Book excerpt: “By far the best college guide, for both its honesty and its insights.” —Thomas Sowell Over the past decade, Choosing the Right College has established itself as the indispensable resource for students—and parents—who want the unvarnished truth about America’s top colleges and universities. It is the most in-depth, independently researched college guide on the market, using on-campus sources to turn up the best—and worst—aspects of nearly 150 schools. Just as important, Choosing the Right College covers the intellectual, political, and social conditions that really matter, including: · The integrity and rigor of the curriculum · Which courses and professors to take—and which to avoid · The prevalence of politics in the classroom and the state of free speech—all highlighted with ISI’s unique “traffic light” · Living arrangements, safety, and other keys to student life · How to get a real education at any school Beyond all that, this brand-new edition of Choosing the Right College features a host of innovations, including: “So You’re Looking For...,” top-five lists of colleges for all types of students; a quick list of each school’s strengths and weaknesses; an insider’s look at the pros and cons of online education; and more. This new edition of Choosing the Right College also provides the financial information families need in this age of soaring tuition. What are the most overpriced colleges—and which are relatively good values? What is the average student-debt load? To cap it all off, Choosing the Right College introduces the groundbreaking feature “Blue Collar Ivies”—in-depth reports on the best affordable colleges in all fifty states. Choosing the Right College 2014–15 will completely change the way young people make a life-altering decision.