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| | Location: Home » Making Money » Test Prep & Study Guides » The All-in-One College Guide: A More-Results, Less-Stress Plan for Choosing, Getting into, Finding the Money for, and Making the Most out of College | December 5, 2008 |
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| The All-in-One College Guide: A More-Results, Less-Stress Plan for Choosing, Getting into, Finding the Money for, and Making the Most out of College | 
 enlarge | Author: Martin Nemko
Publisher: Barron's Educational Series
Category: Book
List Price: $14.99
Buy New: $1.50
You Save: $13.49 (90%)
Buy New/Used from $1.49
Avg. Customer Rating:  (16 reviews)
Sales Rank: 345932
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Paperback
Edition: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 240
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 9.3 x 6 x 0.6
ISBN: 0764122983
Dewey Decimal Number: 378.161
EAN: 9780764122989
ASIN: 0764122983
Publication Date: July 1, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Overwhelmed. That?s the most common word college-bound students and parents use to describe the process of choosing, getting into, and finding the money for college.
And all the fat college guidebooks and web sites merely add to the information overload. There are tomes on everything from how to write a college essay to how to land a scholarship.
But finally, you can find an antidote to ?overwhelm:? The All-in-One College Guide. In just 240 accessible yet authoritative pages, this book tells even the most serious college-bound student and family everything they need to know to choose, get into, find the money for, and make the most of college.
And this is no mere distillation of conventional wisdom. The author, Dr. Marty Nemko, is one of the smartest college counselors in the business, and he fills the book with little-known smart ideas on how to make the process not only easier but more successful. A few examples:
If you?re trying to pick a college, Nemko advises you ask each admissions office for the results of the college?s most recent student satisfaction survey. If they send it to you, you?ve learned how hundreds of students feel about their college. If they don?t send it or say they don?t conduct student satisfaction surveys, you?ve learned something too.
It?s rarely worth the time and cost of an SAT preparation course. The evidence is clear that a bit of preparation with $30 software will result in a score increase that is essentially the same as that obtained with a $1000 course.
Instead of saving money in the child?s or parent?s name, gift the money to the grandparent. You?ll probably get more financial aid that way. This is a completely legal loophole.
Key to a good college education is finding the best professors. Here are some ways to do it: Get the list of teaching award winners from the Office of Academic Affairs. Ask a department secretary for a recommendation?they see all the student evaluations of professors. Sign up for one more class than you intend to take. Go to the first session of each class and drop the class you like least.
The All-in-One College Guide, despite its brevity, also has world-class sections on how to choose a major and a career.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 11 more reviews...
 The College Process Explained March 2, 2006
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
I have read several books about the college process and this one is by far the most useful and informative. Has lots of helpful hints and simplifies the entire process. It really explained how to start choosing potential schools and how to focus on what the child wants versus what the parents want. I loved it and have recommended it to all my friends.
The best college guide ever!! (yes I love it and why) September 13, 2005
5 out of 7 found this review helpful
I simply have to respond to the negative review this college guide received in a recent post. During my daughter's college search I purchased at least ten books on the college admissions process -- a expenditure that I rationalized with the argument that half a million words on the subject were less expensive than one hour with a private college counselor (we tried that too -- what a waste of money!). Of these ten or more college guides -- including everything from the Fiske Guide to the Yale Insider's Guide -- Marty Nemko's book was far and away the most useful.
It is clearly organized, clearly written, and wonderfully straightforward. The college analysis provided is not only accurate but immensely helpful to anyone who is trying to make an informed college choice. This analysis ranks the schools by location (northeast, southwest, etc), by expense, by selectivity, by type of environment (small rural town, suburban city, large urban city), and by size. If your "mostly B" student thinks that he or she wants to go to a small liberal arts school in a large mid-western city, this analysis will list the schools that fit those parameters. THEN you can follow up with more detailed information in the encyclopedic Fiske guide.
One other note -- As an undergraduate I went to both the University of Chicago and the University of Toronto (University College). I would agree with Mr. Nemko that the undergraduate experience at the University of Chicago is best described as a small liberal arts college experience (my class numbered less than 500) and that Canadian schools represent a tremendous educational value for the price -- even with the falling American dollar.
The best college admisions book ever! November 23, 2004
0 out of 6 found this review helpful
I give it five, but only because I can't give it a 6 or 7 or more.
I truely cannot express my love for this book any more. This is the resource you pick you pick up before consulting all others.
Sure in high school they give you pamplets and teachers tell you to 'apply for college', but this book lays the ground out very perfectly. Consider this the starting point for your college admisions job, the book tells you all the other resources you will use along the way (Fiskes, 331 Best Colleges, ect). Choosing a college, how to pay for it, getting in, and what to do while you are there- this covers it all.
I have read much of Mary Nemko's articles and his other book Cool Careers For Dummies (also a highly recomended read) and I cannot recommend him more highly. He has many years of experience and gives you relatively unknown secrets that many high school, college, and adult age people do not know. He also debunks many of the things many of the other books claim you should do. This book is more practical, straightforward, and usefuk then many of the other books.
I am the author and must respond to one of the other reviews October 12, 2004
15 out of 24 found this review helpful
The review by Gaetan Lion is SO inaccurate that I, the author of this book, must respond.
I will embed my responses to each of his inaccuracies:
Lion writes, "On page 39 and 40 the author shares a basic list of his favorite schools. But, most of them are misclassified. He classifies the University of Chicago as a small liberal arts college. Meanwhile, it is a national university with masters and doctorate programs that liberal arts colleges do not have."
Mr. Lion fails to realize that the University of Chicago's undergraduate program in reality functions far more like a liberal arts college than a big university. It is quite small To characterize it as a university would be misleading. He says, "Most of the characterizations are inaccurate"? Not one of the prepublication reviewers (top college counselors all) nor post-publication readers has questioned the validity of even college's listing.
Lion writes, "On page 39, classifies Grinnell as a good liberal arts college for B students. On the next page, he classifies the exact same school as a good school for unconventional students with a GPA of A. Well, is Grinnell a school for A or B students? The author does not know. "
The author does know. He knows that Grinnell WILL accept some B students but that it also is an excellent place for unconventional students with A grades. Both are true.
Lion writes, "An example of poor judgment is his unqualified promotion of using the Common Application for convenience. If you want to get into a selective school, don't use the Common Application; it will clearly lower your chance of getting accepted. The school will perceive you as too lazy to even make the effort to use the school's customized application format. "
Again, that is incorrect. Every one of the approximately 250 institutions that have agreed, in writing, to accept the Common Application pledge that such applications will be treated precisely the same as an application on the institution's own form. And in fact, based on my experience with hundreds of students and discussions with many of my fellow college counselors, the colleges abide by their pledge.
Lion writes, "Later, he promotes Canadian schools as a superior college education at a below market cost. This is a mirage. First, Canadian schools are for the most part huge (20,000 to 40,000 plus students). Their standard class size is often 100+. Their student/teacher multiple is way higher than anything you see in the U.S. Also, their out-of-country tuition has skyrocketed lately, and is often much higher than out-of-state tuition for public schools. In summary, Canadian schools don't compare well in both cost and quality vs. good public school systems like the UCs and University of Michigan."
Again, untrue. Class sizes of the most commonly taken classes at the University of California campuses are 100+. And for the vast majority of students who do not reside in California or Michigan, Canadian universities, even with out-of-country tuition, represent solid value, especially when considering quality-of-life factors such as safety and air quality.
Lion writes, "He gives completely wrong advice on Early Action. He discourages it because he thinks the admission standard is tougher than for regular admission. He is wrong. Applying Early Action gives you the equivalent of a 70-point boost on the old SAT scale."
That is simply incorrect. Early DECISION applicants have a 70-point advantage. Early ACTION applicants suffer a decrement.
Lion writes, "He overstates the case for community colleges. He states they have better professors and smaller classes than four-year institutions. Based on feedback from friends who did go to community colleges this is never the case. Community colleges are a wonderful opportunity for students who have no other opportunities for financial or academic reasons. But, they are no great shake for too many other people."
Lion uses a smattering of evidence to assert that I, who have 20+ years of experience as a college counselor, professor, and consultant to colleges, with a PhD from Berkeley in the evaluation of education, am "overstating the case." He is wrong.
Lion writes, "The Appendix B, a list of 434 colleges is useless. It is like a phone book list that is not even in alphabetical order."
Of course, it is not in alphabetical order. As I explain in the book, I deliberately placed colleges in categories to help the reader to narrow down to the type of college that would be a best fit.
Lion writes, "Additionally, based on all the mistakes he made on his short list on page 39 and 40, I would not even trust he got the name and phone numbers right of the respective schools he mentions."
Another out-of-left field criticism. I have yet to hear from one reader who has spotted even one error.
"This list is associated with no qualitative information or insight whatsoever. You have no idea if he really likes or recommends them. There is also no information to truly differentiate them except for location and estimated costs."
As I explain in the book, the list of 434 colleges consists of virtually all the schools that attract national interest--have a significant proportion of out-of-state students.
Lion writes, "His sections on career counseling and school majors are so poor they are almost laughable."
Another assertion with no basis. Here's my basis for pride in that section. The San Francisco Bay Guardian recently named me "The Bay Area's Best Career Coach." And as a college AND career counselor, among the 2,000 clients I've worked with, I enjoy a 97% client satisfaction rate. The section on choosing a major and career is a distillation of whatI've learned really works.
Lion writes, "The author's main message, lost in a sea of errors".
The book's prepublication reviewers and I have compulsively reviewed every word of the manuscript. I challenge anyone to find a "sea of errors" in this book.
I am extremely proud of the book because, except for Lion's review, I have received overwhelmingly positive feedback from parents and students. They say it truly provides everything one needs to choose, get into, find the money for, and make the most of college in 220 authoritative yet accessible pages.
I hope this Lion's unfair review will not deter you from spending the $9 on the book. I promise you'll find it very, very helpful.
 Covers way too many topics to do a good job. October 8, 2004
9 out of 13 found this review helpful
This books attempts to be:
1)A college selection and admission guide;
2)A self help manual on how to thrive during your college years;
3)A financial planning guide focused on how to finance college;
4)A guide to college majors; and
5)A career counseling guide
This is four books too many. The author was clearly not able to handle this All-in-One formula. He should have focused on the first theme: a regular college selection and admission guide. This is a complex enough material for most authors and readers.
As a result of the author's strategy of Jack-of-all-trades but Masters of none, he really failed at covering any of the five topics mentioned in adequate depth. The book for the most part is devoid of any insights beyond common sense and common knowledge. In addition, the book is stuffed with typos, errors, and incorrect judgments.
For instance, on page 39 and 40 the author shares a basic list of his favorite schools. But, most of them are misclassified. He classifies the University of Chicago as a small liberal arts college. Meanwhile, it is a national university with masters and doctorate programs that liberal arts colleges do not have. On page 39, he classifies Grinnell as a good liberal arts college for B students. On the next page, he classifies the exact same school as a good school for unconventional students with a GPA of A. Well, is Grinnell a school for A or B students? The author does not know.
An example of poor judgment is his unqualified promotion of using the Common Application for convenience. If you want to get into a selective school, don't use the Common Application; it will clearly lower your chance of getting accepted. The school will perceive you as too lazy to even make the effort to use the school's customized application format.
Later, he promotes Canadian schools as a superior college education at a below market cost. This is a mirage. First, Canadian schools are for the most part huge (20,000 to 40,000 plus students). Their standard class size is often 100+. Their student/teacher multiple is way higher than anything you see in the U.S. Also, their out-of-country tuition has skyrocketed lately, and is often much higher than out-of-state tuition for public schools. In summary, Canadian schools don't compare well in both cost and quality vs. good public school systems like the UCs and University of Michigan.
He gives completely wrong advice on Early Action. He discourages it because he thinks the admission standard is tougher than for regular admission. He is wrong. Applying Early Action gives you the equivalent of a 70-point boost on the old SAT scale. For confirmation, check the excellent book "The Early Admission Game."
He overstates the case for community colleges. He states they have better professors and smaller classes than four-year institutions. Based on feedback from friends who did go to community colleges this is never the case. Community colleges are a wonderful opportunity for students who have no other opportunities for financial or academic reasons. But, they are no great shake for too many other people.
The Appendix B, a list of 434 colleges is useless. It is like a phone book list that is not even in alphabetical order. Additionally, based on all the mistakes he made on his short list on page 39 and 40, I would not even trust he got the name and phone numbers right of the respective schools he mentions. This list is associated with no qualitative information or insight whatsoever. You have no idea if he really likes or recommends them. There is also no information to truly differentiate them except for location and estimated costs.
His sections on career counseling and school majors are so poor they are almost laughable.
The author's main message, lost in a sea of errors, is that the college fit and what you will study and do in college are far more important than the college brand name. This is a true and laudable message. Unfortunately, many authors have already said it in a much more informative and convincing way than he did. These include the following ones who wrote excellent books that I do recommend:
Jay Matthews "Harvard Schmarvard"
Howard and Matthew Greene, "The Public Ivies," "Inside the Top Colleges," and "The Hidden Ivies."
Loren Pope, "Looking Beyond the Ivy League."
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