The Insider's Guide to the Colleges, 2006 32nd Edition
Compiled and edited by the staff of the Yale Daily News
St. Martin's Press (New York, NY) 2005
$18.99, 1,017 pages, soft cover
Reviewed by Joe A. Edun
Counselor/College Advisor
Walter Johnson High School (MD)
The editors of this guide state that its purpose is to provide its college-bound readers with "an accurate picture of what day-to-day life is like for college students at each school" listed in the guide.
The editors selected the 320 schools in this edition primarily on these schools' quality of academics. To broaden college options for high school seniors, the editors include state institutions in the 50 states and top universities in Canada. Smaller colleges offering a personalized education are on the list, as well as prominent schools offering specialized education.
The book's main strength is that it fulfills its mission—being an insider's guide to colleges, providing interviews with students already experiencing the various aspects of a college education—and so, the authors are in a good position to pass on what they know. While two students in the same environment may read it differently because of several factors, a prospective student may obtain enough information from this insider's guide to decide on visiting and/or applying to some of the featured colleges.
For example, students of the University of Delaware tell the guide that their school has "no joke majors," and that "the University of Delaware has a strong academic program. What you get out of it depends on how you treat the courses" (216).
The guide's organization makes it easy to use. It examines the following topics:
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The college spectrum
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Introduction for international students
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Students with disabilities
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Terms you should know
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The college finder
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Insider's top ten lists
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A word about statistics
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The colleges listed by state
The section listing the colleges by state runs from page 65 to page 1,011 and forms the heart of the guide.
This guide reveals quick facts about the 320 colleges whenever the colleges provide these, including most popular majors, percent of applicants accepted, availability of housing, campus life, and retention rates.
The guide showcases special programs that some of its selected schools offer, for example, the "flexible and comprehensive" approach of Goucher College (MD) to its educational program (396). Of particular interest is Goucher's 3/2 program that enables students to earn a double major by studying there for three years and at Johns Hopkins University (MD) for two. Students earn a B.S. from Goucher in Math or Physics after three years and a B.S. from Johns Hopkins in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering or computer science two years later (398).
Of the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (NY), the guide writes that there are no teaching assistants, which allows the students to know their professors (606).
At Bard College (NY), the guide identifies photo and film as the two most competitive and difficult majors. Both put heavy demands on time and involve workshop classes. Science classes are "hard to pass," but Bard allows its students to make their own curriculum.
By providing quick facts and in-depth information on its selected colleges, the guide gives its readers a sort of virtual tour of the colleges. College advisors, high school seniors and their parents will find it useful.
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