Driven by fears of a competitive job market, thousands of American families consult college-ranking publications such as the one introduced in 1983 by U.S. News and World Report
for supposedly objective guidance in choosing the best college education. Yet most education professionals discredit these listings, even those who benefit from their position in these hierarchies of quality. Higher education consultant Boyer breaks the public silence around the college ranking system. Drawing upon the expertise of college presidents and admissions deans, he adroitly cuts through the hype of the college ranking game: the deceptive numbers, the distortions of truth and the misleading, often subjective information at their core. "Americans need not be prisoners of any survey," he believes, and he uses his considerable experience and insight to explain how to really identify a quality college education. Boyer provides useful strategies on how to sort through information on the hundreds of fine colleges and universities to find the right fit for a particular student. He articulates the "five criteria for a quality education," which include the importance of general education; a commitment to writing, speaking and critical thinking skills; a commitment to active learning; opportunities to extend learning beyond the classroom; and the presence of a diverse, intellectually active and respectful community. In a no-frills manner, Boyer reminds readers there are many paths to success, noting that American education is large and diverse, as befits a large and diverse democratic society. (Sept.)
Forecast:This book, the first in Peterson's Spotlight on Education series, deserves a wide readership: parents, students and guidance counselors can all benefit from it. Booksellers would do well to position it alongside college-ranking guides, as a complement to those sometimes-overwhelming volumes.
