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on August 12, 2016
I think this book's value is that it opens eyes and reminds people that there are different values to the college experience. I have seen some of these schools in person and attended one of them, and they truly are a higher caliber as liberal arts colleges go. For those who are looking for a high quality education that doesn't involve a generic and predictable route (whether the route is the hackneyed Ivy League "experience" or the typically overpacked state school) this is a refreshing reminder that the world is not flat. May do a lot of kids a lot of good! My only complaint is that the private school is a main focus, whereas there certainly are some public schools that are just as good an opportunity if not always so lavish. The surrounding off-campus community can also have a great deal to offer a college student, and can inherently add advantage to schools that didn't make the cut in this book.
My other beef is that a lot of the outlook about a school will come from the college's president or another chosen administrator.... For every bit of higher quality information, the quotes from such people detracts from Pope's argument for a school. The budget of a student is not necessarily given a high priority either, Hard facts readily available and published in multiple reliable college search books show the exiting debt levels for the average graduate of certain schools (like Univ of Puget Sound) to be extremely high, and percentages of employment within a certain time frame to be relatively low. College isn't all about getting that piece of paper to get a job, but some of the schools showcased in the book are extremes in pricing at this time. Should that be ideal, or rewarded? Extreme debt can certainly "change lives" after graduation. Teens, especially, looking at schools may not fully understand just how hard it can be once the diploma is in hand and the loan payments begin.
This is a good launching point to considering the world of colleges out there, but it shouldn't be the final word.
My other beef is that a lot of the outlook about a school will come from the college's president or another chosen administrator.... For every bit of higher quality information, the quotes from such people detracts from Pope's argument for a school. The budget of a student is not necessarily given a high priority either, Hard facts readily available and published in multiple reliable college search books show the exiting debt levels for the average graduate of certain schools (like Univ of Puget Sound) to be extremely high, and percentages of employment within a certain time frame to be relatively low. College isn't all about getting that piece of paper to get a job, but some of the schools showcased in the book are extremes in pricing at this time. Should that be ideal, or rewarded? Extreme debt can certainly "change lives" after graduation. Teens, especially, looking at schools may not fully understand just how hard it can be once the diploma is in hand and the loan payments begin.
This is a good launching point to considering the world of colleges out there, but it shouldn't be the final word.
on April 15, 2015
Pope's first chapter is a well-argued plea for society to stop focusing on ranking and selectivity, and instead to care about the quality of instruction and the likelihood that the college experience will be powerful and transformational. That's hard work - and it can require intense, personal conversations with faculty - and so small, liberal-arts colleges have the best chance of providing such a catalyst experience. (Publics are too large and Ivy-type Professors are rewarded for publishing not teaching) The book does have some flaws. The schools he mentions are ones you have never or barely ever heard about. This is no virtue... I disagree that brand does not matter; brand does matter for example when resumes are screened or for networking. Does he believe that these 40 are actively better than highly selective small colleges like Amherst, Bates, Wesleyan, Swarthmore? Next, the 40 write-ups are all gushing brochures and feel one-sided. Such unanimity of praise also makes it hard to compare among the schools he cites. Finally, there is no table of data to help you narrow down. So you can't easily see SAT scores for example, and more interesting would have been e.g. schools well suited for urban vs. rural, or English vs. engineering, or better suited for certain types of students. So if you do want to choose 1 of these 40 schools, it's not easy to decide which or to prioritize your own time. Prepare to spend hours digesting details of educational programs before you can tease out the nuances. Ultimately though, this book is a great service and well suited for a B/B+ student with SATs (reading and math) of about 1100-1300, who is willing to trade reputation and football stadiums for the chance to actually interact with Professors who care about the student's personal and intellectual growth. For such students, this book could be life-changing.
on August 21, 2015
another super college guide which takes you out of the chronic US(eless) News lists and into schools that are designed not to impress with names but with learning. a great way to find a school which is a right fit for a kid. i've used it with my students and with my own son as well. it's a great way to find a place that makes you happy rather than a place that makes others happy.
on March 17, 2009
As a career coach for college-bound students, I recommend Loren Pope's book to my clients, but not as a guide to specific schools. What is most worthwhile is Pope's well-articulated point of view that college is not an exercise in grabbing the prestigious brass ring, or getting one's ticket punched for a first job. It is something much more...
College is an integral part of the personal and professional development that a young adult needs to experience in our sophisticated, complex society. It is a "laboratory" for nurturing academic passion, developing genuine appreciation for a broad range of liberal arts subjects, gaining firsthand experience in research, scholarship and leadership.
College is not a ticket for an already perfect, accomplished student. It is a transformative experience to help a student become an even more focused, contributing professional adult.
Pope clearly lays out the case that many elite graduate oriented schools do not create a transformative environment for undergrads, and therefore do not offer much value to college students except for "brand name" prestige. In contrast, there are many educational institutions out there, some well known, some not, that place more emphasis on the undergrad experience. That is the kind of atmosphere you should seek out if you are an undergraduate!
There is plenty of time later to "get your ticket punched" at a prestigious graduate school, particularly if you perform well and gain valuable hands-on experience during college. But Loren Pope is sayng, get through those formative years first, and have something meaningful to show for it.
I would not simply make these 40 schools into one's college list. You need to check out every school for yourself, especially through visits, to ensure a school is a suitable match for you. But adopting Loren Pope's attitude toward the value of the undergraduate experience is a great place to start.
-Kris Hintz, [...]
College is an integral part of the personal and professional development that a young adult needs to experience in our sophisticated, complex society. It is a "laboratory" for nurturing academic passion, developing genuine appreciation for a broad range of liberal arts subjects, gaining firsthand experience in research, scholarship and leadership.
College is not a ticket for an already perfect, accomplished student. It is a transformative experience to help a student become an even more focused, contributing professional adult.
Pope clearly lays out the case that many elite graduate oriented schools do not create a transformative environment for undergrads, and therefore do not offer much value to college students except for "brand name" prestige. In contrast, there are many educational institutions out there, some well known, some not, that place more emphasis on the undergrad experience. That is the kind of atmosphere you should seek out if you are an undergraduate!
There is plenty of time later to "get your ticket punched" at a prestigious graduate school, particularly if you perform well and gain valuable hands-on experience during college. But Loren Pope is sayng, get through those formative years first, and have something meaningful to show for it.
I would not simply make these 40 schools into one's college list. You need to check out every school for yourself, especially through visits, to ensure a school is a suitable match for you. But adopting Loren Pope's attitude toward the value of the undergraduate experience is a great place to start.
-Kris Hintz, [...]
on July 21, 2016
This book was highly recommended to parents by the director of college counseling at my kids' private boarding school where they take the college search VERY seriously! She encouraged students and parents to look at the colleges in this book as they may not be "big name" but stressed that a good fit and what the child takes away from their college experience are more important. It wasn't meant as a put down of the more prestigious schools but rather that there are a lot of great schools that are often overlooked because they lack the big name (and price tag!). Colleges That Change Lives is broken into different regions of the country, which really helped us since my children didn't want to go far away. At first I was disappointed that some regions don't have many colleges listed but I changed my mind on that since it wasn't the purpose of the book; the focus was intended to be the United States as a whole. I like that there are lots of quotes from students and that the book zeroes in on what is unique about each college. I really got a sense of what is special about each of these schools and several ended up on my children's lists that wouldn't have if we hadn't read this book. Even if the student doesn't attend one of the featured institutions, they will have a clearer idea of what they want in a school and will probably cross some off their list because they no longer seem like a good fit.
on April 9, 2017
Some good information, but mainly justifying enormous costs of small liberal arts colleges. The book is not critical or comparative. It offered very little help in choosing a college for my son. Interesting, but not much help!
on August 27, 2006
I have a daughter ready to apply to colleges this fall and have found this book very helpful in planning and sorting through the myriad of information out there.
What I liked: Understanding the administration's vision, including teaching personnel's qualifications and the number of qualified competent undergraduates that each school can turn out is very helpful.
What this book doesn't tell you is the underlying student culture, the nuances of the location and the freshman return rate and other important considerations. So some of these schools sound absolutely too good to be true, but when you additionally use other resources to learn about the school's geographic location, what students say about their school, etc., you get a better picture of the college in it's entirety.
I commend the author who is investigating each college to discover the best intellectual powerhouses out there. In the end, it's the applying senior from high school that has to figure out which college or university is going to provide the best supportive and enriching environment in which to truly learn and grow!
Definitely get this book but do not use it solely to make your decision to attend a particular college named in this book.
What I liked: Understanding the administration's vision, including teaching personnel's qualifications and the number of qualified competent undergraduates that each school can turn out is very helpful.
What this book doesn't tell you is the underlying student culture, the nuances of the location and the freshman return rate and other important considerations. So some of these schools sound absolutely too good to be true, but when you additionally use other resources to learn about the school's geographic location, what students say about their school, etc., you get a better picture of the college in it's entirety.
I commend the author who is investigating each college to discover the best intellectual powerhouses out there. In the end, it's the applying senior from high school that has to figure out which college or university is going to provide the best supportive and enriching environment in which to truly learn and grow!
Definitely get this book but do not use it solely to make your decision to attend a particular college named in this book.
on September 4, 2011
This book is a worthy read for any parent or prospective student that wants to consider a different perspective on a college education. 40 schools outside the ivy league are featured and their merits explored. Introductory material is designed to dispel a few myths and challenge traditional views about what path results in the best education or greatest success afterward. After reading this book, I hope my daughter chooses one of these schools. Had it been available to me before I embarked on my own education I would likely have taken a different path myself.
on December 22, 2014
This is an incredibly helpful guide for the college search. It has been useful in providing details on multiple colleges and describing their pros and cons in a way that gives us a real sense of each. I also appreciate Pope's recommendations about how to make sense of the college decision and some less traditional criteria to consider in the decision making. The college decision is my children's and this book has been a helpful handbook in that process.
Dr. Tracy Brower, Author of Bring Work to Life by Bringing Life to Work: A Guide for Leaders and Organizations
Dr. Tracy Brower, Author of Bring Work to Life by Bringing Life to Work: A Guide for Leaders and Organizations
