College and University Books

There a scores of books on the storied tradition of Notre Dame football, but very few on ND basketball, which has had many great moments of its own. And very few of those books provides the insights of Coffey's book. Instead of the traditional approach to a team's history, the author focuses on anecdotes provided by the players and other behind the scenes participants. This gives us a sense of their perceptions of what was happening, rather than the interpretations of the journalist. Coffey lets the book write itself (not trying to diminish his hard work), and the final result is something that I thoroughly enjoyed. Certainly a must for Irish fans, and I think any fan of college basketball would enjoy it as well.

This work is incredibly thorough. Coffey allows his interviewees to tell their stories without tramping all over them with his own opinions. He lets the reader absorb the anecdotes and in the few cases where his subjects disagree, leaves it up to us to decide which side of the fence we fall on. It's unusual to find an author who's willing to just get out of the way like that. As someone else told me, I feel like I was invited to a big party with everyone who ever contributed to ND basketball and got to listen in on all the best conversations.

Not having Digger in there is a disappointment, but since Digger has his own book right now, it's understandable why he didn't want to participate.

If you like Notre Dame or college basketball (or both), this one is a must have.

Coffey interviewed seemingly countless old ND players and people associated with Notre Dame Basketball over its first 100 years. What you get is a wonderful portrayal of the program, through the words of those that were there; the very guys who woke up some of those famous Notre Dame "echoes", albeit on the basketball court. And herein lies the beauty of this book; Coffey helps shine a light on the fantastic tradition of ND Basketball, one naturally overshadowed by the legendary exploits of the Football team. For example, Coffey notes that ND is the only Div I school ranked in the Top 20 in total wins and winning percentage in BOTH football and basketball, a surprising fact to even the most ardent college sports fan. Of particular interest to me were the portrayals of the players from what's popularly referred to as "the greatest generation". They just don't make men like this anymore, and Coffey lets them tell their stories. Also gripping is the account of ND's 71-70 victory over the mighty Bruins of UCLA in 1974. In addition, Coffey concludes with the current roster recapping last season, and looking forward to 2004-5. This book is a must-have for the Notre Dame fan, and a great read for the fan of college hoops as well.

"The educational and Occupational Attainment Process," which was written by Yukiko Inoue, is an experiment study of factors influencing status attainment in the United States. The purpose of this study is to define educational attainment and occupational attainment among adolescents. In addition, the author intended to find the process, which women attain their status in this research. This study did focus on women's status attainment as well as men's. Therefore, the author stated three interesting points, which are 1) women in American Higher Education, 2) the status attainment process between men and women, 3) impacts of marriage and children. The result of this study would apply to today's adolescents, because 1) the attainment process is found to be similar for men and women, 2) the importance of educational aspiration is still the determinant of educational attainment for American adolescents. This study makes its results so clear that American adolescents today can seek their way of attaining their status by reading this book. This study can be used for counseling adolescents, who are in the transition from high school to the occupational world. In addition, this study will help both schoolars and students in the different countries to compare own country to the U.S. I enjoyed reading this study a lot, because I have all my educational background in Japan, so it caught my attention in a great deal. It gave me a chance to get to know American adolescents, who are attaining their education and occupation. From my experience, I found out that the reason why educational attainment will guide students in the U.S. to occupational attainment is that American students tend to major, of which they can make use, for their occupation. That means that whatever they study in college will apply for jobs that they are interested in. This is a big differences between Japanese students and American students. People in the U.S. seem to enjoy their occupation and make full use of what they learned in college. I understood that people in the U.S. and Japan have different way of attaining their status. In the last, I was glad to have a chance to read this study, which made me think about the differences between American educational attainment system and Japanese educational attainment system. This book is highly recommended for those who want to succeed in the near future.

"The educational and Occupational Attainment Process," which was written by Yukiko Inoue, is an experiment study of factors influencing status attainment in the United States. The purpose of this study is to define educational attainment and occupational attainment among adolescents. In addition, the author intended to find the process, which women attain their status in this research. This study did focus on women's status attainment as well as men's. Therefore, the author stated three interesting points, which are 1) women in American Higher Education, 2) the status attainment process between men and women, 3) impacts of marriage and children. The result of this study would apply to today's adolescents, because 1) the attainment process is found to be similar for men and women, 2) the importance of educational aspiration is still the determinant of educational attainment for American adolescents. This study makes its results so clear that American adolescents today can seek their way of attaining their status by reading this book. This study can be used for counseling adolescents, who are in the transition from high school to the occupational world. In addition, this study will help both schoolars and students in the different countries to compare own country to the U.S. I enjoyed reading this study a lot, because I have all my educational background in Japan, so it caught my attention in a great deal. It gave me a chance to get to know American adolescents, who are attaining their education and occupation. From my experience, I found out that the reason why educational attainment will guide students in the U.S. to occupational attainment is that American students tend to major, of which they can make use, for their occupation. That means that whatever they study in college will apply for jobs that they are interested in. This is a big differences between Japanese students and American students. People in the U.S. seem to enjoy their occupation and make full use of what they learned in college. I understood that people in the U.S. and Japan have different way of attaining their status. In the last, I was glad to have a chance to read this study, which made me think about the differences between American educational attainment system and Japanese educational attainment system. This book is highly recommended for those who want to succeed in the near future.

What motivates young adults to go to college and to choose a career? This scholarly research study examines the multiple and interrelated variables which influence the educational and occupational aspirations of American high school seniors during the transition to college, their attainment levels in early adulthood, and the economic, psychological and social influences on educational attainment and early occupational attainment. The research involved surveying more than 2,100 high school seniors (Class of 1972) who responded five times between 1972 and 1986, from approximately age 18 to age 32. The complex multivariate methodology process analyzes the dynamics of the variables of: socioeconomic status, gender, ability, academic performance, significant others' influence (parents, teachers and peers), educational and occupational aspirations, marital status and number of children, and educational and occupational attainment.

The study finds that the level of educational attainment is determined, in order of significance, by: ability, academic performance, significant others' influence, and socioeconomic status. Further, the author posits that occupational attainment is a consequence, in order of magnitude, of: ability, academic performance, educational aspiration, socioeconomic status, occupational aspiration, sex, significant others' influence, and the number of children. In addition, the process of aspiration and attainment is consistent for men and women.

Includes five figures, eleven tables, an excellent bibliography and an index.

Recommended for teachers, school counselors, educational administrsators, school board members and parents.

Highly relevant, stimulating reading recommended for anyone (and everyone) involved in higher education. The Family Track articulates many unspoken concerns of American academics through autobiographical pieces, interviews, and critical essays. From eldercare to parental leave, commuter marriages to children with special needs, the topics are as pertinent as they are undiscussed among faculties. Challenging and engaging, with practical strategies for developing family-friendly campuses.

I bought this book at the suggestion of Ms. Mentor (a.k.a. Emily Toth) who touted it in one of her wise and witty columns in "The Chronicle of Higher Education". As usual, Ms. Mentor provided "Impeccable Advice for Women in Academia".

Graduate students thinking about making careers as professors should read this book carefully, especially if they have or would like to have children. Each author in the edited volume describes her valiant attempt to have a family life and an academic job at the same time. It's not a pretty picture. The narratives are personal and powerful. Several are horror stories about the inhumane treatment of new professors who are also new mothers.

Although this book is most relevant as a cautionary tale for women entering academia, it is also a "must read" for anyone interested in the history of feminism. The memoirs of some of the senior female academics, pioneers in their fields, reveal awesome courage. This is the printed mentor that I've seen other books purport to be.

My one concern is that the book's bleak honesty may discourage some graduate students, or create the impression that it is better to wait until after tenure to start a family. I'm a clinical psychologist whose specialty is counseling doctoral students and junior faculty, and I don't condone waiting until after the tenure review to begin living. The average path from grad student to tenured associate prof now takes more than 17 years (gulp). Putting essential goals on hold for that long shrivels the ovaries. If you want both the baby and the job, go for it!

I really felt that I learned a lot from this book. It is important that those considering a tenure track job/career read this as others have mentioned. I think it's even more important that administrators read it.

I had a slightly better experience, with lots of support from both colleagues and family so I'm more optimistic about my chances for tenure. Either way, it is important that we understand how it was for women even 10 years ago before they could stop the tenure clock to have children. No wonder so few women are full professors now. It's sad. The main lesson I took from this is that w/o a good support network and a husband/partner who significantly helps out, tenure is unlikely. Also, it's unlikely if anyone gets sick or has any disability. It is sad that this is the reality, but important that we know this.

Palladino's book fills an important niche, especially for the majority of students who rank in the middle 50% of their classes. Each of the 150 colleges profiled alphabetically receives two-three pages of condensed coverage so it's easy to acquire a sense of what they each offer. Palladino's writing is clear and his descriptions are concise. "The Heart of the College" section on each school is the most worthwhile and enlightening. Here, Palladino attempts to capture the college's distinctiveness by focusing on culture, character, and the spirit of the faculty and students. Thus, readers can catch a glimpse of the elements that differentiate one school from another and is useful when trying to find schools that are "good fits." This is a necessary guidebook that immediately narrows the "search" for midrange students and is useful for identifying colleges that match what a student is looking for. Indices at the back categorize the 150 colleges by geographical and state location, size, and admissions difficulty, very helpful when looking for colleges outside one's local area. 5 Stars!

If you've looked through the Fiske or Princeton Review guide and realized that most of the schools listed are too selective for your child, this is probably the best guide for you. There is a little bit of overlap between the guides to the "best colleges" and Dr. Palladino's book, but not too much, so you will be getting different information. Even if you're insisting that your child go to a school listed in Fiske, if your child is a "mid-range" student, it might be good to see if Palladino lists the school in this book, as his choices are known to turn average students into ones that excel.

The best thing about Palladino's book is his very intelligent system of determining how the schools were included in the book. He wants schools to be relatively small (under 7,500 students), have a good freshman retention rate (75% or higher), a good graduation rate (50% or higher), a high percentage of faculty with terminal degrees, an average class size below 30, the availability of "transition to college programs," free psychological counseling, a good variety of athletic and extracurricular activities, a good rate of students going on to graduate school, an impressive distribution of core requirements, and he prefers residential campuses over commuter campuses. There are even a few more conditions, and he defends his reasons for basing his inclusions on these factors very well.

Because of his thorough system, I think parents should feel confident that the colleges he's chosen to feature are good ones. Further backing Palladino up is the fact that some of his choices overlap the less selective schools recommended by such experts as Loren Pope and Jay Mathews. There are a few schools in Palladino's book that might be too difficult for the average student, such as Elon University, but I feel he's nearly always accurate with his assessments. While I really do think there are some schools in Fiske that would accept the "mid-range" student, you will have a greater variety of choices in this book, and I highly recommend it.

CollegePlanGuy@aol.com (free educational advising available for economically disadvantaged students.)

Dr. Palladino takes us on a word tour of some of the country's finest sectarian and nonsectarian private colleges,- so clear in exposition that we feel we have been on a personal visit to each site. The student or parent reader learns a brief history of the college, the content of special programs, and the college's central academic focus. Descriptions of student life, athletic programs and other amenities round out each entry. The clear content of the book thourougly fulfills the promiose of the title. Superb! Neil R. Dauler-Phinney, Ph.D.

This brilliant book is a sociological study of the modern business school, an ill-understood institution that has had a profound impact on the world's economy. Insider Rakesh Khurana, a professor at Harvard, begins in the late 19th century, when B-schools were born into a burgeoning America. Wharton was the first true B-school, established in 1881 with $100,000 from Joseph Wharton, a Pennsylvania Quaker. Programs at elite colleges, such as Dartmouth and Harvard, soon followed. Nasty teething pains, however, upset business schools' infancy. Academics didn't agree on curriculum or even purpose. Moreover, the nagging question about whether business (or "management") was a real profession lingered. In adolescence, the gawky B-schools looked longingly at their unquestionably legitimate, older, wealthier siblings: graduate schools for law and medicine. This led to a business-school image makeover that didn't quite work, according to the author, leaving today's B-schools facing mid-life anomie as the economic value of B-school enrollment - and the resulting M.B.A. - drops. getAbstract recommends this book to anyone who wants to understand the past and future of this influential institution.

Khurana does a superb historical review of business schools and business education. It clearly shows that one could predict a country's future 20 years ahead if you look at what business schools are teaching at the time. " Tell me what you are teaching in B Schools and I will tell you how your economy will fare in the future'. Seems obvious but no one has done this type of analysis before.
Khurana also shows how americas center-left was instrumental in creating MBAS and a socially responsible business leader, a move we have shifted away since 1970 when "agency theory" got a foothold in Wall Street. A must read.

I am attending the Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University and I forwarded the title of this book to both my professor and the center dean. I am currently pursuing a dual Masters (MBA/MPM) so this book is of particular interest to me in regards to the author's views of the graduate business schools and the MBA programs. This is a big book (500 pages) so there is a lot of information to digest. I fully agree with his assertion that graduate business schools are loosing touch with corporate America to an extent. The major brand name schools (Harvard, Stanford, etc...) only appear to graduate MBA students with needed connections. When it comes to business education, there is a chasm between what is taught and what is needed in the marketplace. I had a cousin who graduated from HBS and hated the 2 year MBA experience but only pushed to graduate for the networks and the "Harvard" reputation. She learned nothing of the experience. The adage: "it is not what you know but who you know" is correct for these brand schools. When it comes to my experience with Keller, I fully disagree. Keller Graduate school teaches a lot of management practical material as well as theory and so far I have learned a lot of practical information for the business world. The case load is not all case study (as opposed to Harvard). What makes this a very good book is that if one is considering a brand b-school, don't expect to learn or make your mark. The lesser known but more practical business schools will be more advantageous (and cheaper!)

I normally browse and skip sections in books like this but found myself reading word for word. Wonderful photographs, history of the girl's game of basketball and how it evolved. I learned how unique girl's playing the sport really was. I learned Iowa 6 on 6 was covered heavily by media all over the USA. I am wondering if something special was allowed to die with the advent of 5 on 5 girl's basketball. I found that many 6 on 6 players were quite successful playing 5 on 5 college ball. Lot's more to think about the directions we are sometimes led in the name of progress.

This was such an entertaining book, especially for those of us that grew up in Iowa, and fell in love with the game the way it's played there. It brings back memories and conjures up images of many nights spent admiring those high school heroes and hoping to someday join their ranks.

Upon finishing this magnificent book, do I laugh or do I cry? Girls' high school basketball and teaching young girls to play basketball is my life. But what relevance does this book have? This is the history of girls' basketball in a state far away from mine. There are no diagrammed plays or secrets to success. Is it worth the hardcover price? To that question I answer an emphatic " yes! " There are a number of men and women in North America, who like myself, have dedicated themselves to girls' high school basketball. We can give you a dozen reasons why we love girls' basketball and why we have dedicated our lives to it. We can give you another dozen reasons why basketball is so important to the lives of our young female athletes. But still, when all has been said, words cannot adequately capture what the experience means to all those involved. Within the 200 pages of text, this book explains an American phenomenon that has its roots in Iowa and has proceeded to touch the lives of millions of girls, coaches and communities. That is why in reading six-on-six, I sometimes laughed and sometimes was swept up in emotion. This book is a comprehensive history of girls' basketball in the state of Iowa. The research is careful, thorough and disciplined. But in addition to covering the history of girls' basketball in Iowa, the book represents one of the best documentations of the history of basketball ever printed. The photos and interviews take you into the lives of the players -- how they played the game, how they overcame the obstacles of the early years in terms of facilities, equipment and transportation and most importantly, what basketball did for them personally....how they felt about the emerging game of basketball. It also covers how the game changed and why the changes were made. Iowa is unique in girls' basketball. It is the only state that since the 1920s, has continuously sanctioned interscholastic play and it does so with an independent sanctioning body that is separate from the boys. Those of us who live in the big metropolitan areas tend to think of Iowans as down-home conservative people who live a stable uncomplicated life. While their may or may not be some truth to the latter, what is perfectly clear is that Iowa is the most progressive state in the union when it comes to girls' athletics. They implemented Title IX fifty years before it became the law of the land. They appreciate, support, praise and celebrate their high school female athletes. In Iowa, the Iowa girl is queen. How did this develop? Why in Iowa? All of this is explained. But the best part of the book are the interviews that give you a glimpse into the lives of the girls, coaches, superintendents and sport writers that made all this possible.... men and women that had great vision and understood why basketball and sports is so important to the lives of teenage girls. As mentioned, the book is not about strategy or tips but through interviews, I learned some things that have helped me in my coaching. These have to do with the psychology of girls and why certain aspects of the game and experience are so important to girls. And why as a coach, I must respect the girls' wishes. If girls' basketball means a lot to you, read this book. You will be inspired by one of the great success stories of the 20th century.

I was unsure of my decision of what university I wanted to spend my next 4+ years until I picked up this guide! It's fabulous information packed into a simple guide and a must read for all high school seniors on the school of their choice.

Upon my first touch of this book, I felt an invigoration that I have nary felt before. The intensity and passion with which it was written by, perhaps, the finest author of our (or any) time, is undeniable. It's a tale of misbegotten love, of rumor and romance that one cannot help but be swept away by. Do yourself, and all who know you, a favor and read this book. You will never be the same again, and it will make you yearn for the Furman experience. My highest and most impartial recommendation.

Are you searching for the REAL perspective on the college life at the schools you are applying to? This book is written by a student at Furman who surveyed other students at Furman. I went to Furman, have read this book and think that this is the BEST and most ACCURATE perspective on life at Furman University. Buy this book and the ones for the other schools you are interested in and you can feel confident in your decision.

Getting your kid into a good college is a nerve-racking process for most parents. It certainly has been for us. We have found the customer reviews in Amazon very helpful. That prompts us to distill our ratings of the various guidebooks.

The best short reference on each college is the Princeton Review of The Best (311) Colleges. It gives ratings of academic quality, difficulty of admission, percentage admitted, etc. There is also a brief summary of college life and what each place might be looking for.

Peterson Guide is comprehensive, and has long write-ups for each school. There is a front section for each school, listed alphabetically within each state, and a back section with detailed profiles of selected institutions.

Fiske's guide is interesting, but he basically has something good to say for each school, so careful reading between the lines and for "damning with faint praise" is called for.

The Yale Insider's Guide is extremely subjective, with different students writing various reviews. We did not find it too reliable, except in conjunction with other books.

Likewise for Barrron's Guide to the Most Competitive Colleges. Recent alumni write of their (invariably positive) experiences. Take it with a grain of salt, or read carefully between the lines.

Choosing the Right College by ISN was extremely helpful. Some readers criticized it for being allegedly right wing. We did not find it so. Rather, knowing the point of view of the authors helped us evaluate their observations. Other books do not make their biases explicit. A feature of the book we found particularly helpful was the naming of excellent professors and departments in each college.

Antonoff's College Finder was interesting only in conjunction with other books.

Three books written from the perspective of college admissions officers were very interesting and helpful. They are The College Admissions Mystique, by Mayher, Getting In, by Bill Paul, and most of all A is for Admission by Michelle Hernandez. We strongly recommend that parents and the kids who are the applicants read at least one of these.

Another very helpful book was You're Gonna Love This College Guide, by Marty Nemko. It takes the student through the decision process of big vs. small, urban vs. country, elite vs. the level just below, geography, and so forth. That really got our daughter unstuck in her thinking process.

Loren Pope is another helpful author for those who think that not getting into Harvard is the end of the world.

Three books we did not find to be particularly helpful are Getting Into Any College, by Jim Good and Lisa Lee, The National Review College Guide, by Charles Sykes and Brad Miner (too out of date), and The Real Freshman Handbook, by Jennifer Hanson.

One book we found to be unexpectedly useful was Getting Into Medical School Today, by Scott Plantz, et. al. Even if your child is not interested in medical school, this book puts college in perspective for any post-college program.

We hope readers find our review helpful.

While not exactly a guide to getting into a good school, this book is full of insight on the admissions process.

There are lots of useful tips to be gleaned from the author's true stories of five students (names changed) applying to Princeton.

For example, there's sometimes an enormous difference a good letter of recommendation can make in an applicant's file. Last summer, a student tour guide and Admissions Office volunteer at a prestigious Massachusetts college said that every letter of recommendation is basically the same, glowing text, and so these are given little consideration by the Admissions people. After reading Paul's book, I am convinced that that student was mistaken; I see now how incredibly important a very well-written letter can be. And Paul tells why, in perfect, practical detail.

This page-turner is a great book; it clears up the mysteries, identifies the vagaries, and reveals the sheer humanity of the admissions process. Satisfying reading for the burnt-out parent who needs a break from the Peterson Guide... and a "must" for every high school guidance counsellor.

I read this book when it came out 3 years ago and I was directing the college placement efforts of an independent boarding school. I was impressed enough by the depth of Bill Paul's research and analysis of the admissions process at Princeton that I not only invited Bill to speak at a parents' day presentation at the school but ordered 30 copies of the book and put them up for sale after the event. Within ten minutes after Bill spoke, every copy-- including mine-- was gone.

Getting In follows a handful of accomplished high school seniors through the admissions process, offering examples of their essays, snippets of conversations and interviews, and other illuminating vignettes of senior year. At the same time, Bill shadows Fred Hargadon, the Princeton admissions dean, as he attempts to read all the applications and make what would seem to even well seasoned admissions professionals some extremely tough decisions.

The worth of this book lies in its accurate reflection of reality; it suggests that admission to one of the most selective (1 of every 11 applicants) schools is determined not only by academic excellence and extracurricular entrepreneurialism, but by the luck of the draw as well. Indeed, at one point in the book, Hargadon admits-- as I've heard him do on other occasions-- that if the admitted Princeton freshman class were somehow eliminated, he could fashion a statistically identical class from the rejected applicants.

This is not a how-to book; rather, it is a book that gives students with high admissions aspirations-- and their parents-- a context that will prepare them well for realities of the admissions game.

I purchased this book for an instructor and I personally don't have a review for this book but I am sure she is enjoying it.


Thanks

This work is a study that manages to be academically rigorous and emotionally moving at the same time. Highly recommended.

As a student affairs professional, it is rare that I find a text about students that is both academically and emotionally rigorous. This is one of those rare gems. It's a very good read for anyone interested in working with and helping underrepresented students succeed in higher education.

Dr. Rodriguez intertwines her own life experiences as a first-generation college student with those of her subjects in a way that strengthens her findings and adds a human touch to the data being revealed.

This book comes strongly recommended!

Outstanding Book! Well written! Very insightful history of an amazing person and a fine institution.

God, Country, Notre Dame is a book that once again proves what an amazing man Father Hesburgh is. This book is inspiring. If you've never read or heard about Father Hesburgh, this is a must. He has got to be one of the top 10 most influntial people of the 21st century.

I "read" this book for the first time on audio cassette and quickly ran out and bought it" Years later, I still think of it and am still amazed at what a tremendous person Father Hesburgh is. If I did not know its true, I would not believe that a person could accomplish so much in a lifetime. Knowing that this country and faith produces such great men, makes me proud to be Catholic and an American. This book would make a great, great gift!