Piehl, Norah. Choosing a College.

Piehl, Norah.  Choosing a College.    Cengage (Gale/Blackbirch/Greenhaven)    2012 121p   $37.00  978-0-7377-5691-3      series: Issues That Concern You     jr/sr VG-BN

This book includes everything you need to know about higher education, from SAT testing to choosing the right college or university, and it can be read in middle school or when one enters high school.  It will help the student begin to think about higher education and the choices one must make you in selecting the best school for the individual.  So before choosing a college or university, you should check this book out and see how the process works.

In this book you will find different articles on how to choose a school after high school.  The first article is about the SAT scores and how they may affect one’s choices of schools.  It also covers the process you need to follow to prepare yourself for college.  This book gives high-school students thinking of college an overview of the process, things to consider, lists of things to do, searching for schools that will be a good fit, and many tips to consider before choosing your school.  For example, before you visit any school, you should read up on the basic information about it, the majors it offers, what kind of scholarships are available, and what kinds of extracurricular activities they have.  In fact, the more informed you are, the better prepared you will be to ask the right questions to determine if this is the school for you.  If you are an athlete, you should make sure the school of your choice offers your sport; if you are interested in the arts, make sure they have a good arts program. Ultimately, if you go to your visit prepared, you will be able to choose the school you want.  The book includes an appendix, ready-reference facts, a section on financial aid, a list of organizations to contact, and an index.

Colleges – Selection, Universities – Selection              --Magna Diaz

Gravett, Christopher. Knight: Nobel Warrior of England 1200-1600

Gravett, Christopher Knight: Nobel Warrior of England 1200-1600
Osprey Graphic History 2010 288p 19.95
978-1-84908-138-2 hs/adult VG
Describes how the knight evolved over four centuries of English and European history, the battles they fought, their lives both in peacetime and on campaign, their weapons, armor and clothing, and the fascinating code and mythology of chivalry.
Originally published as four separate titles and then combined in Great Britain in 2008.
The popular image of a “knight in shining armor” feasting, courtly tournaments and bloody battles is not the whole story. From the knights of King John to the last Tudor knights, great detail is given to the changes in armor and clothing, weapons, battle tactics, and involvement in public service and politics over the passage of time. The life of a knight was evolving through the centuries covered. Also included is the code and mythology of chivalry.
This title is so full of detail it would best fit in the reference section. Many historical illustrations and photographs of statuary and monuments enhance the text. The terminology used in the area of armor and clothing requires a background knowledge in the field. There is a very complete glossary of terms and an extensive index.
This title would fit best in a high school or college library.
Recommended for high school or college. Theal, Joan

The Portable Guidance Counselor.

Princeton Review staff. The Portable Guidance Counselor.
Princeton Review (Random) 2010 258p 14.99
978-0-375-42936-1 ms/hs VG-BN
Answers to questions about college admission are supplied by counselors about the “right fit”, extracurricular activities, AP courses, finances, and the application process from beginning to end. For students in grades 7-12, this book will lessen anxiety. After interviewing college admissions officers, high school counselors, and test prep/college application companies, Princeton Review has compiled the answers to 284 of the frequently asked questions about college admissions. The chapters include answers for students who are first-generation college hopefuls to those who are legacies to Ivy League colleges. Each question is clearly stated with a profile of a student who asked the question. The answer is clear and concise including different perspectives if the question has multilayer answers. Short quotes appear at the bottom of most pages that were extracted from the more lengthy answers. Topics include how to find the “right fit” at a college, the importance of extracurricular activities, the need to take AP courses, whether social networking sites are consulted by admissions officers, the application process from beginning to end, how to decide on multiple offers of acceptance, and how to be realistic in choice of college. Some questions deal with substance abuse, sexual identity, and a less than stellar GPA. Each question is listed in chapter introductions, but there is no index. For students in grades 7-9, this book stresses starting early, making good academic choices and for grades 10-12, it provides great suggestions to ease the anxiety of the college application process. McNicol,Lois