Harvard Schmarvard: Getting Beyond the Ivy League to the College That Is Best for You
Jay Matthews
$14.95
Three Rivers Press
ISBN: 978-0-7615-3695-6 (0-7615-3695-7)

Jay Matthews is a Harvard grad and an education reporter for the Washington Post. He believes there will be something wrong with any school you choose—because not even Harvard is perfect.  His advice is to forget about the brand-name colleges. The first section of the book explains why an Ivy League education is not necessarily the key to a successful life. The remainder focuses on what really matters at college. 

The tone of Matthew’s book is friendly. He stresses the importance of finding a college that “fits” the student. From the importance of SAT scores to marching through the quad, Harvard Schmarvard is a book that tells parents and prospective students to relax. The book concludes with a listing of “100 underappreciated colleges.” 

 

Fiske Guide to Colleges 2008
Edward Fiske
$22.95
Sourcebooks, Inc.
ISBN13: 9781402208362

Our copy is dog-eared and marked with yellow highlights. One of the easiest to read of all the college guides, this one offers descriptions of the schools that are accurate, informative, and packed with facts. Readers can quickly scan the average ACT and SAT scores or zoom in on the strongest departments within each college. The Best Buys of 2008 is a solid place to begin if you are looking for a bargain. A great companion book is the Fiske Guide to Getting into the Right College.

 

Colleges that Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About College
Loren Pope
Penguin Group (USA)
ISBN: 0143037366

Forget about name brand schools and begin the search with 40 schools that change lives. Loren Pope, the former New York Times editor, has hand-picked colleges with a sense of community, values and graduates that believed the school changed their lives for the better. Pope believes that smaller colleges offer the most intimate education. The book describes in detail why a school offers an individualized college experience. Colleges that Change Lives (CTCL) hosts free events across the country. For more information, visit the website www.ctcl.com.

 

The Naked Roommate: And 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into in College
By Harlan Cohen
$14.95
Sourcebooks
ISBN: 1402203373

Adjusting to college life will be a whole lot easier and funnier if you read this book before your freshman year. The “Dear Abbey” of the college bound, Harlan Cohen addresses the issues that really matter in college, from the “lying, stealing, klepto roommate” to joining a study group, living in a dorm and getting an “A.” The book is a collection of stories from college students across the country. Packed with useful tips, this book has advice on everything from doing the laundry to meeting friends. The Naked Roommate should be required summer reading for every graduating high school senior.

 

The Ultimate College Acceptance System: Everything You Need to Know to Get into the Right College for You
By Danny Ruderman
$19.95
St. Martin’s Press
ISBN-13: 9780312355173

Compact and conversational, the Ultimate College Acceptance System addresses getting organized, selecting colleges, completing the applications, writing essays, applying for financial aid, visiting college campuses, and interviewing tips. The author has compiled a book that is useful for high school students and their parents. The book comes with a CD that links you to colleges, provides sample resumes, and gives an extensive list of schools that do not require standardized tests.

 

U.S. News Ultimate College Guide 2008
By Staff US News and World Report
$28.95
Sourcebooks
ISBN: 9781402210464

If you are looking at colleges, you’ve probably looked at U.S. News and World Report’s rankings. This book is the companion to the magazine, “America’s Best Colleges” that lists the college rankings. The book profiles 1,400 colleges, so you’re bound to find a fit. You can compare colleges based on selectivity, which ones provide the most merit awards, and review schools whose graduates have the most and least debt. With 1,737 pages of facts and tips, this book is the one-stop-shopping guide to colleges.