleted list]
·The real cost of college after financial aid is applied
·Information on school- and state-specific scholarships and grant aid
·Career prospects for graduates of each profiled college
·Strategies for choosing the school that best fits a student’s needs
·Tips on tackling the admissions process and getting accepted
·Snapshots of campus life

Previous editions of America’s Best Value Colleges have received national publicity including the Today Show, CNN American Morning, The New York Times, and more.

Book Description
Introduction from the Author

The University of San Diego is not a household name. Most people, when they hear about the school, think of San Diego State. There's even a large group of transplants living in San Diego who will talk to you about Aztec's football or those raging parties they overheard people talking about in a local bar. But when you explain that, no, USD is the Spanish looking school on the hill right near the meeting of the 8 and 5 freeways, you'll probably get a knowing nod of approval.

USD has an almost mystical quality to it. It's by far the most distinctive architectural piece in a wonderfully gorgeous area. Its students are known for being bright, quick thinking, and powerful in the local business community. They are also recognized for being more staid, stable, and mature than their Aztec counterparts. The University is also extremely respected for its Catholic tradition and service to the community. Few tourists drive by USD and realize what it is they are seeing. I've even heard it described as the Mormon Temple (which is 15 miles north). Few locals have any complaints.

And localism still counts in San Diego. Even though the city is growing, this is probably the biggest city in America that still has a small town feel. Decisions are made and things get done based on a long established system of care designed to preserve what is so enticing about San Diego. USD is an enormous part of this system of care. USD students are often stewards for the preservation of San Diego's excellence This strong local presence, and USD's long tradition of academic excellence confers upon students a powerful perspective and respect in San Diego and anywhere else they travel when their education is complete.

Education at USD is a tremendous privilege. USD students get to spend four (or five or six) of the best years of their life in a place most people only visit for two or three weeks a year. San Diego is a tremendous place to spend any amount of time. Personally, the experience of attending college here and as a member of a school with such caliber; University of San Diego is frankly beyond my ability to describe. But there are many things to consider about living and going to school in San Diego. I certainly hope this book can serve in helping you to decide whether or not it is the place for you. If USD does fit in to your plans, I hope this book further helps you experience life here to its fullest. The sooner you get here, the longer you get to stay.

James P Leonard, Author
University of San Diego ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (1)

Attrition/Retention Theory Essential
This book is Vincent Tinto's seminal work on attrition and retention in higher education. Although Tinto has produced some more recent works published in noted academic journals, this book is a classic and is cited in many other research studies, articles, and dissertations in the field of higher academic attrition and retention. This work based on social integration of students is an expansion on his initial theory postulated in 1975 and clearly explains how his model of retention works. Although it focuses more on 4-year institutions, 2-year institutions are also included. If you are looking for germinal/seminal work especially in terms of theoryand model development in the area of higher education attrition and retention, this book is a must. ... Read more

Product Description
Welcome to College Prowler®

Customer Reviews (6)

The Most Expensive College Guide Is Worth The Price
At first, I hesitated, because I'm a bargain shopper. This book is priced a couple of dollars more than the Princeton Review and Fiske Guide. Could it be that much better?

Well, let me tell you this, if I was comparing it to the Princeton Review or Fiske Guide, I would have paid hundreds of dollars for this book.

Simply put, my daughter was not excited about the college selection process. When I brought home the Fiske and PR guides ... I found them in a closet with our old phone books.

I then heard about College Prowler from the NY Times, and immediately bought the guide to New England, as well as some of their single-school guides ... I'm in love with the single-school ones, but this guide to New England was the perfect book for my daughter to begin the college selection process.

When she flipped open to the middle of the book, and read a student testimonial about how attractive guys are on campus at Northeastern, but to watch out for players ... she was hooked.

The book sits at our dining table, and she blurts out random student reviews from different schools ... we get quite a laugh. Not only is the book tremendously funny, but it dissects the campus culture at each school. You get a feel what students are actually like, and where you'll fit in best. The new way to choose a college, is to choose one that's right for you, eventually, these College Prowler guides will be the industry standard, if they aren't already.

Sadatay.

Don't Trust Josh
Everyone knows that "Josh" obviously works for one of the following competitors to College Prowler:

1. Princeton Review
2. US News
3. The Fiske Guide

These corporate giants can't handle students taking over the college guidebook industry.

Don't trust College Prowler
When I met with my academic advisor to discuss the college guide books I had been reading, she warned me that College Prowler is considered a reputable source of information by neither her nor any of her colleagues in academe.

Sure enough, when I came to Amazon just now to sell my two used College Prowler books, I noticed that shortly after each book had been published, a single person had submitted a five-star review for both books. In one review, he stated he's "from the East Coast," and in the other review he stated he's "from the Pacific Northwest."

It looks like my academic advisor was correct about College Prowler.

As a college student, this guide is terrible
Let me start by saying that other reviewers seem to be in the process of choosing a college, so they do not realize how inaccurate these guides are.I am a junior in college, and when I saw my little brother reading this guide I decided to see what it said about my school.Not a single one of the categories was even close to the truth.And I'm not just complaining that my school got too many poor remarks, it got graded high in areas it shouldn't have and vice versa.Being from the New England area, I have friends that go to many of the colleges listed, and most of them say that their school is wrongly represented as well.There are a lot of other (cheaper) guides out there that are way better and that list more schools.

Find answers here
I would like to recommend College Prowler's New England Colleges book to all sr. high school students. I'm from the Pacific Northwest, but was accepted into 4 elite schools, 3 of which are on the East Coast (Brown, Wesleyan, and BC). Fortunately for me, I ran across this guide in a local bookstore, and just a quick glance though its pages gave me the impression that this was no ordinary college resource, pamphlet, or biased review that I've been encountering in my extremely difficult task of evaluating which school is right for me. The most impressive aspect of this book is that it lets the students-from each individual college-tell their stories about what they really think about their school. There are a ton of student quotes on each school on just about every factor that a student like myself would be interested in: safety of campus, campus facilities, campus parties and organizations, local bars and restaurants, and more. ... Read more

Product Description
Introduction from the Author

Outside of the great state of Texas, not many people have heard of Trinity University. It’s a small school, and the athletic program is Division III. And, regardless of what part of the country you’re from, if your school’s football or basketball team is not nationally-recognized, then neither is your school. Notoriety aside, Trinity has one of the best academic programs in the South—Texans, and many other young Americans interested in higher education, are slowly beginning to figure this out. This was evident in the many proud and exultant looks I received from friends and family upon my announcement that I had been accepted into Trinity.

Those that do know of Trinity tend to carry certain stereotypes about the school. Because tuition is high, outsiders often assume that the only kids who go there are rich snobs who spend more time thinking about their BMW payments than politics and world issues. Trinity does, however, give out millions of dollars worth of financial aid, and this only adds to the amount of diversity on campus—both ethnic and socio-economic. And, diversity in many Texas universities is sometimes hard to come by.

While the appearence of campus is constantly changing as modern buildings spring up and dorms are renovated, one thing that remains is the strong commitment to academics that the school is becoming so well known for. Every year, the faculty at Trinity seems to find new ways to encourage the students, who in turn, find new ways to express themselves. Students at Trinity are granted the space and freedom to stage a wide variety of events ranging from anti-war rallies to independent films to all-out keg parties. And while much of the country may never hear about Trinity, it will still provide a stellar college experience to those who are lucky enough to discover it.

The point of this guide is not only to familiarize you with the academics and classroom structure, but also with the student body and the city of San Antonio. Furthermore, Trinity may or may not be the ideal place to spend the next four years of your life. But, while the school might be everything you want, the city and the local surroundings may not be. This book should be utilized as a resource to help you make the best decision that you possibly can. But, know that words alone can never provide you with the same perspective as visiting the campus, or better yet, living out the college experience (unfortunately for you, neither of these comes at the price of a guidebook). This guide will hopefully give you a clearer picture of what Trinity and San Antonio are all about, and help you arrive at a university that will give you a fabulous undergraduate education and much, much more.

Kristin Dickson, Author
Trinity University Texas
... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Really helpful for your college decision
This book offers up a great inside look at Trinity. It's filled with student quotes on a wide variety of topics that might factor into your decision on where to go to school (academics, local atmosphere, campus dining, nightlife, greek life, career info, etc.). It really gives you a feel for how the kids who go to Trinity view the university. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Amazon.com
Why sort through the chaff when you know you want wheat? This guide provides instructive profiles (about 10 to 16 pages per college) for 52 of America's most competitive institutions of higher education, from Amherst to Yale, including information about admissions requirements and academic life, as well as financial aid and social life. There are insights written by recent undergrads about what to expect in terms of work load and potential adjustments, and there are sections on your lodging options, extracurricular activities, graduation requirements, and special programs, as well.

In addition to the profiles, which are written with candor and geared toward the concerns an inquisitive junior, senior, or parent might have, there's a useful chapter on application strategies (with essential suggestions on the application essay), a "Most Competitive Comparison" (featuring a bottom-line chart that compares numbers of applicants, numbers accepted, how many enrolled, gender ratio, SAT I scores, and costs), a "College Summaries" chapter encapsulating each college's history, tone, and unique attributes, and an index that lists the schools by state. It's an excellent guide to the country's best. --Stephanie GoldBook Description
More than 70 of the most academically competitive four-year colleges in the United States are described in detail, each entry written by a recent graduate of that school. The book’s personalized entries offer insights that readers aren’t likely to find in other college directories, such as first-hand descriptions of campus environment, social life and activities, and nearby off-campus activities and points of interest. Each college profile also includes the standard “need-to-know” facts and figures, such as admission requirements, academic programs, tuitions and fees, application procedures, sources of financial aid, library and research facilities, student body composition, and admission contacts. Not every aspiring student can get into America’s most competitive colleges, and this book also suggests application strategies, study strategies, essay-writing strategies, and financing strategies designed to help students gain admission. Also featured is a Most Competitive Comparison Chart that presents at-a-glance statistics for each school. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

A very helpful and detailed guide to the best colleges
This guide on the surface appears the same as the many others of its genre, large in size etc but once you open it, you realize that it is very different. While the other guides rely on a few statistics about sometimes as many as 500 colleges and universities, this book very much focuses on the intimate details of just the top 53 which means that there is a great deal more information about the best colleges. You find out about all the courses offered, the study abroad options and of course the all important student hangouts. This book is full of genuine student comments so you can really get a feel for the campus and I found it very easy to tell which ones I was most interested in. You really feel a description either clicking with you or pushing you away from the college which makes it easy to get a manageable shortlist of your favorite colleges. This book even gives some helpful tips on the all important application essays so it is a must have for the high school student trying to decide on the right college.
My only complaint would be the fact that 53 is slightly too few colleges. 100 would be a better number although that would mean that less competitive and academic colleges would be featured. Buy this book, and good luck on your search for colleges!

it's definately a book
i just want to say, that i like that this book mentions prominent graduates from some of these top schools.in fact, in the lehigh section, they talk about me going through a combined medical program.however, in the actual lehigh section, they don't even talk about the combined program.it's not really helpful for people who want to get on the fast track to medical school from high school.those people should check out From High School to Med. School: The Definitive Guide to Accelerated Medical Schools (talk about a great book!).i can't really blame barron's because hardly any college books mention these prestigous programs.though, for non-pre-meds who are interested in the top schools, barrons is a good book.

a waste of money
even though different people wrote each one, every entry in this book reads basically the same, thereby making it pretty much useless. also, as aguide to "elite" colleges it is quite inaccurate, including a fewrather mediocre schools while strangely excluding some very top ones (suchas Oberlin). Save your money and buy Fiske's, which is the best all-aroundcollege guide.

Great descriptions of the most competitive colleges
The scope of this guide is limited the 50+ 'best' colleges in the US.I was very happy with the college choices and the essays (written by recent graduates) were especially useful.I would recommend that most prospectivestudents use this in conjunction with the Fiske Guide.

More information and stats about each college should exist.
Excellent college guide limited to only the very best colleges and universities.However, for a book with less than 100 colleges listed, more stats and objective information (reviews are supplied by recent graduatesof the college), as well as more flat out information should be included. ... Read more

Product Description
Introduction from the Author

When I tell people I attend Florida State University, the general reply is “Oh, isn’t that a party school?” Five years ago, that would have been true, and to a certain extent, it still is. However, the reality is that FSU also has respectable academic and research programs. Sure, the students here like to have a good time, and the beautiful weather only encourages late-night revelry, but I’ve come to learn that the “party-school” reputation comes from the fact that everyone here is so friendly and outgoing. Southern hospitality is the norm, and you can’t fault people for enjoying their college experience. “Work hard, play hard,” right?

The past few years that I’ve spent here have allowed me to not only receive what I consider to be a first-class education, but I’ve also been able to explore various interests through a wide variety of extracurricular activities. FSU has something for everyone, from a nationally-competitive athletics program, to its very own Flying High Circus. Over a hundred on-campus organizations offer students the chance to learn about other cultures, pursue artistic endeavors, and network with like-minded individuals in order to prepare for the business world.

What it comes down to is that Florida State is a unique school that has been able to find that elusive balance between fun and serious academia. The students here know how to have fun. Taking road trips to Panama City, hanging out at the FSU Reservation at Lake Bradford, or participation in Greek organizations is all considered normal activity here. But by the same token, students also take their studies very seriously, and the school encourages its pupils to pursue their goals in life.

I’m not here to convince you to attend Florida State University. That is a decision only you can make. This guidebook is designed to offer you student feedback on the various aspects of the school, to give you an insider’s perspective on student life and perceptions. Choosing a college to attend is not an easy task, but hopefully this guide will give you the information you need to make an educated decision about where you will spend the next four years of your life.

Good luck.

Richard Bist, Author
Florida State University
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Product Description
Introduction from the Author

Massive mountains stretching across a boundless plane surround the University of Colorado. Within this setting live students who are said to possess minds that match this landscape. It is possible that you have heard this metaphor before. Maybe you’ve read it as the caption to a picture of CU. Or, perhaps it rolled off the tongue of one of our counselors. Yet, while the comparison makes for great advertisement, it is still obscure as to what exactly constitutes minds of such magnitude.

Unlike other CU propaganda, this book is not intended to embellish the accomplishments of the school. Instead, it offers an unbiased perspective, fashioned through the impartial view of a recently graduated student. Think of me as the adversary to the dean. CU’s presiding academic aristocrat would proudly profess to the hundreds of millions of dollars that NASA has given CU for research, while me—I’ll confess to an overpriced education.

While CU’s employees might inform you that South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone developed their innovative animation techniques through CU’s film school; I lose nothing in admitting what every CU student knows: Trey and Matt were kicked out of CU before reaching their illustrative success. Does this detract from CU’s academia? Not in the least. This is a place where I spent four years learning that instruction is secondary to the surroundings in which an education is acquired.

Naturally, academics should be the foundation to one’s education, yet there remain other significant factors to consider when deciding on a university. If you are in the midst of considering CU, then I would go as far as to assume that you are not applying to Ivy League schools. Though people would like you to think otherwise, the truth is, an exceptional education is not always measured through the recognition it receives. Your success in college will not depend on whether your school is placed at the top of a particular list. It is about finding the right fit for you.

Yet, choosing the college suitable to your specific needs is probably one of the most difficult decisions you will ever need to make. It is an investment that will increase your worth and hopefully, steer you into your destined career. Don’t you want to be certain you make the right choice? So, read on and learn about what it’s like being a student at the University of Colorado-Boulder.

Jessica Amodeo, Author
University of Colorado
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Book Description
This two-volume work is intended to help readers develop powerful new ways of thinking about organizational principles, and apply them to policy-making and management in colleges and universities.

The book is written with two audiences in mind: administrative and faculty leaders in institutions of higher learning, and students (both doctoral and Master's degree) studying to become upper-level administrators, leaders, and policy makers in higher education.

It systematically presents a range of theories that can be applied to many of the difficult management situations that college and university leaders encounter. It provides them with the theoretical background to evaluate knowledgeably the many new ideas that emerge in the current literature, and in workshops and conferences. The purpose is to help leaders develop their own effective management style and approaches, and feel confident that their actions are informed by appropriate theory and knowledge of the latest research in the field.

Without theory, organizational leaders are forced to treat each problem that they encounter as uniqueas if it were a first-time occurrence. While leaders may have some experience with a particular issue, their solutions are usually not informed by the accumulated wisdom of others who have already encountered and resolved similar situations.

The authors approach the theory of the organization and administration of colleges and universities from three quite different perspectives, or paradigms, each relying on different assumptions about the reality of organizational life in colleges and universities.

The positivist paradigmprimarily an omnibus systems theoryintegrates the chapters into a comprehensive, yet easily accessible whole. Social constructionism, the second paradigm, is introduced in each chapter to illuminate the difficulty of seeking and finding meaningful consensus on problems and policies, while also addressing important ethical issues that tend to be overlooked in leadership thought and action. The third paradigm, postmodernism, draws attention to difficulties of logic and communication under the constraints of strictly linear thinking that authorities at all levels attempt to impose on organizations.

This multiple paradigm approach enables readers to become more cognizant of their own assumptions, how they may differ from those of others in their organization, and how those differences may both create difficulties in resolving problems and expand the range of alternatives considered in organizational decision making.

The book offers readers the tools to balance the real-world needs to succeed in todays challenging and competitive environment with the social and ethical aspirations of all its stakeholders and society at large. The authors aim is to elucidate how administration can be made more efficient and effective through rational decision-making while also respecting humanistic values. This approach highlights a range of phenomena that require attention if the institution is ultimately to be considered successful. ... Read more