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Rating: 
Summary: disappointing
Review: I bought this book about a year ago when my son was a high school senior, and was briefly considering not going directly to college. The edition I have is copyright 2000, so perhaps the content is not the same as the item listed here. But when I looked into a number of the programs listed, I found that many actually required some college, or a specific field of study, or required participants be a certain age, or turned out to be unpaid volunteer programs rather than jobs or paid internships. I'd prefer to think that the 2000 edition is simply out of date (the research was probably done five years ago, or more). But I'm reluctant to recommend this book, at least for the purpose I sought it out -- finding opportunities for high school grads who don't want to go directly to college.
Rating: 
Summary: A Down-To-Earth Look at the Possibilities Beyond College
Review: I first picked up this book when I was debating about whether or not to stay in college. Danielle Wood's witty, down-to-earth, and downright common sense is one of the things that helped me make up my mind. In a society where college is seen as the ONLY way to go if you want to succeed, and it's becoming a very expensive way to go at that, more and more people are wondering if it's really all it's cracked up to be. This is a great book because it doesn't trash college in any way. It's just a sampling of what's out there if you decide NOT to go to college. I referred back to this book when writing an article for my website titled "The Ecology of College," and it's as helpful now as it was then. When you're being pressured on all fronts to go to college, this book provides a fresh perspective by offering some healthy questioning and unbiased honesty. If I could, I'd buy a copy for every high school senior I know. This is the kind of book that might make parents a little nervous, and readers a little anxious, but ultimately it'll help you make an informed decision, which beats ignorance any day.
Rating:
Summary: A fantastic resource for the adventure-minded!
Review: Ms. Woods offers an incredibly insightful and highly worthwhile probe into the worlds awaiting all of us outside of higher education (of an academic nature). She manages to be philosophic and pragmatic at the same time, enumerating a diverse range of concrete alternatives for those of us who wish to lead an alternative life. In a world of pre-fab opportunities and lifestyles, this compendium of ideas stands out as a unique perspective for anyone seeking new ways to fill their lives with adventure and inspiration. I, for one, intend to follow several pieces of her advice, and I would like to stress that this book is a valuable resource for anyone, of any age, seeking unusual answers to the usual metaphysical questions. Thanks a million, Danielle!!!
Rating:
Summary: Educate Yourself on Alternatives
Review: The UnCollege Alternative is a great resource for those students who are in college and questioning whether or not they should be there. Ms. Wood makes an excellent point early on in the book: would you just walk into a store and point at something and say "ring it up", regardless of the cost? The author states that when students go on to college without really thinking it through as to whether or not college is for them - they are saying "ring it up" possibly for a $80,000 education. What makes The UnCollege Alternative shine is the wide variety of potential career paths the author discusses, many of which can bring in significant incomes. She discusses all aspects of each career path: needed training, certification, potential income and job market, as well as providing a sort of "day in the life of" feel. I think often students just go to college not knowing what they want to study, just going because that's what they are "supposed" to do. I recommend this book for ALL high school and current college students. Even if you decide that college is the right track for you, at least you are educated in what some alternatives are. It is important to know just what's out there before you potentially spend four years of your life and tens of thousands of dollars. Another excellent book I recommend on a similar subject is "Taking Time Off" by Colin Hall and Ron Lieber.
Rating:
Summary: the book every high schooler should be reading
Review: The UnCollege Alternative is a thoughtful, creative guide to exploring possibilities with, or without a traditional college education. It is truly a natural next step to Grace Llewellyn's classic "Teenage Liberation Handbook". Unschoolers, homeschoolers, freethinkers and those unsure about college ought to give this book a read.
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