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College Unranked: Ending the College Admissions Frenzy
Stressed and sleepless, today's high school students race from school to activities in their most competitive game of all: admission to a top-ranked, prestigious university. But is relying on magazine rankings and a vague sense of "prestige" really the best way to choose a college? Is hiring test prep teachers and consultants really the best way to shape your own education?
In this book, edited by a veteran admissions counselor, a passionate advocate for students, the presidents and admission deans of leading colleges and universities--like Dartmouth, Vanderbilt, Harvard--remind readers that college choice and admission are a matter of fit, not of winning a prize, and that many colleges are "good" in different ways. They call for bold changes in admissions policies and application strategies, to help both colleges and applicants to rediscover what college is really for. It's not just a ticket to financial success, but a once-in-a-lifetime chance to explore new worlds of knowledge.
In this book, edited by a veteran admissions counselor, a passionate advocate for students, the presidents and admission deans of leading colleges and universities--like Dartmouth, Vanderbilt, Harvard--remind readers that college choice and admission are a matter of fit, not of winning a prize, and that many colleges are "good" in different ways. They call for bold changes in admissions policies and application strategies, to help both colleges and applicants to rediscover what college is really for. It's not just a ticket to financial success, but a once-in-a-lifetime chance to explore new worlds of knowledge.
- GenresNonfiction
224 pages, Paperback
First published September 30, 2005
76 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 11, 2007
I'll admit that I started this book with a feeling of guilt that I hadn't gotten to it sooner - this series of essays came out in 2005 and this book, along with the Education Conservancy, has been a hot topic in my profession ever since. Seeing that I'm the first to review it on Goodreads, however, makes me feel a little bit better.
Much of what's covered in College Unranked won't be new to folks who work in college counseling or higher education. Everyone knows that stress and hype surrounding the college admission process has gone through the roof, aided in equal parts by the media, baby boomer parents and institutions that increasingly concentrate on marketing over actual education. The breadth of what's covered here, however, is impressive, and it's heartening to hear from all sides of the table a consistent chorus that "something needs to be done."
My favorite essay by far was from Ted O'Neill, the Dean of Admission at the University of Chicago. His total evisceration of the College Board, point by well-crafted point, was beautiful. My favorite passage comes after much discussion about how these tests are crafted, how students achieve the subsequent scores and about the increasing focus on the SAT IIs. He says (and I paraphrase a bit), "...Be born to the right parents, live in the right neighborhood, go to the right school, do a good job at your right school, and you have a good chance of succeeding (getting A's) in college...Why not just skip these tests and assume that families who can afford to live in a good school district can afford coaching and testing and re-testing, are likely to have children who will do well in college? In lieu of tests, the Board should simply become a bank, into which families deposit money to establish their child's worth. We shall have a membership commercial bank.com." And that's all before he gives a shout out to MHC's testing-optional policy!
I highly recommend this book to anyone working in education or with a child about to go through the college search process. Even if some of it feels redundant (and for this I dock it a star), it's important for us to give this situation a long, hard look. Something needs to be done and it needs to start with anyone and everyone currently involved in the process.
Much of what's covered in College Unranked won't be new to folks who work in college counseling or higher education. Everyone knows that stress and hype surrounding the college admission process has gone through the roof, aided in equal parts by the media, baby boomer parents and institutions that increasingly concentrate on marketing over actual education. The breadth of what's covered here, however, is impressive, and it's heartening to hear from all sides of the table a consistent chorus that "something needs to be done."
My favorite essay by far was from Ted O'Neill, the Dean of Admission at the University of Chicago. His total evisceration of the College Board, point by well-crafted point, was beautiful. My favorite passage comes after much discussion about how these tests are crafted, how students achieve the subsequent scores and about the increasing focus on the SAT IIs. He says (and I paraphrase a bit), "...Be born to the right parents, live in the right neighborhood, go to the right school, do a good job at your right school, and you have a good chance of succeeding (getting A's) in college...Why not just skip these tests and assume that families who can afford to live in a good school district can afford coaching and testing and re-testing, are likely to have children who will do well in college? In lieu of tests, the Board should simply become a bank, into which families deposit money to establish their child's worth. We shall have a membership commercial bank.com." And that's all before he gives a shout out to MHC's testing-optional policy!
I highly recommend this book to anyone working in education or with a child about to go through the college search process. Even if some of it feels redundant (and for this I dock it a star), it's important for us to give this situation a long, hard look. Something needs to be done and it needs to start with anyone and everyone currently involved in the process.
October 27, 2015
Wish it was more varied in terms of who speaks---perspective from someone who works for a community college would be nice. It's mostly those in elite places lambasting the elite places. But there's some good stuff here.
Michael Beseda of Saint Mary's College of California writes about the best college application essay he read in 23 years. Here it is: "I want to learn." And even though the student had mediocre grades, they accepted her because they believed her. She flourished. Beseda also quotes Eva Brann, a tutor at St John's College, who uses the term "radical inquiry" to signify learning that focuses on "the simple but deep beginnings of things." And that kind of learning can be found in many places.
Michael Beseda of Saint Mary's College of California writes about the best college application essay he read in 23 years. Here it is: "I want to learn." And even though the student had mediocre grades, they accepted her because they believed her. She flourished. Beseda also quotes Eva Brann, a tutor at St John's College, who uses the term "radical inquiry" to signify learning that focuses on "the simple but deep beginnings of things." And that kind of learning can be found in many places.
February 22, 2015
As with any collection of essays, some are stronger than others. Nevertheless, I found this to be an overall lackluster collection. Some of the essays are marginally interesting, others are existentially philosophical opinion pieces, and others are so boring I forgot them as soon as I read them. Disappointing.
December 17, 2007
Great collection of essays from big names in the 'biz'.
August 4, 2008
I found a lot of new ways to explain Hampshire (and the college process in general) through reading this. I'd encourage anyone involved in the college admissions process to at least give it a skim.
September 17, 2012
very revealing and very helpful if you are sending a kid off to college I recommend this book it opened my eyes to the marketing hype and seemingly profit motivations of the College Board
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews