Looking Beyond the Ivy League: Finding the College That's Right for You

I am a parent of two college students, who both attend the same smaller Midwestern University, and am starting the search with our third son. I have read extensively on the topic because it's interesting and very important. I buy-in to Loren Pope's premise that small liberal arts colleges can provide an educational experience that is better than larger research universities (which I attended) and Ivy schools. He cites believable reasons for the advantages of the small college experience. His strong advocacy for these small colleges is valuable because it can help students to consider many great schools that they may not otherwise consider. For this reason alone, I recommend this book. His advice on how to research schools in a rigorous way and ask the important questions further strengthens the book's value. His application and interview advice is also helpful. His contrarian views and thoughtful ideas will help the reader think differently about choosing a college. With so many books on choosing colleges that contribute so little insight to the process, it's worth noting that this book stands out. The strong foundation and compelling central idea, however, are undermined by three issues that diminish the practicality and credibility of the book.First, I am not convinced that the author has proven his case. While inclined to agree with his premise, I did not find his argument persuasive. Yes, students probably get better teaching at a small liberal arts college. He cites a quote by a former Ivy administrator at least four times as evidence that the most prestigious schools fail in their mission. To help my son make a good decision, I need more than redundant anecdotes. His negative perception of the Ivies is based on his extensive experience and a few very old quotes (as another reviewer points out) of challenges faced by Ivy grads from the 50's. While I respect his experience and passion for small colleges, he doesn't provide the critical reader with enough evidence to believe his case. Other than his continual assertions that an Ivy education is overrated and that the teachers only care about their research, I did not take-away many tangible reasons why attending these prestigious institutions provides such a poor college experience. My Ivy league friends would testify otherwise.Second, I'm not clear on whether the author thinks that there is a preferred list of small colleges that are "best" or whether he advocates for most small colleges. He is clear on his "favorites", and these represent the "grade A" schools he touts, but how does the student know which of the hundreds of small schools make the grade? What about smaller universities? Do some of them provide an excellent education? I'm convinced that this is true from my older two sons. He does provide excellent questions that should be asked at any college, but the book doesn't provide enough guidance to inform the reader of the key considerations for identifying the strongest small colleges. For this reason, the book is not as practical as the reader would hope.Third, if you are going to read the book, and I think you should, be aware that it is loaded with assertions that are stated as if they are fact. I continually found myself either agreeing or disagreeing with the points being made. This means that you'll often have your own biases confirmed, which while always comforting, it doesn't necessarily help you make more informed decisions. And when you disagree, there aren't any citations or sources to help you probe deeper. I agree with another reviewer that many points need to "be taken with a grain of salt."On the whole, this book provides a valuable perspective that will help students and parents think more broadly and intelligently about the college search. Just make sure you keep doing your research to find the right school rather than relying too heavily on one source.

When I was a parent of a senior, I became engulfed with the gossip and happenings of college admissions. It really became a chronic habit to ask others about their child's latest quests. And, when I investigated, I started with this book - start with the best.There are many other good books with clever names. But after reading most of those, I would always return to this book.I may know more than the average person about the topic. I had applied to schools at various levels. My siblings had too. We had attended good to great schools. And, our father was a professor at two major universities -- those with ivy on their walls.When I read this book, a bulb lit. That epiphany reminded me of that one clear day in my childhood when I thought my father was not nearly as dumb as my teenage attitude knew him to be, and I had the nerve to ask him, "Dad, where are the best students for your graduate studies coming from -- name the schools." He immediately spat out many of the small ivies in the northeast. I did not want that as mother would be too close. Then he said these strange words, "Grinnell, MacAllister, Carleton, U Chicago, Pomona, Pitzer, Occidental . . ." Loren Pope would agree - one hundred percent.I then knew dear old dad was not so dumb after all. And, neither was Loren Pope when he delivered this grand endorsement of the liberal arts education.This book tells you why small liberal arts schools are not second fiddle to the larger and better known universities. The well known liberal arts schools are pearls. They are where Ph.D.'s go to teach. And the students, through that amazing nuturing process, mature to become much better minds than when they walked their first steps on the campus grounds. They are truly "learning institutions."Liberal arts schools epitomize the concept of higher education. And, many have become so beloved by their alumni that tuitions are not as forbidding as they may have been in the years of sweater-clad bobby-socked coeds. Many of the schools loved by Pope are so well endowed that they are "need blind" with their admissions. Perfect admissions concepts at what are deemed nearly perfect learning environments.His simple advice -- the ivies (for undergraduate) are overrated and liberal arts schools are either underrated (those we know about) or HIGHLY underrated (those we know little if nothing about).Chock full of statistics and years of experience, Pope basically created a new image for many liberal arts schools. He is the Don for arguing the merits to liberal arts education. He unfortunately died recently, and should probably have a scholarship named after him at most of the liberal arts schools in America. He is the progenitor of liberal arts educational superiority. His written beliefs were contrarian to the ivy state. He was the original. This book was the original's original publication of these beliefs. This is the bible of why liberal arts education is one of America's greatest resources.

Anyone who buys this book has an open mind about applying to small Colleges that are not counted as IVY or nearly IVY. The descriptions and info of the 40 colleges is brief and lacks depth. There is a let down at the end of the book . Does not live upto its promise .