<p>I'm a senior and have my usual 3-4 books to read over the summer for school. What I didn't realize is that some colleges require that too along with essay's etc. Is this the norm or was it just the few of the freshman I talked too? Not a big deal, but something I didn't think about. One had 1 book (Clark) and one had 3 (Wheaton) and another had one, but I forgot his college.</p>
<p>But I think it's pretty common for incoming college froshes to get at least one required novel for the summer. I'm going to a very small liberal arts school, and all the freshman are required to read a novel called "Bee Season" by Myla Goldberg. At the moment I don't particularily like it, but it might grow on me. No essays for us to write over the summer, but I suppose when school actually starts they may require us to write essays or at least discuss it.</p>
<p>At larger universities, in which large numbers of freshman are getting into different disciplines/programs/schools from the get-go, required summer reading may be restricted to those taking certain classes, if assigned at all.</p>
<p>I imagine if they require everyone take a certain class then they could require everyone to read a book for it, but other than that, I don't see you having to read a book, unless based on your individual class choice.</p>
<p>I think that most schools do not have summer reading for the students, and if the school does, it tends to be only one book, usually by an alumnus or alumna, used to give the students some sort of common ground and something to talk about. Now, if we all just went to St. Johns, we would be on the same page . . . figuratively speaking.</p>
<p>I was surprised Wheaton (MA) had 3 required books, but that is probably not the norm. It's not a make or break issue, I just hadn't thought about it until I talked to some kids already in college. One hadn't read about it ahead of time and was reading his required book over a 2 day period. They gave him an extension on the paper.</p>
<p>It really should be a non-issue, with location and academic quality being near the top and food being much higher than this, still far at the bottom.</p>
<p>Duke has 1 required book each summer, starting a few yrs ago I believe.</p>
<p>i think it depends on the college or university that you're attending. perhaps some more tight-knit (i.e. liberal arts) colleges or colleges with strict curricula may require a book for reading. for a large public university where everyone takes different classes, i highly doubt this is feasible.</p>
<p>Wake has a required book too (Reading Lolita in Tehran this year.) There's no paper to write or anything on it though; its main purpose is to give the students topics to discuss (i.e. Islam) when they first meet in their small advisory groups.</p>
<p>U Penn also has a required book, the biography of Ben Franklin.</p>