Customer Reviews

The All-in-one College Guide: a More-results, Less-stress Plan for Choosing, Getting Into, Finding the Money For, and Making the Most Out of College

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Getting your kid into a good college is a nerve-racking process for most parents. It certainly has been for us. We have found the customer reviews in Amazon very helpful. That prompts us to distill our ratings of the various guidebooks.

The best short reference on each college is the Princeton Review of The Best (311) Colleges. It gives ratings of academic quality, difficulty of admission, percentage admitted, etc. There is also a brief summary of college life and what each place might be looking for.

Peterson Guide is comprehensive, and has long write-ups for each school. There is a front section for each school, listed alphabetically within each state, and a back section with detailed profiles of selected institutions.

Fiske's guide is interesting, but he basically has something good to say for each school, so careful reading between the lines and for "damning with faint praise" is called for.

The Yale Insider's Guide is extremely subjective, with different students writing various reviews. We did not find it too reliable, except in conjunction with other books.

Likewise for Barrron's Guide to the Most Competitive Colleges. Recent alumni write of their (invariably positive) experiences. Take it with a grain of salt, or read carefully between the lines.

Choosing the Right College by ISN was extremely helpful. Some readers criticized it for being allegedly right wing. We did not find it so. Rather, knowing the point of view of the authors helped us evaluate their observations. Other books do not make their biases explicit. A feature of the book we found particularly helpful was the naming of excellent professors and departments in each college.

Antonoff's College Finder was interesting only in conjunction with other books.

Three books written from the perspective of college admissions officers were very interesting and helpful. They are The College Admissions Mystique, by Mayher, Getting In, by Bill Paul, and most of all A is for Admission by Michelle Hernandez. We strongly recommend that parents and the kids who are the applicants read at least one of these.

Another very helpful book was You're Gonna Love This College Guide, by Marty Nemko. It takes the student through the decision process of big vs. small, urban vs. country, elite vs. the level just below, geography, and so forth. That really got our daughter unstuck in her thinking process.

Loren Pope is another helpful author for those who think that not getting into Harvard is the end of the world.

Three books we did not find to be particularly helpful are Getting Into Any College, by Jim Good and Lisa Lee, The National Review College Guide, by Charles Sykes and Brad Miner (too out of date), and The Real Freshman Handbook, by Jennifer Hanson.

One book we found to be unexpectedly useful was Getting Into Medical School Today, by Scott Plantz, et. al. Even if your child is not interested in medical school, this book puts college in perspective for any post-college program.

We hope readers find our review helpful.

The funny thing is, when we first got this book, I thought we would hate it. Quickly glancing through, I saw big print and a whimsical feel that made me think that the book had little to offer when compared to the detailed tomes about college choices and financial aides that we had also ordered from Amazon.

But then I started to read the book, and immediately I realized it was different. This book has plain language and plain sense advice that makes navigating the maze of college admissions & financial aid a lot easier. The author is also refreshingly honest; this includes a few statements that have the ring of truth even though they might not be something we want to hear.

I think that this book, more than any other, helped my son and I to get a clear sense of what his goals and expectations are. It was also something that helped provide a framework for discussion -- it gave us both the same frame of reference so we could really talk about what choices are realistic and what my son's goals are.

The only criticism we have is the last part of the book, which deals with life on campus. That part seemed over simplistic and patronizing. However, I gave the book 5 stars because the rest of the book is invaluable.

As a parent of a high school sophomore, this book provided excellent insight and advice as to how begin the college search: the critical advance preparations needed to finance higher education, and even how to help the high school student sharpen study skills, a lesson that is often learned too late if one waits for the college years. The reader is provided with the pros and cons of varying types of college experiences plus a "how-to" guide which is geared to assist all freshmen in adjusting to their new environment. The final checklist (what high school students should be preparing well in advance of college) is a necessary organizational tool that will make the "college process" much less formidable. I would recommend this book to every parent of freshman in high school; the advance preparation that is made possible by this guide are invaluable.

As I was reading through much of the information in this book, it became very clear to me how easy the college experience could be with the right preperations. This book allows the reader(students and parents) to 1) Ask the right questions 2) Not be over anxious 3) Be confident when asking for items. I recently wrote 6 emails requesting information on certain colleges asking for the information that Marty Nemko advised. Viola! I recieved all of the information. This book is full of useful things and guides and isn't overly dry. Different sections for parents, and insider's tips etc.

Overall this is a great book for the college bound.

As the title promises, we really did love this college guide. If a parent or prospective college student could read one only book about colleges, this would be the one. With one child in college and another getting ready to apply, we've read about a dozen college guides. This one has information that none of the others has, including recommendations of other guide books that contain more detail on particular topics. We recommend this book without qualification.

After reviewing this book and finding its advice practical and far-reaching -- everything from SAT testing to dating at college -- I gave it to our family friends' high-school son at the start of his senior year. He said the book was easy to read and helped him to focus and decide on what he wanted. As a result, he selected a school that is tailored to his needs, rather than the local college that most of his friends will attend.

Perhaps the book's biggest strengths are that it explains clearly WHY it is important for students to choose a college suited to them, and HOW to choose such a college.

Next year, I'm giving a copy to his little brother, when he starts high school.

You can start reading this relatively easy and short guidebook while in High School, and you'll want to keep it handy all the way up through Freshman year of college! Excellent for parents and students alike.

Amazingly covers all bases with a good deal of common sense, with excellent format. Chapter summaries allow for quickly scanning the meatiest data, and there are checklists and logical outlines for sane planning.

It's almost certainly not the ONLY book you'll need, but it's really the best concise guide to start off on the college hunt/financial aid search/SAT battle/admissions process.

Perfect for student without access to a college guidance counsellor, who may not know where to start... this would be an excellent gift to the family with a child who has just started high school, but it can still be very useful in the late stages of the admissions process.

I simply have to respond to the negative review this college guide received in a recent post. During my daughter's college search I purchased at least ten books on the college admissions process -- a expenditure that I rationalized with the argument that half a million words on the subject were less expensive than one hour with a private college counselor (we tried that too -- what a waste of money!). Of these ten or more college guides -- including everything from the Fiske Guide to the Yale Insider's Guide -- Marty Nemko's book was far and away the most useful.

It is clearly organized, clearly written, and wonderfully straightforward. The college analysis provided is not only accurate but immensely helpful to anyone who is trying to make an informed college choice. This analysis ranks the schools by location (northeast, southwest, etc), by expense, by selectivity, by type of environment (small rural town, suburban city, large urban city), and by size. If your "mostly B" student thinks that he or she wants to go to a small liberal arts school in a large mid-western city, this analysis will list the schools that fit those parameters. THEN you can follow up with more detailed information in the encyclopedic Fiske guide.

One other note -- As an undergraduate I went to both the University of Chicago and the University of Toronto (University College). I would agree with Mr. Nemko that the undergraduate experience at the University of Chicago is best described as a small liberal arts college experience (my class numbered less than 500) and that Canadian schools represent a tremendous educational value for the price -- even with the falling American dollar.

The review by Gaetan Lion is SO inaccurate that I, the author of this book, must respond.

I will embed my responses to each of his inaccuracies:

Lion writes, "On page 39 and 40 the author shares a basic list of his favorite schools. But, most of them are misclassified. He classifies the University of Chicago as a small liberal arts college. Meanwhile, it is a national university with masters and doctorate programs that liberal arts colleges do not have."

Mr. Lion fails to realize that the University of Chicago's undergraduate program in reality functions far more like a liberal arts college than a big university. It is quite small To characterize it as a university would be misleading. He says, "Most of the characterizations are inaccurate"? Not one of the prepublication reviewers (top college counselors all) nor post-publication readers has questioned the validity of even college's listing.

Lion writes, "On page 39, classifies Grinnell as a good liberal arts college for B students. On the next page, he classifies the exact same school as a good school for unconventional students with a GPA of A. Well, is Grinnell a school for A or B students? The author does not know. "

The author does know. He knows that Grinnell WILL accept some B students but that it also is an excellent place for unconventional students with A grades. Both are true.

Lion writes, "An example of poor judgment is his unqualified promotion of using the Common Application for convenience. If you want to get into a selective school, don't use the Common Application; it will clearly lower your chance of getting accepted. The school will perceive you as too lazy to even make the effort to use the school's customized application format. "

Again, that is incorrect. Every one of the approximately 250 institutions that have agreed, in writing, to accept the Common Application pledge that such applications will be treated precisely the same as an application on the institution's own form. And in fact, based on my experience with hundreds of students and discussions with many of my fellow college counselors, the colleges abide by their pledge.

Lion writes, "Later, he promotes Canadian schools as a superior college education at a below market cost. This is a mirage. First, Canadian schools are for the most part huge (20,000 to 40,000 plus students). Their standard class size is often 100+. Their student/teacher multiple is way higher than anything you see in the U.S. Also, their out-of-country tuition has skyrocketed lately, and is often much higher than out-of-state tuition for public schools. In summary, Canadian schools don't compare well in both cost and quality vs. good public school systems like the UCs and University of Michigan."

Again, untrue. Class sizes of the most commonly taken classes at the University of California campuses are 100+. And for the vast majority of students who do not reside in California or Michigan, Canadian universities, even with out-of-country tuition, represent solid value, especially when considering quality-of-life factors such as safety and air quality.

Lion writes, "He gives completely wrong advice on Early Action. He discourages it because he thinks the admission standard is tougher than for regular admission. He is wrong. Applying Early Action gives you the equivalent of a 70-point boost on the old SAT scale."

That is simply incorrect. Early DECISION applicants have a 70-point advantage. Early ACTION applicants suffer a decrement.

Lion writes, "He overstates the case for community colleges. He states they have better professors and smaller classes than four-year institutions. Based on feedback from friends who did go to community colleges this is never the case. Community colleges are a wonderful opportunity for students who have no other opportunities for financial or academic reasons. But, they are no great shake for too many other people."

Lion uses a smattering of evidence to assert that I, who have 20+ years of experience as a college counselor, professor, and consultant to colleges, with a PhD from Berkeley in the evaluation of education, am "overstating the case." He is wrong.

Lion writes, "The Appendix B, a list of 434 colleges is useless. It is like a phone book list that is not even in alphabetical order."

Of course, it is not in alphabetical order. As I explain in the book, I deliberately placed colleges in categories to help the reader to narrow down to the type of college that would be a best fit.

Lion writes, "Additionally, based on all the mistakes he made on his short list on page 39 and 40, I would not even trust he got the name and phone numbers right of the respective schools he mentions."

Another out-of-left field criticism. I have yet to hear from one reader who has spotted even one error.

"This list is associated with no qualitative information or insight whatsoever. You have no idea if he really likes or recommends them. There is also no information to truly differentiate them except for location and estimated costs."

As I explain in the book, the list of 434 colleges consists of virtually all the schools that attract national interest--have a significant proportion of out-of-state students.

Lion writes, "His sections on career counseling and school majors are so poor they are almost laughable."

Another assertion with no basis. Here's my basis for pride in that section. The San Francisco Bay Guardian recently named me "The Bay Area's Best Career Coach." And as a college AND career counselor, among the 2,000 clients I've worked with, I enjoy a 97% client satisfaction rate. The section on choosing a major and career is a distillation of whatI've learned really works.

Lion writes, "The author's main message, lost in a sea of errors".

The book's prepublication reviewers and I have compulsively reviewed every word of the manuscript. I challenge anyone to find a "sea of errors" in this book.

I am extremely proud of the book because, except for Lion's review, I have received overwhelmingly positive feedback from parents and students. They say it truly provides everything one needs to choose, get into, find the money for, and make the most of college in 220 authoritative yet accessible pages.

I hope this Lion's unfair review will not deter you from spending the $9 on the book. I promise you'll find it very, very helpful.

This books attempts to be:
1) A college selection and admission guide;
2) A self help manual on how to thrive during your college years;
3) A financial planning guide focused on how to finance college;
4) A guide to college majors; and
5) A career counseling guide

This is four books too many. The author was clearly not able to handle this All-in-One formula. He should have focused on the first theme: a regular college selection and admission guide. This is a complex enough material for most authors and readers.

As a result of the author's strategy of Jack-of-all-trades but Masters of none, he really failed at covering any of the five topics mentioned in adequate depth. The book for the most part is devoid of any insights beyond common sense and common knowledge. In addition, the book is stuffed with typos, errors, and incorrect judgments.

For instance, on page 39 and 40 the author shares a basic list of his favorite schools. But, most of them are misclassified. He classifies the University of Chicago as a small liberal arts college. Meanwhile, it is a national university with masters and doctorate programs that liberal arts colleges do not have. On page 39, he classifies Grinnell as a good liberal arts college for B students. On the next page, he classifies the exact same school as a good school for unconventional students with a GPA of A. Well, is Grinnell a school for A or B students? The author does not know.

An example of poor judgment is his unqualified promotion of using the Common Application for convenience. If you want to get into a selective school, don't use the Common Application; it will clearly lower your chance of getting accepted. The school will perceive you as too lazy to even make the effort to use the school's customized application format.

Later, he promotes Canadian schools as a superior college education at a below market cost. This is a mirage. First, Canadian schools are for the most part huge (20,000 to 40,000 plus students). Their standard class size is often 100+. Their student/teacher multiple is way higher than anything you see in the U.S. Also, their out-of-country tuition has skyrocketed lately, and is often much higher than out-of-state tuition for public schools. In summary, Canadian schools don't compare well in both cost and quality vs. good public school systems like the UCs and University of Michigan.

He gives completely wrong advice on Early Action. He discourages it because he thinks the admission standard is tougher than for regular admission. He is wrong. Applying Early Action gives you the equivalent of a 70-point boost on the old SAT scale. For confirmation, check the excellent book "The Early Admission Game."

He overstates the case for community colleges. He states they have better professors and smaller classes than four-year institutions. Based on feedback from friends who did go to community colleges this is never the case. Community colleges are a wonderful opportunity for students who have no other opportunities for financial or academic reasons. But, they are no great shake for too many other people.

The Appendix B, a list of 434 colleges is useless. It is like a phone book list that is not even in alphabetical order. Additionally, based on all the mistakes he made on his short list on page 39 and 40, I would not even trust he got the name and phone numbers right of the respective schools he mentions. This list is associated with no qualitative information or insight whatsoever. You have no idea if he really likes or recommends them. There is also no information to truly differentiate them except for location and estimated costs.

His sections on career counseling and school majors are so poor they are almost laughable.

The author's main message, lost in a sea of errors, is that the college fit and what you will study and do in college are far more important than the college brand name. This is a true and laudable message. Unfortunately, many authors have already said it in a much more informative and convincing way than he did. These include the following ones who wrote excellent books that I do recommend:

Jay Matthews "Harvard Schmarvard"
Howard and Matthew Greene, "The Public Ivies," "Inside the Top Colleges," and "The Hidden Ivies."
Loren Pope, "Looking Beyond the Ivy League."