Harvard Schmarvard: Getting Beyond the Ivy League to the College That Is Best for You

by Jay Mathews

Smarten Up—It's Time to Choose the Right College
Think that your life's growth, success, and happiness depend on which college you attend? The higher-profile school, the better, right? Wrong! Neither is true.
Written by, yes, a Harvard grad, Harvard Schmarvard rebuts the perception that image is everything when it comes to college and emphasizes this simple What you will be measured by in life is your talent and energy, not your college's name. Packed with practical information and insider tips, this must-have guide will help you determine which school fits you. Inside, you'll
·How to survive the application process without losing your sanity or sense of humor
·Tips on writing essays, visiting campuses, and keeping cool during your college interviews
·The truth about search letter scams and the early admissions game
·Plus loads of other invaluable insight!
So take a deep breath and exhale your worries and fears. Let Harvard Schmarvard debunk the myths, expose you to the truth, and clear your mind so you can weigh what's really important.

Genres: Education, College, Nonfiction

304 pages, Paperback

First published March 11, 2003

Reviews

[Rae · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a well written and informative book. However, it's a little dated by now, although the overall strategies and advice still hold up. About halfway through the book, however, I realized I was not really the target audience for it. Most of the examples he used as alternatives to Ivies are still super selective schools that are frequently as difficult to get into as the Ivies. In addition, most of the students he profiles come from elite private high schools and very rigorous public schools from high end DC and NYC suburbs who are high performing, high achieving. Book is useful if you fit that demographic, but only in a broader more general way if you don't. The list of 100 schools he provides was interesting.

[penelopewanders · Rating 3 out of 5]

More college advising background information.
Worth reading, I suppose, although I didn't think much of the way it's written and found it repetitive at times. Nothing really earth-shatteringly new. As opposed to Loren Pope, Mathews favors larger schools.
Final list of 100 schools a bit haphazard and I'm not sure I'd put much weight in what one advisor at some obscure high school said... presumably there were more opinions behind the recommendations, but that's not how it feels. More harmony in the assessment would have been helpful too - how many students, strong majors, etc. Sometimes the information was there, often not.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recommended to me by the admissions director of a top notch liberal arts college as his favorite guide, this book simplifies the college admissions process, cuts through needless hysteria, and helps families focus on what matters (goodness of fit) and what doesn't (name value). It is a good general overview that you can pair with a more specific guide that describes individual institutions by area of interest, etc.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this when Max was getting ready to look for colleges. It really was a wake up call to help Max think about what works for him and not just what society sees as "the best".

[Butch Hamilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the few how-to college books that I would recommend for high school students. Insightful and funny. Be sure to read Jay Mathews Washington Post articles.