Guide to the Most Competitive Colleges

Rating:
Summary: a waste of money
Review: even though different people wrote each one, every entry in this book reads basically the same, thereby making it pretty much useless. also, as a guide to "elite" colleges it is quite inaccurate, including a few rather mediocre schools while strangely excluding some very top ones (such as Oberlin). Save your money and buy Fiske's, which is the best all-around college guide.

Rating:
Summary: it's definately a book
Review: i just want to say, that i like that this book mentions prominent graduates from some of these top schools. in fact, in the lehigh section, they talk about me going through a combined medical program. however, in the actual lehigh section, they don't even talk about the combined program. it's not really helpful for people who want to get on the fast track to medical school from high school. those people should check out From High School to Med. School: The Definitive Guide to Accelerated Medical Schools (talk about a great book!). i can't really blame barron's because hardly any college books mention these prestigous programs. though, for non-pre-meds who are interested in the top schools, barrons is a good book.

Rating:
Summary: it's definately a book
Review: i just want to say, that i like that this book mentions prominent graduates from some of these top schools. in fact, in the lehigh section, they talk about me going through a combined medical program. however, in the actual lehigh section, they don't even talk about the combined program. it's not really helpful for people who want to get on the fast track to medical school from high school. those people should check out From High School to Med. School: The Definitive Guide to Accelerated Medical Schools (talk about a great book!). i can't really blame barron's because hardly any college books mention these prestigous programs. though, for non-pre-meds who are interested in the top schools, barrons is a good book.

Rating:
Summary: A very helpful and detailed guide to the best colleges
Review: This guide on the surface appears the same as the many others of its genre, large in size etc but once you open it, you realize that it is very different. While the other guides rely on a few statistics about sometimes as many as 500 colleges and universities, this book very much focuses on the intimate details of just the top 53 which means that there is a great deal more information about the best colleges. You find out about all the courses offered, the study abroad options and of course the all important student hangouts. This book is full of genuine student comments so you can really get a feel for the campus and I found it very easy to tell which ones I was most interested in. You really feel a description either clicking with you or pushing you away from the college which makes it easy to get a manageable shortlist of your favorite colleges. This book even gives some helpful tips on the all important application essays so it is a must have for the high school student trying to decide on the right college.
My only complaint would be the fact that 53 is slightly too few colleges. 100 would be a better number although that would mean that less competitive and academic colleges would be featured. Buy this book, and good luck on your search for colleges!