‘The College Selection Compass’

With application rates soaring hand-in-hand with costs, the process of getting into the college of your choice has never been more difficult and stressful. In their new book, “The College Selection Compass: Helping Families Navigate A Difficult Course” (published by iUniverse - http://www.iuniverse.com), educators Becky Callow and Susan Nichols use data collected from 1,500 current college and university students to map out the easiest path through the application process.

“The College Selection Compass” sets itself apart from other books in that it is not geared to show students how to get into college. The book is geared to help families organize the college search process and continually maintain ways to communicate openly and honestly with one another. A basic system of checks and balances, in which children and parents hold each other accountable, helps establish an open and honest channel of communication in times of stress.

Callow and Nichols contacted colleges and universities, asking for permission to talk with and poll respective student populations regarding their college search and admission process. The students polled, representing 48 states, were eager to recount their experiences with stress, difficulties with communication, questions regarding choices, and the need for parental and adult guidance. Many of the students polled strongly felt the concept of this book would prove helpful to future college applicants and their families.

The final chapter of “The College Selection Compass” contains basic organizational tools, such as resumes and sample letters, which students can use as guides through their own journeys. A series of graphs outline the major points of information Callow and Nichols garnered from the student questionnaires, such as how many colleges students applied to, how many they visited, when they visited, and the reasons they decided to attend a particular school. Some of the data was surprising, some of it anticipated, but all of it was interesting and informative.

About the Authors:

Becky Callow has worked in primary and secondary education for over 40 years. She is a graduate of Wheaton College and lives in Weston, Mass. with her husband and three children. She has written two children’s books, “Anthony’s Gift” and “The Marble.”

Susan Nichols has worked in market research as a consultant, conducting both qualitative and quantitative research. She has also been involved in the college admission process for over 20 years as a volunteer interviewer and local and national admissions coordinator for Middlebury College in Vermont. She is currently the president of the Middlebury College Alumni Association.