Description:
What's more important to you--to have your professors know your name, or to go to a famous school with nationwide name recognition? How would you rank the importance of the quality of the library in relation to the record of the football team? Before deciding to invest four years and several thousand dollars in a college, it helps to know what your priorities are. The Kaplan Guide to College Selection 1999 is not merely an alphabetical list of colleges--it's really a workbook to help you decide what you're looking for in a university. The opening section in the book helps you create a priority list by posing questions regarding school size, location, cost, reputation, and other issues. Your top 10 priorities are then used to steer you in the direction of college categories such as "academic shrines," "briefcase factories," and "cultural meccas." Each category is described in an overview that discusses potential pros and cons affecting such schools (for example, the ski slopes near a northern "scenic route" school may sound appealing--but how appealing do six-foot drifts of snow on the way to class sound?) followed by profiles of the individual schools. These profiles contain both concise information about size, setting, and admission requirements and a descriptive essay to help you get a better feeling for the school. The remainder of the book is devoted to helping you get admitted to at least some of the schools you've selected--from how to get organized to ensure you don't miss deadlines (and providing thorough checklists to keep you on track) to how to write successful essays, get good recommendations, and shine at interviews. Additional chapters address special considerations for students of color and students with disabilities. The final section covers issues relating to financial aid and offers advice on how to compare offers (and, possibly, negotiate better ones). Whether you end up looking for a "sports powerhouse" or an "alternative haven," the Kaplan Guide to College Selection 1999 gives you the tools you need to make an informed decision--and to increase your chances of getting accepted at the schools you choose. --C.B. Delaney
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