Cool Colleges: For the Hyper-Intelligent, Self-Directed, Late Blooming, and Just Plain Different

by Donald Asher

Fully revised since the first edition, Cool Colleges  covers the most exciting schools in the U.S. and Canada, with a new chapter on eco schools, an update on tuition-free schools, and the total low-down on the so-called top-ranked schools.

"Worth a look, if you're headed for college or getting ready to apply."— San Diego Union Tribune

Are you hyper-intelligent? Self-directed? A late-bloomer? Or just different? Then you need a great school that will challenge, nurture, inspire, and motivate you-and Cool Colleges has got 'em. It will also give you the scoop

   • What the Ivy league is and what it really wants
   •  Totally free schools , including one where financial need is a requirement for admission
   • Universities that don't give grades
   • Schools that don't want your SAT scores
   • Data on the highest (and lowest) paying majors
   • The schools that graduate the most millionaires
   • Men's, women's, and minority-focused colleges
   • Schools where you can design your own degree program
   • A college where you can hike and camp your way to a degree
   • A college that runs its own ranch on an 80-square-mile campus
   • Science and engineering schools where undergrads get their own labs
   • The most competitive colleges, including one that rejects 95% of applicants
   • Campuses where students love to study, even on Saturday nights
   • Schools that offer programs in computer game studies, comedy, auctioneering, special-effects makeup, and more

Plus a link to the Web addresses for every college and university in the United States and Canada.

Cool Colleges  is the resource for finding your dream school-and gives you the edge you'll need to get accepted.

Genres: Nonfiction, Education, College

304 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2000

Reviews

[Eowyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted this to be a list of interesting, cool colleges that aren't as well known with descriptions maybe in different categories. Instead, a very few colleges are profiled extensively in the different categories and then it also lists like every other college out there! The author seems to think that having every accredited college listed is a plus--I just want the obscure cool ones. And in the engineering section, the schools are the ones you already know that are impossible to get into. There is a list of others that are less known, but without descriptions. So I was disappointed. Also, this second edition is already over 10 years old and is laid out in this weird, confusing way--bad graphic design. Still I found some useful info, I guess.

[Peter Stern · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of scraps of paper with very interesting perspective, notes, factoids pasted together in a hard-to-figure-out definitely not linear narrative.

[Brent Barnard · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you know anyone who is approaching the decision of where to go to college, I HIGHLY recommend this book. Actually, for anyone, it's great just learning about all the fascinating types of colleges there are out there. Of course, the best decision for most folks would be to go to a small Christian liberal arts college, but if you go anywhere else, you should check out the creative options Asher discusses. And he's funny, too! Hilarous! I wish he'd write another book on colleges!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun and different look at choosing a college. The author has a real sense of humor and along with interesting information, has included some very funny material. We didn't find a LOT of new colleges to look at but did find some corroborating information.

[Whitney · Rating 2 out of 5]

exciting stuff!

[Rosanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish I would have read this when I was 14, 15 or 16. I had no idea there were so many different choices for college.

[Jacqui · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have a child that learns differently or wants more than the traditional college campus experience, this book is for you.