Choosing the Right College
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-- School Library Journal, 01/27/2010
With a stressed economy and a tightening job market, it is more important than ever for college-bound students to carefully consider the key factors when selecting a college—location, availability of majors, campus life, and cost. The titles featured will help walk parents and prospects through the process of narrowing down the best candidates before getting to the application process. If heading right off to college isn't part of the plan, suggest that students look into the growing "gap year" movement. And don’t forget the standby Peterson’s Guides, which are part of many public and school library database collections.
BURTNETT, Frank. Bound-for-College Guidebook: A Step-by-Step Guide to Finding and Applying to Colleges. Rowman & Littlefield. 2009. Tr $24.95. ISBN 978-1-57886-992-3.
Gr 10 Up–A great roadmap for students considering the transition to college. Each chapter includes a list of frequently asked questions as well as personal exercises to work through, such as creating a checklist for a college visit or analyzing the admissions goals of a particular school. This title should be in every high school library and guidance office.
FROST, Maya. The New Global Student: Skip the SAT, Save Thousands on Tuition, and Get a Truly International Education. Three Rivers. 2009. pap. $14.95. ISBN 978-0-307-45062-3.
Gr 10 Up–Teens and parents wanting to explore nontraditional higher education options should definitely give this title a look. Faced with the prospect of three kids in college at the same time, the author began to explore overseas options and, as a result, created this excellent guidebook. Frost is truly an evangelist for globalization of education and the benefits it has for students. Notes and an index are included.
KORN, Rachel & Jennifer Yetwin Kabat, eds. Get into College. 2nd ed. Hundreds of Heads. 2009. pap. $17.95. ISBN 978-1-933512-15-0.
Gr 10 Up–While this title covers much more than just the college selection process, its unique style sets it apart and provides teen appeal. Along with practical step-by-step instructions, there are quotes from students with their thoughts on everything from school selection to financial aid. Expert advice from the Independent Educational Consultants Association is sprinkled throughout the book in special “Counselor’s Corner” articles. Online resources, citations, and background notes are included.
MARCUS, David L. Acceptance: A Legendary Guidance Counselor Helps Seven Kids Find the Right Colleges—and Find Themselves. Penguin. 2009. Tr $25.95. ISBN 978-1-59420-214-8.
Gr 10 Up–Newsday education writer Marcus noticed that one local school was achieving unusually high placement rates and put his investigative nose on it. He discovered that Oyster Bay (NY) High School’s secret weapon was a highly motivated and intuitive guidance counselor, Gweyth Smith. The seven students profiled fit the broadest categories—the jock, the valedictorian, the steady-Eddy. Both parents and college-bound kids will benefit from the lessons they learned along their journey.
PYTEL, Barb. Best College for You: How to Find the Right Fit and Save Big Money. JIST. 2009. pap. $16.95. ISBN 978-1-59357-617-2.
Gr 10 Up–Pytel is a licensed school counselor and college consultant, and clearly knows her stuff. Readers will learn how to make the search process easier and more efficient by winnowing down their lists to schools that best fit their academic as well as social interests. There’s also advice on financial aid, testing, and college visits. A CD with a variety of helpful templates and worksheets is included.
WHITE, Kristin M. The Complete Guide to the Gap Year: The Best Things to Do Between High School and College. Jossey-Bass. 2009. pap. $16.95. ISBN 978-0-470-42526-8.
Gr 10 Up–This guide's best feature is its clear and detailed organization by subject interest. If a marine life program is calling out to a teen, it is easy to find options and related subjects close by. Though the "gap year" is a relatively new concept in the United States, it is quite common in Europe and Australia. The directories of volunteer and for-credit gap year programs are pure gold. An index and resource list are included.
Remarkable Reads are produced by the editors at NoveList, the leader in readers' advisory electronic resources. For more information, visit NoveList.
