Reading List

Recommended 2006 College Reading List
Annotated by John B. Boshoven

Antonoff, S.R., (1999). The College Finder, New York, NY, Fawcett Books, The Ballentine Publishing Group.
This little gem serves my students as the book of college trivia, from kosher kitchens to ping pong and debate championships. Arranged by school or topically.

Antonoff, S.R., & Friedmann, M.A..(2006). College Match, 9th Edition, Alexandria, Virginia, Octameron Books*
150 page ultra-practical step-by-step guide for the college bound student and family.

Asher, D. (2000). Cool Colleges for the Hyper-Intelligent, Self Directed, Late Blooming, and Just Plain Different, Toronto, Ten Speed Press
A nice guide for those “out-of-the-box-ers.�

Barrons Profiles of American Colleges, (2005). 26th Edition, Hauppaugh, NY, Barrons Publications.
One of a host of yearly compendiums (Petersons, College Board, Princeton Review, to name a few) which give general statistics and overviews of college and students.

Boshoven, J, (2005). McIntosh University vs. Burlington College: The College Search (AKA: College is like a Coat...), Lansing MI, Michigan Counseling Association, Quest, Volume 39 Issue 3, Fall.

Coburn, K.L.& Treeger, M. L (1997). Letting Go: A Parent’s Guide to Understanding the College Years, New York, Harper-Collins.
The classic book which helps our parents (and students) identify and deal with all the emotional issues of separation and change as college looms.

Dance Magazine College Guide. (2001) 10th Edition, Oakland, California.
For our dancers, this is a helpful annual (look for newer edition) guide of programs and contacts.

Directory of Canadian Universities (2006). 40th Edition, Ottawa, Ontario, AUCC Publications.
A dry but complete listing of programs at Canadian universities.

Everett, C.J. & Topaz, M., (1998). Guide to Performing Arts Programs, New York, Princeton Review, Random House
For our singers, dancers, and thespians a guide to assist in finding summer programs and college options. Look for a newer edition.
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Fiske, E. B. & Hammond, B.G., (2005). What to do When for College: A Student and Parents Guide.to the Deadlines, Planning and the Last Two Years of High School, Naperville, IL, Sourcebooks.
For those students needing definite structure in accomplishing the tasks needed to accomplish the college application process, this little guide can definitely help.

Fiske, E. B., The Fiske Guide to Colleges (2006). Naperville, IL, Sourcebooks.
This annual guide written by the former Education Writer for the New York Times, it’s my favorite source for looking at great US and Canadian colleges and universities.

Fiske, E. B. & Hammond, B.G, (2001). Getting into the Right College, 2nd Edition, Naperville, IL, Sourcebooks 1, 2, 3, 5
A beach-read, this work is written in a practical, sensible manner, allowing students to examine themselves and picking types of colleges that may “match� them best.
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Franek, R. et.al, (2003). The Best Midwestern Colleges: 150 Great Schools to Consider, New York, NY., Princeton Review, Random House, Inc.
A companion to the Fiske Guide, these regional books describe the student and academic life of a wider range of less and more selective regional colleges and universities.

Greene, R., (2001). The Teenager’s Guide to School Outside the Box, Minneapolis, MN, Free Spirit Publishing.
My “free-spirits� appreciate a book that attempts to engage them in the college process. One student beamed, “you mean there is a college just right for liberal me?�

Hall, C. & Lieber, R. (1996). Taking Time Off: Inspired Stories of Students Who Enjoyed Successful Breaks From College and How To Plan Your Own, New York, The Noonday Press, Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
Not every student is ready to launch off to college. This books offers good rationale and options for spending productive time between high school and college.

Hammond, B.G., (2005). Discounts and Deals at the Nation’s 360 Best Colleges, New York, NY, St. Martin’s Griffin.
College is expensive, and our families need help pointing them at possible scholarships.

The High School Athlete’s Guide to College Sports: How to Market Yourself to the School of your Dreams, (2005). Lanham, MD, Taylor Trade Publishing.
Another useful guide for the high school athlete helping families equip for the complexities of their applications to college.

Index of Majors and Graduate Degrees, (2004). 26th Edition. New York, NY. The College Board.
What college offers what major? The complete list by subject relates to the college search engine on the College Board’s website.

Insiders Guide to the Colleges, (2005). 31st Edition, Yale Daily News, New York, NY, St. Martin’s Griffin.
Students like the “gritty� social life reviews, but counselors find the reviews inconsistent and slanted.

Killpatrick, F&J, (2002). 7th Edition, The Winning Edge: The Student-Athlete’s Guide to College Sports, Alexandria, VA, Octamaron Books*.
Athletes have more work to applying to college but also have some definite advantages in admission. This handy guide will help in making sure you’ve thought of everything.

Kravets, M.B., and Wax, I.F (2003). The K&W Guide to Colleges for the Learning Disabled, 7th Edition, New York, NY, Princeton Review, Random House.
My “Bible� for students who learn differently. Finding appropriate support at college can be the difference between success and failure.

Leider, A, (2005). Don’t Miss Out: The Ambitious Student’s Guide to Financial Aid, 30th Edition, Alexandria, VA, Octamaron Books*.
There’s money out there for students willing to work to find it. Here’s a helpful start.

Leider, A, (2000). I Am Somebody: College Knowledge for At-Risk Students, 9th Edition, Alexandria, VA, Octamaron Books*.
A friendly little guide for students wondering if college is appropriate.

Leider, A, (2005). The A’s & B’s of Academic Scholarships, 25th Edition, Alexandria, VA, Octamaron Books*.
Merit scholarships are available at many colleges and universities. Anna Leider provides a helpful and manageable listing.

Mathews, J, (2003). Harvard Schmarvard: Getting Beyond the Ivy League to the College That’s Best For You, New York, Prima Publishing, Random House.
The education writer for the Washington Post restates Loren Pope’s points well.

Mayher, B (1998). The College Admissions Mystique, New York, NU, Noonday Press.
The psychology of college admissions marketing, this expose reveals Brown’s strategies for becoming the “hot� Ivy League college.

Maclean’s Guide to Canadian Universities, (2006). Toronto, Ontario, Rogers Publishing, Limited.
Although the rankings are suspect, the program descriptions are valuable.

Pasisk, P., (1998). Almost Grown: Launching Your Child From High School To College, New York, WW Norton & Company.
My favorite “dealing-with-emotions book”, Pat chronicles her family’s angst in preparing for the launch to college.

Pintoff, E., (1994). The Complete Guide to American Film Schools and Cinema and Television Courses, New York, Penguin Books.
Although dated, it provides a good description of the various options for these arty, more hands-on learners.

Pope, L. (2000). Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools You Should Know About Even if You’re Not a Staight-A-Student*. Revised Edition, New York NY, Penguin Books.
Required reading for my students and families, Pope examines the fit of colleges and the mission of state universities and private colleges. 40 schools are examined. A 3rd edition is scheduled for Fall, ‘06.

Pope, L. (1995). Looking Beyond the Ivy League: Finding the College That’s Right for You, New York, NY, Penguin Books.
Pope’s “research� about colleges and the difference they can make if the right “fit� is there. A revised edition is scheduled for Winter, 06-7.

Professional Degree Programs in the Visual and Performing Arts, (2002). Lawrenceville, NJ, Peterson’s-Thomson.
A more-specific guide for our artists and performers.

Re, J.M., (2005). 17th Edition, Financial Aid Financer: Expert Answers to College Financing Questions, Alexandria, VA, Octamaron Books*.
Parents get nervous about the costs of college. Here’s a handy book to guide them to find money that may be available to them to help.

Ripple, G.G., (2001). 9th Edition, Campus Pursuit: Making the Most of Your Visit and Interview, Alexandria, VA, Octamaron Books*.
A helpful guide to better “kicking of the tires� and making the most of a campus visit.

Rubenstone, S. & Dalby, S., (2002). College Admissions: A Crash Course for Panicked Parents, 3rd Edition, Lawrenceville, NY ARCO Books, Peterson’s-Thomson.
A sensible guide for families wondering what to do and when. I recommend it to all my families. It’s not about panic, but rather preparation.

Rugg, F. E., (2006). Rugg’s Recommendations on the Colleges, 23rd Edition, Fallbrook, CA.
This trade publication can help counselors get college lists started for students with particular academic interests.

Steinberg, J., (2002). The Gatekeepers: Inside the Admissions Process of a Premier College, New York, NY, Penguin Books.
Not for the faint of heart, this scary book highlights the subjective world of the admissions office of Wesleyan University but applicaple to many.

Suskind, R., (1999). A Hope in the Unseen: An American Odyssey from the Inner City to the Ivy League, New York, Broadway Books.
This sensitive book follows a 1st generation African-American student to an Ivy League college.

Thacker, L., (2004). College Unranked: Affirming Educational Values in College Admissions, Portland, Oregon, The Education Conservancy
This college admissions world is crazy…it’s not just you. Listen to seasoned admissions folks putting it all into perspective.

Wildavsky, B., (2004). Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Teacher, Naperville, IL, Sourcebooks.
A helpful listing of teacher-preparation programs in colleges and universities.

*Note: The Octomeron Series features 16 handy and inexpensive guides covering various college counseling questions. The complete set is available at a discount at http://www.octameron.com