The College Process Explained

I have read several books about the college process and this one is by far the most useful and informative. Has lots of helpful hints and simplifies the entire process. It really explained how to start choosing potential schools and how to focus on what the child wants versus what the parents want. I loved it and have recommended it to all my friends.

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The best college guide ever!! (yes I love it and why)

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.

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The best college admisions book ever!

I give it five, but only because I can't give it a 6 or 7 or more.

I truely cannot express my love for this book any more. This is the resource you pick you pick up before consulting all others.

Sure in high school they give you pamplets and teachers tell you to 'apply for college', but this book lays the ground out very perfectly. Consider this the starting point for your college admisions job, the book tells you all the other resources you will use along the way (Fiskes, 331 Best Colleges, ect). Choosing a college, how to pay for it, getting in, and what to do while you are there- this covers it all.

I have read much of Mary Nemko's articles and his other book Cool Careers For Dummies (also a highly recomended read) and I cannot recommend him more highly. He has many years of experience and gives you relatively unknown secrets that many high school, college, and adult age people do not know. He also debunks many of the things many of the other books claim you should do. This book is more practical, straightforward, and usefuk then many of the other books.

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