Few people have as much experience helping students cope with college life as Douglas Stone, a long-time Harvard residential adviser and coauthor of Difficult Conversations, and Elizabeth Tippett, recent Harvard graduate and founding director of the university's peer mediation program. In Real College, they join forces to help students deal with nightmare roommates, handle academic pressures, make smart choices about alcohol and sex, communicate with parents, and address all the other big issues that can make college as challenging as it is exciting. Stone and Tippett deliver insightful, pragmatic advice with humor and compassion, in a style that parents and students alike will appreciate. This is one book that no college student should be without.

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.

Few people have as much experience helping students cope with college life as Douglas Stone, a long-time Harvard residential adviser and coauthor of Difficult Conversations, and Elizabeth Tippett, recent Harvard graduate and founding director of the university's peer mediation program. In Real College, they join forces to help students deal with nightmare roommates, handle academic pressures, make smart choices about alcohol and sex, communicate with parents, and address all the other big issues that can make college as challenging as it is exciting. Stone and Tippett deliver insightful, pragmatic advice with humor and compassion, in a style that parents and students alike will appreciate. This is one book that no college student should be without.

Is it still worth it for low-income students to attend college, given the debt incurred? This book provides a new framework for evaluating the financial aid system in America, positing that aid must not only allow access to higher education, but also help students succeed in college and facilitate their financial health post-college. Higher education plays a critical role in the economy and society of the United States, creating a ladder of economic opportunity for American children, especially for those in poverty. Unfortunately, higher education today increasingly reinforces patterns of relative privilege, particularly as students without the benefit of affluent parents rely more and more on student loans to finance college access. This book presents penetrating new information about the fiscal realities of the current debt-based college loan system and raises tough questions about the extent to which student loans can be a viable way to facilitate equitable access to higher education. The book opens with relevant parts of the life stories of two students—one who grew up poor and had to take on high amounts of student debt, and another whose family could offer financial help at critical times. These real-life examples provide invaluable insight into the student debt problem and help make the complex data more understandable. A wide range of readers—from scholars of poverty, social policy, and educational equality to policymakers to practitioners in the fields of student financial aid and financial planning—will find the information in this text invaluable.

Top College Essays That Show You What Works Introducing the ultimate guide to crafting college essays that truly make an impact! Fiske Real College Essays That Work by former New York Times education editor Edward B. Fiske is packed with invaluable insights and expert advice and empowers you to create standout application essays that capture the attention of college admissions officers. Key Features: Real-life Examples: Explore a curated collection of authentic essays, giving you a clear understanding of what works and why. Expert Guidance: Benefit from Edward B. Fiske's years of experience in the field of education and college admissions, gaining invaluable tips and strategies. Essay Breakdowns: Gain insight into the successful elements of each essay with detailed analyses and explanations. Whether you're a high school student navigating the college application process or an educator seeking to guide students toward writing excellence, Fiske Real College Essays That Work is an indispensable tool. Don't miss out on this opportunity to craft memorable essays that set you apart and open the doors to your dream college.

The demography of America is changing and it is showing up on college campuses as an increasingly diverse student body. Universities typically handle changes within the academic tradition of courses or programs, but to prepare students to live and work in an increasingly diverse world something else is needed. This little book was created to serve this need. Five stories told by recent college graduates from public universities to highlight the learning about diversity in college from the students themselves. The stories are curated to key social science phenomena in diversity, such as implicit bias or stereotype threat. They are set in a context of experiential learning from the students themselves and are informed by advances the social neuroscience of unconscious decision-making. The goal is to highlight the ways these factors can complement the ongoing diversity course work and other university programming. While the project was led by a professor with serious university administrative history, the storytellers and other organizers are all authors, making this little a book a unique contribution that is written about students by those students themselves. The first chapter sets the stage by introducing at the lay level with social neuroscience principles that drive diversity issues in society and in the college-age population. The first story chapter is written by a Latino former student who explores the experience of being taught by a largely non-diverse faculty. The second chapter represents the struggle of a female student to overcome self-handicapping and enter the sciences in the field of medicine. The third chapter explores growing up Dominican in a large metropolitan area, going to a small-city university, and finding necessary group support in an established diversity program. The fourth chapter discusses in-group/out-group issues from a student who move from a small-town Jewish population to achieve student leadership in a large diverse university. The final story chapter looks at being an immigrant and non-native speaker, but making it in college overcoming stereotype threat. The final chapter is our collective recommendations of what a university or college can do with this student-rich perspective to more deeply educate about the fundamental issues of living in a diverse world.

Making College Count is a comprehensive resource that will help students excel in college and create great career opportunities after graduation. Much more than a college survival guide, it offers students (and parents) a proven framework to achieve at a high level in the classroom, in extracurricular activities, and in their work experiences. The book also positions students for success in their future job searches. Making College Count features an eye-catching, two-color design with 78 illustrations, and is written in an approachable, student-friendly voice.