Prospective college students and their parents have been relying on Loren Pope's expertise since 1995, when he published the first edition of this indispensable guide. This new edition profiles 41 colleges—all of which outdo the Ivies and research universities in producing performers, not only among A students but also among those who get Bs and Cs. Contents include: Evaluations of each school's program and "personality" Candid assessments by students, professors, and deans Information on the progress of graduates This new edition not only revisits schools listed in previous volumes to give readers a comprehensive assessment, it also addresses such issues as homeschooling, learning disabilities, and single-sex education.

The distinctive group of forty colleges profiled here is a well-kept secret in a status industry. They outdo the Ivies and research universities in producing winners. And they work their magic on the B and C students as well as on the A students. Loren Pope, director of the College Placement Bureau, provides essential information on schools that he has chosen for their proven ability to develop potential, values, initiative, and risk-taking in a wide range of students. Inside you'll find evaluations of each school's program and personality to help you decide if it's a community that's right for you; interviews with students that offer an insider's perspective on each college; professors' and deans' viewpoints on their school, their students, and their mission; and information on what happens to the graduates and what they think of their college experience. Loren Pope encourages you to be a hard-nosed consumer when visiting a college, advises how to evaluate a school in terms of your own needs and strengths, and shows how the college experience can enrich the rest of your life.

Why higher education in the United States has lost its way, and how universities and colleges can focus sharply on their core mission. For The Real World of College, Wendy Fischman and Howard Gardner analyzed in-depth interviews with more than 2,000 students, alumni, faculty, administrators, parents, trustees, and others, which were conducted at ten institutions ranging from highly selective liberal arts colleges to less-selective state schools. What they found challenged characterizations in the media: students are not preoccupied by political correctness, free speech, or even the cost of college. They are most concerned about their GPA and their resumes; they see jobs and earning potential as more important than learning. Many say they face mental health challenges, fear that they don’t belong, and feel a deep sense of alienation. Given this daily reality for students, has higher education lost its way? Fischman and Gardner contend that US universities and colleges must focus sharply on their core educational mission. Fischman and Gardner, both recognized authorities on education and learning, argue that higher education in the United States has lost sight of its principal reason for existing: not vocational training, not the provision of campus amenities, but to increase what Fischman and Gardner call “higher education capital”—to help students think well and broadly, express themselves clearly, explore new areas, and be open to possible transformations. Fischman and Gardner offer cogent recommendations for how every college can become a community of learners who are open to change as thinkers, citizens, and human beings.

"The rise of the internet, new technologies, and free and open higher education are radically altering college forever, and this book explores the paradigm changes that will affect students, parents, educators and employers as it explains how we can take advantage of the new opportunities ahead"--

There is a revolution happening in higher education—and this is how it's unfolding

- Foreword - Editorial - Education's promise to all - Introduction: The Indicators and their Framework - Reader's guide - Executive summary - Equity in the Education Sustainable Development Goal - Indicator A1 To what level have adults studied? - Indicator A2 Transition from education to work: Where are today's youth? - Indicator A3 How does educational attainment affect participation in the labour market? - Indicator A4 What are the earnings advantages from education? - Indicator A5 What are the financial incentives to invest in education? - Indicator A6 How are social outcomes related to education? - Indicator A7 To What extent do adults participate equally in education and learning? - Indicator B1 Who participates in education? - Indicator B2 How do early childhood education systems differ around the world? - Indicator B3 Who is expected to graduate from upper secondary education? - Indicator B4 Who is expected to enter tertiary education? - Indicator B5 Who is expected to graduate from tertiary education? - Indicator B6 What is the profile of internationally mobile students? - Indicator B7 How equitable are entry and graduation in tertiary education? - Indicator C1 How much is spent per student on educational institutions? - Indicator C2 What proportion of national wealth is spent on educational institutions? - Indicator C3 How much public and private investment on educational institutions is there? - Indicator C4 What is the total public spending on education? - Indicator C5 How much do tertiary students pay and what public support do they receive? - Indicator C6 On what resources and services is education funding spent? - Indicator C7 Which factors influence teachers' salary cost? - Indicator D1 How much time do students spend in the classroom? - Indicator D2 What is the student-teacher ratio and how big are classes? - Indicator D3 How much are teachers and school heads paid? - Indicator D4 How much time do teachers spend teaching? - Indicator D5 Who are the teachers? - Indicator D6 Who makes key decisions in education systems? - Characteristics of Education Systems - Reference Statistics - Sources, Methods and Technical Notes - Australia - Austria - Belgium - Canada - Chile - Czech Republic - Denmark - Estonia - Finland - France - Germany - Greece - Hungary - Iceland - Ireland - Israel - Italy - Japan - Korea - Latvia - Luxembourg - Mexico - Netherlands - New Zealand - Norway - Poland - Portugal - Slovak Republic - Slovenia - Spain - Sweden - Switzerland - Turkey - United Kingdom - United States - Argentina - Brazil - China - Colombia - Costa Rica - India - Indonesia - Lithuania - Russian Federation - Saudi Arabia - South Africa - Ibero-American countries