<p>Ya’ know. Life is too short. I don’t ‘do’ cynical. I don’t like cynical people, and I like cynical authors even less. Out of curiosity, I was going to read the book anyway. (One person’s cynic is another person’s comic, or maybe interchangeable. ;)) However, when I saw him on Dylan Ratigan today, all he complained about was the high price of elite private Us and supposedly not being worth yadayada, and so out of line with COL inflation. Hey Dad, here’s a thought: Don’t apply there! (Wait: why didn’t your reading public think of that?) It’s called the free market, Dad. Think it’s not a worthwhile price? Why talk about it, then?</p>
<p>So if that’s his great “insight,” I think I’ll pass.
And his criticism of CC = too many answers to the same question? Or is there something non-cynical in his criticism that would be add something constructive instead of toxic, to one’s day?</p>
<p>Just finished reading Crazy U. It is sooooo good. Funny, incisive, eye-opening, informative, perceptive, fascinating, and did I mention funny? The ending affected me the way the end of Toy Story 3 did: I lost it. </p>
<p>And, flame me if you will (I’m used to it), but I must say I think Mr. Ferguson was spot-on about certain sectors of College Confidential. And, while I’ve never encountered DeanJ, I’ve certainly run across her counterparts at other schools. I think Ferguson nails the type.</p>
<p>After reading this book, I feel as I’ve been on an emotional rollercoaster. But it was a very satisfying ride. </p>
<p>I highly recommend Crazy U. I think it’s a must-read for us befuddled parents of college-bound kids. :)</p>
<p>epiphany – It’s not really cynical in the way you (rightly) condemn. It’s cynical about corruption in the system, about college admissions as ultra-slick marketing, about spiraling college costs, about What’s Wrong (and Right) with the SATs, about the craziness of FAFSA, etc. But it’s absolutely NOT cynical about what really matters – loving our kids, launching them and letting go, adjusting to one of the most heartrending transitions in our (and their) lives. The book is informed by a deep, empathetic humanity. You will not dislike Mr. Ferguson; you will identify with him. He is you. </p>
<p>I think that’s why the book has been so successful so quickly. It strikes a chord. Any parent going through the college-prep-app-admission process – or anyone who has ever been through it – can relate. Really and truly. It is absolutely spot-on.</p>
<p>I did disagree with some things Ferguson wrote. But not with many. My circumstances are not identical to his – I can guarantee that my paycheck’s a lot smaller – yet his experiences resonated with mine. </p>
<p>I would really recommend giving the book a chance. I think you will like it. A lot. :)</p>
<p>LadyD, I haven’t read the book yet but just curious about your comments about Dean J and her “type.” What do you mean? I’m curious since older son graduated from UVa.</p>
<p>Lady D, thanks for the very thorough reply. Perhaps I’ll be more open. :)</p>
<p>In general, though, as to ‘slick marketing,’ I’ve heard this complaint since I was first a lurker on CC in 2004. I used to work in advertising/marketing, so perhaps I’m more detached about “message,” as I understand it for what it is. No one has to buy a product based on message or packaging. My problem with the complaint in general is that of all populations, people on CC, and people like Ferguson, are intelligent & educated enough to be informed & clever consumers. </p>
<p>Also, I have the same question sevmom has in post 44. You can PM me if you feel more comfortable with that.</p>
<p>LOL, epiphany, my fellow Ad Person, I am in advertising/marketing, too, on the creative side. Currently I work as an eCommerce copywriter for a big apparel company.</p>
<p>Many of the things Ferguson mentioned were very familiar to me – branding, segmenting, targeting, yahda-yahda. As a member of the profession, I certainly could not diss and dismiss these things as readily as Ferguson did. So, yes, I did have issues with his analysis there. And I disagreed with some other things he said. But by and large I agreed with him. And I empathized with the personal part of his story, which I’m sure we all can relate to. Essentially, what are we parents doing when we shepherd our kids through this whole tortuous process? We’re getting them ready to leave. We’re getting rid of these kids whom we really, deep-down, want to keep with us. We know we MUST let go, must launch the hatchlings, must give them up–and that’s why we’re doing all this. But, at the same time, it’s about to break our hearts. Once that kid goes off to college, nothing will ever be quite the same again. That’s the part that had me sobbing, perhaps not quite as much as I sobbed at the end of Toy Story 3 – but close.</p>
<p>Downloaded CrazyU on my Kindle but haven’t read it yet. What I AM reading on my Kindle is “Not Quite Adults: Why 20-Somethings Are Choosing Slower Paths to Adulthood, and Why Its Good for Everyone.” Excellent, research-based look at folks from 18 - 32 and how they differ from previous generations - and why. CC’rs would probably like this book, because it takes the stance that if you have to be either over-involved or under-involved, its better for your kids if you’re over-involved. Kids who get guidance on WHY college is important, where to go to college, how to pay for it, and what classes to take when they get there do much better than kids whose parents either don’t know or don’t care and leave them to figure it out for themselves. Those kids often end up in community colleges or 3rd tier state colleges, taking whatever classes aren’t already full, which don’t lead to a degree, don’t match their interests and at which they don’t excel - so they drop out, with big student loans and no degree to show for it. The authors say that allowing your kids to learn from their own mistakes is good sometimes, but allowing a huge failure like college simply to make the point of learning a “life lesson” can be devastating to a young person’s future.</p>
<p>OTOH, CC might not like it, because they point out that every study ever done, when adjusting for SAT scores, family background, etc, points out that WHERE you go to college doesn’t make much difference for your earning power. It’s FINISHING college that makes a difference. Getting a 4 year degree from ANYWHERE separates the “swimmers” who make progress in life from the “treaders” who don’t. Frankly, kids who get into the “top” colleges were going to succeed anyway, no matter what college they went to.</p>
<p>The difference between the “top” schools and others? The top schools provide enough counseling and support to help kids make choices that matter - what classes to take etc - and keep them from failing out. The “other” schools allow kids to flounder on their own and end up with high drop-out rates.</p>
<p>Really interesting reading, and all supported by massive research - interviews, data, etc.</p>
<p>Lafalum, thanks for the tip. I hadn’t heard of “Not Quite Adults,” but I will look it up.</p>
<p>Re over-involvement: I’ve decided my patron saint is Saint Monica. She was the original Helicopter Mom. When her son Saint Augustine tried to escape her influence by (literally) sailing away, she came down to the dock and intercepted him. Now that’s a helicopter mom, LOL!</p>
<p>A patron saint for helicopter moms! I’ll buy that. I just reserved “Not Quite Adults” from the library, along with “Crazy U.” Thanks for the tips!</p>
<p>I read it on Kindle and could not put it down as my HS senior daughter has just gone through the whole process. It is absolutely hilarious and spot on.</p>
<p>He devotes a chapter on each phase of the application process, SAT’s, college counselors (he interviewed a counselor who charged $40,000 per applicant), the essay, financial aid, etc. He even takes a sample SAT and completely blows it, including the writing even though he is a nationally known journalist and author.</p>
<p>He also goes into the history of the college application process which I found very interesting, including the standardized tests, the tremendous impact that US News and World Report’s rankings have had on colleges (mostly negative and certainly controversial) and other topics.</p>
<p>He wrote it because his son went through process last year. He mentions many colleges in the book (he is an Occidental grad) and his son who seems like a normal kid, but no dummy, is accepted to UNC and Villanova, and is waited list at Notre Dame and Gergetown (good luck!). However he chooses BSU (Big State U) which I am guessing must be Penn State, because he wants to have fun, go to football games and drink a little beer while getting an education.</p>
<p>A previous poster is correct. Mr. Ferguson’s son is attending UVA, not Penn State as I had guessed from the description. It also make sense since they reside in Virginia.</p>
<p>I haven’t read the book but it is interesting that the author (apparently a Virginia resident?)spent so much time and money on this endeavor only to find his son at a Virginia school. We have great public options in Virginia and from my limited observations as a Virginia resident for years the kids and families that look beyond UVa,William and Mary or Virginia Tech tend to be either legacies at higher ranked schools,affluent, concerned about higher prestige or were not competitive for the best Virginia schools so looked at privates or public flagships elsewhere. The author’s son obviously was drawn to Catholic schools so that would also be a possible consideration for the family. The most affluent families (or neediest perhaps also) tend to consider looking beyond their state schools.Recently, some highly ranked schools have opened things up more for less affluent kids but that was not the case in 2005 when my son did ED to UVa. Best decision ever. Great experience, affordable, thought about some privates at the time but could not justify the price. Sometimes Virginia kids(and probably California and Michigan too) just don’t get how lucky they are and drag their parents all over the place! If merit aid is available elsewhere, that’s a different story but I doubt places like Georgetown or Notre Dame would provide much of it to his kid. Seems disengenuous of the author to not name the school(especially since he apparently knocks UVa’s Dean J) and to call UVa the “Big state school”. Probably the editors had something to do with that. Is the author definitely a Virginia resident? If not, my bad.</p>
<p>I’m sure he intended to “protect” his son in some way. I did not read any of the BSC concepts in a negative light…remember the author went to a small school. I went to a small LAC and to me any school with more than around 10,000 feels like a BSC! I’m sure the schools that were applied to were schools that were attractive to his son in some way - Georgetown, Notre Dame and Villanova all have huge sports traditions. He did not delve into the rationale behind which schools.</p>
<p>momofthreeboys, Thanks.Georgetown,Villanova and Notre Dame are all well known Catholic schools so as I said that probably played a part in this. The dad should have/could have realized the kid’s stuff would eventually come out and hopefully the son was okay with that. Why be cagey about it?Tiger Mom should have/could have anticipated this as well.</p>
<p>The book is eminently readable. In some ways, it *could *be viewed as hilarious. All it would require is finding the tribulations of an utterly misguided parent … humorous. Despite the various attempts at levity, it remains that is hardly a book that is “spot on.” The story shared as well the numerous erroneous conclusions could serve as a Bible for parents interested in what NOT to do. </p>
<p>As far as the author’s contacts with College Confidential, they only confirm how clueless and obnoxious this person was when starting the process. He did NOT look for guidance; he looked for ways to criticize the process. Rather than spending a modicum of time to educate himself and learn how to separate the poor advices from the EASY TO find better ones, he bolted impatiently. What did he possibly read on College Confidential that would compel him to send his son to Kaplan group classes and to seek the advice of the NY 40,000 lady? One ought to wonder about his critical reading skills! </p>
<p>Contrary to others who posted here, I started reading the book and gave up after a few chapters. The unfortunate part is that this book might become successful and “inspire” an army of clueless parents to follow the advice of this misguided parent who simply had the contacts and support to get this waste of paper and ink published and promoted. All the while, good books such as Admission Matters have a hard time leaving the shelves. </p>
<p>The book uses the term “crash course” … it should have used a better fitting “train-wreck” description.</p>
<p>I went to W&L and we always referred to UVa as “State U” (as in “Beat State U!”). I have a good friend who went to UVa, but whenever I ask him about it I refer to it as “State U”.</p>