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Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About Colleges

Description

Now fully revised—the perennially popular guide to choosing the right college

Prospective college students and their parents have been relying on Loren Pope’s expertise since 1995, when he published the first edition of this indispensable guide. This new edition profiles 41 colleges—all of which outdo the Ivies and research universities in producing performers, not only among A students but also among those who get Bs and Cs. Contents include:

• Evaluations of each school’s program and "personality"
• Candid assessments by students, professors, and deans
• Information on the progress of graduates

This new edition not only revisits schools listed in previous volumes to give readers a comprehensive assessment, it also addresses such issues as homeschooling, learning disabilities, and single-sex education.

Reviews

Rating: 5 / 5
Date: 2010-08-29
Summary: "Changes the way you think about college"

From my experience, there is much wisdom in Pope's book. I teach at a small LAC - though not one of the ones Pope mentions in the book - and see the many benefits students have in this kind of setting. The kind of advantages at the kind of institutions Pope describes are many: collaborative education, strong connections to professors, opportunities to do research, and the chance for students of all abilities to shine as leaders. When my oldest son was exploring colleges 5 years ago, we turned to Pope's book for guidance. He has Asperger's syndrome, and he found a great home at one of the midwestern colleges Pope profiled. He had a terrific support system, mentors, developed great friendships, and thrived academically. At my son's CTCL institution, and at my own, I see a similar pattern: students learning to think, write, and function in the world of work through internships and community-based learning, translating those experiences into solid entry-level jobs or admission to the top tier of public and private graduate schools. I don't think you have to follow Pope's book as an absolute guide - there are plenty of other fine institutions that are not in his book that merit our attention and will provide excellent educations. I did not attend a LAC - instead a larger, private university where I never found my social or academic niche - but am so pleased to have the chance to now work at a LAC and engage and relate with students in a way that transforms both our lives.

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Rating: 3 / 5
Date: 2010-08-14
Summary: "Mostly East of the Mississippi"

Overall, an interesting read, and if one planned to buy 4 or 5 books to help in the college choice process, then I would suggest that this be part of that group. That said, I felt the choice of colleges was somewhat quirky, and more importantly, focuses mostly on colleges east of the Mississippi River. There are NO colleges included from California, which strikes me as particularly odd.

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Rating: 1 / 5
Date: 2010-06-22
Summary: "Dissatisfied with the result"

As a college student who read this book and now study at the first college to which Pope attends, I can say I dislike my school very much. Thanks a lot Loren Pope.

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Rating: 5 / 5
Date: 2010-06-04
Summary: "Start thinking about college here"

We bought both the old and new versions of this book and really enjoyed the perspectives Loren Pope gives. I suggest this is a great starting point when your child is in middle school or early high school to get you to look at a little broader view of colleges. Even if you don't attend one of these schools, the information helps you think outside the box about what you really want to get out of college and what will best suit you. Mr. Pope died in 2008 at the age of 98 so you can't follow him on a social media site, but his books/writings are well worth the read. Two thumbs up!

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Rating: 4 / 5
Date: 2010-03-28
Summary: "Great doing business with you"

There were no surprises with this transaction. The book was as described and arrived in the expected time frame. Would buy again from this seller without any hesitation.