Book Description
Why do some students in the United States make the most of college, while others struggle and look back on years of missed opportunities? What choices can students make, and what can teachers and university leaders do to improve more students' experiences and help them make the most of their time and monetary investment? And how is greater diversity on campus--cultural, racial, and religious--affecting education? How can students and faculty benefit from differences and learn from the inevitable moments of misunderstanding and awkwardness?
Two Harvard University Presidents invited Richard Light and his colleagues to explore these questions, resulting in ten years of interviews with 1,600 Harvard students. Making the Most of College offers concrete advice on choosing classes, talking productively with advisors, improving writing and study skills, maximizing the value of research assignments, and connecting learning inside the classroom with the rest of life.
The stories that students shared with Light and his colleagues about their experiences of inspiration, frustration, and discovery fill the book with spirit. Some of the anecdotes are funny, some are moving, and some are surprising. Many are wise--especially about the ways of getting the best, in classroom and dormitory, from the new racial and ethnic diversity.
Filled with practical advice, illuminated with stories of real students' self-doubts, failures, discoveries, and hopes, Making the Most of College presents strategies for academic success.
Customer Reviews:
So you've been admitted to a top school; now what?.......2007-06-13
If you are interested in this book, check out the hard-cover edition which is available both new and used for substantially less than the paperback.
I was introduced to this book by a friend who is heavily involved in undergraduate advising. I had not heard of Prof. Light or of this work previously, and I wonder whether it is less widely known than it deserves to be.
The title and cover of the book are a bit misleading. It could easily be mistaken for a self-help book and/or a book that covers a wide spectrum of college environments. For this, I fault the publisher rather than the author. Readers who come to it expecting one of the above will indeed find it lacking. It assumes students are motivated and goes from there. If you're looking for a book to provide motivation, this is not it.
The book in fact presents the results of ten years' research, primarily around Harvard undergraduates. To understand the context fully, one should read the first item of back matter, "The Assessment", first. There has been some attempt to generalize by involving faculty from 25 other institutions (which are neither named nor characterized), but the real focus is on Harvard.
There are good reasons for this. Harvard is a very selective place, and its administration has both the wherewithal and the motivation to make every student's experience as rich as possible in the full knowledge that for every student who disengages, there were ten other equally qualified applicants for whom there was not room. Thus, Harvard funded the study, the results are particularly applicable to it, and its own press published it. It is unrealistic to carp that the book wasn't about something else.
So who should be reading this book? Sadly enough, it should most be read by those Harvard faculty members who are not particularly interested in developing undergraduates to see what they're missing. Perhaps Harvard's recently-launched initiative in excellence in teaching will help; the question of advising remains murkier. Academic staff anywhere who aspire to do a better job in helping their students launch their adult lives are bound to find useful perspectives and practical nuggets. I think the book will be mostly lost on undergraduates; I wouldn't have understood it then, much as it might have been useful. Parents of high-potential college students might find it helpful in understanding what their children are going through, but to use it as a guide to advising their parentally-resistant (or, worse, parentally-dominated) offspring may be unproductive. Using it in a peer-advising context is a waste of time, as you can see from other reviews. I suspect there are good nuggets here for secondary school educators as well.
This book makes an interesting contrast with the more recent book, "Excellence Without a Soul" by Harry Lewis, who was the Dean of Harvard College during the time Light was finishing this book. Lewis's book reflects personal opinions on the same issues (and more); its underpinnings are based on his own experiences rather than the extensive interviewing process Light uses. Taking the two together provides even better insights than either separately.
Goodness: Among his many detailed points, Light talks (sometimes through the students) of the importance - and difficulty - of clear exposition in reporting on scientific research and of the value of evidence-based discourse, and this book provides an exemplar of both. The book is not heavy on theory with consequent bulky endnotes, and the bibliography is of reasonable size.
Quibbles: Light intermixes Harvard-specific terminology (e.g., proctor) with more generic equivalents (e.g., dorm supervisor) without making the connection for the reader. He presents most of his dilemmas from the viewpoint of a student in the social sciences, which are somewhat different from those encountered by students in the humanities or - especially - the natural sciences. There is so little indentation in the extended quotes from the students that it is sometimes hard to tell whose voice is speaking. The inner margins in both the hardcover and the paperback are so tight that it's hard to read without breaking the spine. And the editing could have been a bit tighter.
The above could easily reduce my rating by a star, but on balance I think the importance of the work and the clarity (if occasionally redundant) of the exposition overcome these. Perhaps I should say five stars if your desired frame of reference is a selective, research university, and four stars otherwise.
Better the second time around.......2006-06-02
The first time I read this book (in 2002) I wasn't at all impressed. As a student affairs professional, I kept thinking that Light (as is the case with most academics) basically ignored the role of student affairs as a significant source of student support and education. I also thought he was writing the obvious.
I re-read the book in 2005, however, and had a very different experience of it. Light refutes some of the "conventional wisdom" (such as the common feeling that it is best to get all of the "requirements" out of the way early) and backs up what he says with solid reasoning.
The major weakness of this book is it's focus on Harvard students as the research sample. The book would have gained considerable credibilty if Light had made a diligent effort to reach beyond Cambridge and beyond the Ivy League to learn what makes students at other kinds of campuses successful.
That being said, this is an important book for anyone who advises college students: faculty, academic advisors, and student affairs professionals. I would also recommend it for High School guidance counselors and parents. Students might or might not enjoy it; again, the Harvard focus could make it seem perhaps irrelevant to many.
Making the Most of Light.......2005-11-07
I am a peer academic advisor at a West Coast college. I was assigned this book as part of my peer advising training, so I read this book from the perspective of a student. Overall, I found the book mixed in its helpfulness to students.
Chapter 3, "Suggestions from Students", contains the bulk of practically useful information. The title itself underlines one of the book's key ideas: students learn from each other. While substantial student interaction occurs behinds classroom doors, Light notes correctly that "learning outside of classes, especially in residential settings and extracurricular activities such as the arts, is vital" (p. 8). More subtly, Light suggests that college leaders and other individuals must make conscious efforts to develop the kind of environment that facilitates symbiotic learning between students. He writes,
when students refer in their interviews to those that build campus culture, they do not just mean deans or residence hall directors or leaders of student organizations ... They are really characterizing _every student_, in the old-fashioned sense of believing that each person can make a difference by setting an example (p. 194, his emphasis).
Later, he continues,
deans and adults should convey to all incoming students that they have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience, in their college years, a new set of people with new ideas that may challenge their own. They should encourage students to see these few precious years as a special chance to meet, work with, and get to know others who are unlike themselves (p. 196).
So far so good. The rest of the book, I felt, was short on concrete advice for students. Here, I'll mention some thoughts that occurred to me while I was reading the book.
First, despite Light's claims, I am unconvinced that his results generalize. Light is a statistician by training, and I was surprised that he did not offer any comparative statistics to substantiate his claims; as such, his work may be more aptly called Making The Most Of Harvard (or more accurately, How Faculty Can Help Students Make The Most Of Harvard).
Second, not only does Light's results not generalize across colleges, he also does not provide evidence to show that they generalize across a diverse group of students (strange, since he devotes a large part of the book to diversity). There are no tables, graphs, charts, or summary statistics that back up his claim that his results generalize; in particular, the book focused mostly on students who are ex ante driven and motivated towards success - Light says nothing about the selection bias that arises from sampling a group of Harvard students, who are more likely than not to possess the characteristics necessary for success.
All in, I found Light's book informative, but unhelpful. I will not deny that there are lessons to be learnt if one puts some thought into it. As a peer academic advisor, however, much of the book was made up of clichés, platitudes, and findings that were irrelevant to my work. Faculty and administrators, however, may find the book more useful.
Pretentious .......2005-09-21
It should have been titled, Making the Most of Harvard: Students Speak Their Minds. We were required to read this book for an English writing class. Some of the suggestions in the book are helpful, like time management and getting help if you are not scoring well but only if you read this book *before* you go to college.
Light makes suggestions that may not be feasable, including finding a class with very few students because it will be benificial. Our class also felt that Light's suggestion of picking roomates according to race is ludicrous.
3.5 Stars... Worthwhile reading for/re incoming college freshmen.......2005-07-08
My son and I went through the college search process in the past year (he'll start college next month), and we actually had quite a good time doing the college campus visits, narrowing down his choices, etc. Now that he is about to start college, I fell upon this book by accident.
"Making the Most of College" is from some professor at Harvard whom I readily admit I've never heard about before. But the author actually makes a number of (seemingly) good points that I thought made a lot of sense (disclaimer: I did not go to college in the US but in Belgium, so I cannot easily compare it to "the old days"). The book does get tedious at times,and as such is not geared to/written for incoming freshmen but more for parents and teachers. I cannot imagine too many incoming freshmen reading through the whole thing (my son certainly did not), but I did discuss certain passages of the book with him. What good (if any) it will do him, who knows... only time will tell :-)
Book Description
Relied on for over 20 years by resident and practicing anesthesiologists and CRNAs, this best-selling pocket reference is now in its Seventh Edition. In easy-to-scan outline format, it provides current, comprehensive, concise, consistent, and clinically relevant guidelines for anesthesia procedures throughout the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative periods and in the ICU. The book has been written, reviewed, updated, and field-tested by the internationally recognized anesthesia department of the Massachusetts General Hospital. This edition includes new information on quality assessment, patient safety, the electronic medical record, and new techniques and medications. A new design makes information easier to access. An alphabetical drug appendix is also included. A PDA version of this edition will also be available.
Customer Reviews:
best concise O.R. reference.......2007-05-21
this book is the best concise operating room anesthesia reference available.
anything bigger would be too large, it is not designed to teach but more to remind.
Consummate pocket reference.......2007-05-12
Anyone involved in anesthesia generally recognizes the Mass Gen. as the best pocket reference out there. This new edition is no different. When you need something fast b/c it has slipped your mind, this is the 'goto' book.
I highly recommend it to all MD/DOs, CRNAs & SRNAs.
Book Description
"Business demands innovation. There is a constant need to feel around the fringes, to test the edges, but business schools, out of necessity, are condemned to teach the past.'
-- Mark H. McCormack, from "What They Don't Teach You at Harvard Business School" published by Bantam Books.
Mark McCormack is the founder of International Management Group, a multimillion-dollar, worldwide corporation that is a consultant to fifty Fortune 500 companies, a major producer of television programming and credited as the single most important influence in turning sports into big business.
Listen to McCormack as he tells you how to -- read people -- create the right first impression -- take the leading edge -run and attend meetings -- the secrets of successful selling and moving up within the organization.
McCormack shares his experience, technique and wisdom, his street smart insights and skills, in a practical, how-to manner. Business will never be the same!
Customer Reviews:
A Must Read For Anyone Going Into Business.......2007-07-28
There are many books the shelves for the seasoned executive wanting to enhance his or her skills, but very few for the new executive crop.
Mark McCormack gives straightforward, no nonsense advise on the subtly of business that is not taught in ANY business school. The reader gets invaluable insights into the world of "the street smart executive" and how to immediately improve their people skills. While some of McCormack's "notes" may seem obvious to an experienced executive, the lessons are great examples of how interpersonal dealings can either make or break a business relationship. I highly recommend this book to anyone that wants to save the pain of trial by fire as they make their way through the corporate world. This is a must read for anyone wanting to be a "street smart executive".
The business book I recommend .......2007-02-28
This book may seem over-simplified to the consumate business person, but it is filled with parables from an extremely successful gentleman. It was required reading when I was taking graduate courses. When people ask about setting up a new business, I recommend this book.
Stright forward advice.......2006-02-15
McCormack's advice is stright forward which makes the book a quick and easy read. I tought he did justice to the topic of negotiations, which can trouble the best in the business at times. Even tough this book was written long time ago; the advice is relevent and easy to grasp. This book helped me and it is one of those books which leaves some sort of an impact on the reader.
Very disappointed.......2005-11-13
Antidotal stories, personal opinions, and somewhat painful to listen too. It was a great premise, but the delivery isn't very good. I wish I had saved my money and not purchased this book
Catchy Title.......2005-07-11
Catchy title, the author speaks from experience by sharing insights, wisdom, and advice. What don't they teach you at Harvard business school: How to be an effective salesman, how to negotiate, how to create flexible and dynamic organization, and how to stay in business?
Reading people: McCormack likes to meet people in person. He considers the meeting an aggressive experience where he looks for clues about the person: their mannerism, what they wear, and body language. He says, "But the real self-one's true nature-can't change color to suit its environment." McCormack is undeceived by the in person experience seeing through the corporate personae which is situational by looking for tangible evidences to form impressions and listening aggressively. McCormack tries not to make preconceived notions before meeting the client, such as, preconceived notions of mistrust. McCormack says, "Shrewd insights into people can be gained simply through the powers of observation." McCormack's faith in insight extends broadly, he says, "insight into people ... gives you the ability to predict the future." Ego makes a difference. A person's ego may be your strongest ally. A big ego may mean the person needs to assert themselves and this can be manipulated to close the deal. McCormack advises to take advantage of venue to close a deal by moving the client out of their environment of control. Silence can be an effective approach to winning, take time to use what you learn, time correctly, and be discreet are his advice in reading people.
Creating Impressions. How people relate to you in business is based on the conscious and unconscious statement you make about yourself; impressions are the art of manipulating form, sizing up between players, establishing the dynamic of negotiation, and establishes the tone and mode of doing business. Creating the right impressions can be as simple as treating people the way they want to be treated. Helpful suggestions include: dress as though you mean business, prepare for split second efficiency, don't be a time thief, meet on your own turf, say what you mean, and make notable gestures. Common sense is your best personal asset in business. A good sense of humor creates a long lasting impression. The key to coming across as your best self is by playing the role that features your strongest business qualities and hides your worst. McCormack, however errors in the following hedonistic statement, "The truth can be couched in such a way that it is neither insulting nor self destructive." It leads one to think "Salesmen never tell the truth."
Taking the Edge. McCormack defines "Taking the Edge" to mean taking everything you know about others and everything you have allow them to know about yourself and using this information to load the deck - to tilt a business situation slightly to your advantage.
The problem of Selling. By the time we enter the real world of business a new factor emerges, for the first time our power of persuasion, our sales abilities are being judged and this can be intimidating fearing rejection. One of the biggest problems that people have with selling is that it seems less important than twenty years ago. Selling is what they don't teach you at Harvard business school. Business Schools admit that they train managers MBA. He points out without sales there will be nothing to manage. McCormack prefers new hires with a legal degree. McCormack himself is a lawyer holding a seat on a prestigous NY Law firm, so of course, he is going to prefer lawyers to MBAs.
Staying in Business. McCormark believes in flexibility, cooporation, interdepartmental communication, and defying organization structure norms and guidelines too keep opportunities from being ignored.
Book Description
One L, Scott Turow's journal of his first year at law school introduces and a best-seller when it was first published in 1977, has gone on to become a virtual bible for prospective law students. Not only does it introduce with remarkable clarity the ideas and issues that are the stuff of legal education; it brings alive the anxiety and competiveness--with others and, even more, with oneself--that set the tone in this crucible of character building. Turow's multidimensional delving into his protagonists' psyches and his marvelous gift for suspense prefigure the achievements of his celebrated first novel, Presumed Innocent, one of the best-selling and most talked about books of 1987.Each September, a new crop of students enter Harvard Law School to begin an intense, often grueling, sometimes harrowing year of introduction to the law. Turow's group of One Ls are fresh, bright, ambitious, and more than a little daunting. Even more impressive are the faculty: Perini, the dazzling, combative professor of contracts, who presents himself as the students' antagonist in their struggle to master his subject; Zechman, the reserved professor of torts who seems so indecisive the students fear he cannot teach; and Nicky Morris, a young, appealing man who stressed the humanistic aspects of law.Will the One Ls survive? Will they excel? Will they make the Law Review, the outward and visible sign of success in this ultra-conservative microcosm? With remarkable insight into both his fellows and himself, Turow leads us through the ups and downs, the small triumphs and tragedies of the year, in an absorbing and throught-provoking narrative that teaches the reader not only about law school and the law but about the human beings who make them what they are.In the new afterword for this edition of One L, the author looks back on law school from the perspective of ten years' work as a lawyer and offers some suggestions for reforming legal education.
Customer Reviews:
Troubled water.......2007-08-18
The topicality of attorney Scott Turow's law school horror story "One L" may be in dispute, but its entertainment value is not. You don't even have to contemplate a future career in law to draw from Turow's tale those feelings we all get when we encounter a challenge before we even muster a step past the entrance, and from there it all piles up: There is uncertainty, exhaustion, pressure from life-threatening but unavoidable exams, and that particular teacher who EVERYONE whispers about. Of course, my personal favorite is the passionate and burning thirst for competition lurking in the darkest depths of each student. The real nasty part is that everybody tries his or her utmost best to conceal it, but make no mistake. That Law Review position looks mighty fine when you are combing through future areas of employment.
"One L" chronicles Mr. Turow's, indeed, "turbulent true story" at one of the most prestigious and influential legal coliseums in the United States, and his journey there constitutes endless opportunities to torture him and his classmates while the readers giggle in fiendish delight. Even more colorful are the characters we meet, including those in Turow's study group and the wickedly brilliant Professor Pereni.
The book approaches the almost holistic mysticism of Harvard Law School, turns the concept upside down, and reveals the nitty-gritty of the whole enterprise. Obviously, Harvard Law today and the Harvard Law of Scott Turow are as radically different now as night and day. Take this then as a window to the past, populated with creative creatures as its students (Hothschild comes to mind) and professors (the great Mr. Pereni), and those dreadful stories about pre-exam nights. Just don't let it keep you away from Harvard!
Comments from a Law Professor.......2007-07-29
I had my wife purchase One L for me because I wanted to be reminded of what it was like to be a law student again. It has been a long time and quite honestly, I had forgotten.
I had forgotten about study groups and the terror of the Socratic Method. I had forgotten about that law students can be terrified of their Professors, and that they are intrigued by the fine points of law which seem so new and unique to them.
Pushing back the frontiers of ignorance. It is what I do. It is what I hope to do better.
Empathy. One L has given me empathy for my students.
Mixed Bag.......2007-06-25
I read this book because the law student at Northwestern mentioned that although it was dated, it's an important book in terms of understanding what law school was/is like. As a person who will be attending law school next fall, I was somewhat disappointed with the book, but most likely for reasons out of Turow's control. If the book was meant solely as a description of his first year and nothing more, then it would be a tight account of many of the difficulties this person had as he navigated what he describes as the toughest year at arguably the best law school in the country. But that being said, Turow's account seems to take a slightly different angle in that it aims to primarily critique the collective law education process while being critical of the professors and other students (pseudo-fictional amalgamations of the actual people he went to school with and was taught under) at Harvard. I think what got to me was the constant oscillation between the pride he had at being at so prestigious an institution with the shame he almost exhibited as he slowly changed as a person as the year progressed, becoming as competitive and almost bitter as those around him. It's a tough sell when much of the book comes out as whining and because it's so time specific, the whining doesn't seem like the kind of thing that can sustain the book for readers from this decade let alone readers in the future. I think the book is important as a period piece, an insider's guide to law school, but there's just something that it lacks for a broader audience. If I wasn't going to law school, I would have said the book was a waste of my time, since it doesn't seem to do enough other than provide the perspective of a very neurotic, though intelligent and successful writer's take on his tough transition from being a graduate professor of literature at Stanford to a law student. If this review seems a little confusing, suffice to say that if you want to go to law school, go ahead and read it, if not, take a pass. You may as well read a blog online.
okay...but a bit melodramatic.......2007-05-25
Turow's One L in an interesting read. His easy prose style will keep you engaged with the 'characters' in the story, and his penchant for drama will keep you turning pages. I gave the book 4 stars because of Turow's writing style and his inclusion of legal terms, description of classes, exams, and study groups. It is apparent that he wrote this book for those who were contemplating law school. Even though his perspective is dated, I think he successfully channeled the highs and lows of the trials of obtaining an advanced degree at a top university. Turow's bleeding heart sentiments about the perils of the HLS education and his open disdain for the pedagogy of certain professors were the weakest areas of the work.
With that said, I did feel that Turow and some of his acquaintances should have been put on suicide watch or given a valium. Most of them appeared very uptight, and overly sensitive to the competitive nature of the class environment and criticism of the professors, which is often the custom in any graduate/professional class. As a former graduate student and lecturer in English at another prestigious university--Stanford--Turow should have been more amenable to the teaching styles and challenges presented, jmho. But I did read this over 25 yrs later so my Gen-Y student experience would naturally clash with the student experience of the late 70s. Warning: Be mindful of the generation gap!
As a student who is thinking about law school, I was not frightened or put off by One L. A good read but by no means my only source.
ACCURATE DEPICTION OF LAW SCHOOL EDUCATION.......2007-05-21
I have read this book twice. A very rare thing for me to do. I have practiced law for over 30 years and this accurately portrays the trials and tribulations of law students. I volunteer as a career mentor at Franciscan University of Steubenville. Another attorney and I place this at the top of our suggested reading list for students who are curious about the legendary legal education environment. Good stuff.
Book Description
With increased selectivity by colleges across the board, students feel more pressure than ever to craft an application essay that will sway admissions offices in their favor. This newly revised and diverse collection illustrates proven strategies for tackling the college essay. Each essay was used by a Harvard student on his or her application and is followed by analysis by the staff of The Harvard Crimson, who help give perspective on what works well and what detracts from an otherwise compelling essay. A thorough introduction also explains how to avoid common essay pitfalls, find your voice, and emphasize your strengths. 50 Successful Harvard Application Essays is an inspiration to every student whos staring at a blank computer screen having trouble expressing what truly sets him or her apart.
Customer Reviews:
Extremely Interesting.......2006-11-10
These essays were very good, some of them were very moving. I found that this book explained the college essay process and was an easy read.
Essay-writing.......2006-11-03
This is a fantastic collection of application essays. If you or your child is in need of examples of well-written essays, these 50 essays are just the thing for you. Not only are the essays themselves printed, the book also provides an analysis for each, by the Staff of "The Harvard Crimson". Within each analysis, you learn what topics to choose, what to avoid and how to keep the reader from discarding your essay. If they worked for Harvard students, they'll definitely help you with your school.
The essays are very interesting to read even if you're not applying for college!.......2006-01-16
I bought this book because I tutor English off and on and I was thinking of expanding my tutoring to help high school students write their college essays. I saw this on sale at my local Borders and I thought, well why not? It would give me some samples to show students and help me to focus on certain essentials that make a good essay.
As I started reading the essays, I was so surprised at the depth and creative writing skills of these students. When I went to undergrad, the essay that I wrote was very standard. I talked about my goals and dreams and what kind of student I was, but I didn't turn it into a story (even though I am a writer and stories have been a crucial form of communication for me for years). At the time, I didn't know that it could be done. While I did get into all of the schools to which I applied, I wish I had known that creativity was encouraged in admissions essays.
Since then, I have seen fabulous winning essays to top schools (such as the ones included in this book) and I realize that focusing on a key event of your life and letting it tell a deeper story is part of what connects the admissions counselors to you as a person and reveals depth of character.
This book has really great essays. Some of the commentaries following the essays are better than others. I think, unfortunately, because the reviewers are professional writers, they are more critical than the actual admissions counselors might be because they want you to submit "A" quality work. I think telling your story from the heart is more important than tiny details that only a literary editor would pay strong attention to. Organization is important as is a basic understanding of grammar, but you don't need to get so caught up in the technical aspects of writing this essay that you loose your natural voice.
Other than that, I think this book is a great resource for students (or parents helping their children) who want to go to a university or private college. It is organized efficiently so that you can see the different approaches that various students have chosen and, in general, the commentaries can assist you in pinpointing why a particular essay was so effective. I wish you the best of luck!
Still the best.......2005-09-06
The second edition is much better than the first. The new essays are more timely and the critiques are very insightful. Any high school student can benefit from reading this book and learning different writing techniques and tones for both College essays and school papers.
Brilliant Brilliant Book.......2005-08-15
College essays are so important. They allow you to frame your application, and tie all your disparate achievements together to form a coherent application. I would go so far as to say that the first edition of this book single-handedly got me into Harvard. And the second edition is even better! There are new essays, a more diverse range, and the commentary on the essays is lengthier and more insightful. I especially liked the new essay by Harrison Greenbaum about magic. A must read for anybody who is applying to a competitive college.
Book Description
In 1997 Harvard College dedicated a gate into the Old Yard to celebrate the 25th anniversary of housing female students in the dorms. Intended as a symbol of opening, it was also a reminder of separation. Women have always been an important part of Harvard, but they have often functioned "outside the gate." This compelling collection explores the fences, real and symbolic, that overshadow women from institutions--and reveals the importance of looking at history with gender in mind. From the early days of Radcliffe, one of the Seven Sisters, to the interaction of teachers and students, to the Harvard community of working people, non-whites, and women, these essays explore aspirations as well as marginality. They celebrate the resilience of Radcliffe, which has transformed its image, in one generation, from a stepping stone to eventual integration with "the men" to a significant institution focused on women--an end desirable in itself. These are stories about once-locked gates, and those who opened them.
Customer Reviews:
Disappointing........2004-04-06
This book is actually a collection of very short essays and snippets from newspaper articles. There are opinions put forth but very little analysis that is grounded in theory. Furthermore, some of the essays, while offering interesting insights, also present their respective authors' mistaken understandings of some of the history of Harvard and Racliffe, and the mistakes undermine the articles' cogency. One also wonders how the editor went about selecting which essays/ remembrances to include and whether others were conveniently left out.
All in all, this book comes across as both cheap and weak intellectually. Too bad, as the editor had a fascinating topic to work with.
Book Description
"YOUR LIFE IN 300 WORDS OR LESS . . ."Business school application essays are among the hardest pieces that many of us will ever write. So diverse and successful are the applicants to the nation's top business schools that your essays need to do more than simply illuminate your background and accomplishments: they must also clearly demonstrate your writing skills and ensure that you stand out from the pack.LEARN BY EXAMPLE65 Successful Harvard Business School Application Essays show you essays that worked and helped their authors gain admission into America'snumber-one business school. Wherever you're applying, the range of topics, writing styles, and ideas showcased by these writers are truly inspiring.- HOW TO AVOID COMMON PITFALLS - LEARN WHAT WORKS - GET YOUR MESSAGE ACROSSEach essay topic is introduced, and each individual essay is followed by analysis from a writer for The Harbus, the Harvard Business School student newspaper. 65 Successful Harvard Business School Application Essays will give you the help you need!
Customer Reviews:
Good 2nd or 3rd book.......2007-09-14
This book is good, but not great. I would recommend this as a good 2nd or 3rd book to have. Start of with Robert Montauk, as it will provide better context for this this book.
Another thing to note is that thhese are not 65 complete applications, rather 65 essays. I was a little bummber when I realized that.
Really helps.......2007-01-03
This book has several example of essays that really help you to create your winning aproach not only for Harvard but also other BSchool
Nice to Have.......2006-09-30
Although I do recommend this book for MBA hopefuls looking to get into top 30 schools - not just HBS, I want to add that this is a "nice to have" for the prospective MBA student. It is not a "must have." The sample essays here will inspire you in that, you will see that to get admitted, you don't actually have to be all that great of a writer. In fact, you might read this and wonder just HOW some of these essays led to admission. But I think this shows what I read one admissions officer say about getting in - those who are admitted to top b-schools typically show how they did seemingly ordinary things in an extraordinary way. What I also like about this book of essays is that it shows you how some "broke the mold" and were creative in their approach - yet still ultimately successful. There are some "cookie cutter" essays here, but there are actually some that are very creative and engaging.
A few words of advice if you buy this - one, make sure you pair this with a more comprehensive book on MBA admissions, such as Richard Montauk's,"How to Get Into the Top MBA Programs." Two, remember that you don't have all of the information to evaluate the candidates whose essays are featured. Three, take a look at this book AFTER you've drafted your essays. I know it's tempting to want to see examples when you are having a hard time drafting your own work, but I'd advise only looking at example essays after you've done the hard (and sometimes frustrating) work of completing an entire set of your own essays. This will help to ensure that you are crafting your essays in your voice and in your own unique way. Look at these examples as one way to help you drive your revisions. Four, after you read an essay in this book - do your own analysis of the essay first - before you read the analysis that comes after the essay. Then compare your analysis with the analysis in the book.
Basically, do some really hard work - don't read these before drafting your essays. Do your own analysis of the featured essays. What I believe is that this type of hard work will strengthen your own candidacy and application more than trying to read the samples first and then have what you read influence and drive your first drafts.
Good Samples & Analysis.......2005-08-10
Different from other essay collection books, it straightly starts with real sample essays & analysis, and both sample and analysis are great. What I like most of this essay, it removes the boring parts of some general direction on "how to write essays." Instead it has analysis of each essay, and it helps me to design my essay greatly. However, if someone needs the guideline of writing essay by each topic, he or she may need one more book.
Thoughts about this book.......2005-05-14
This book shows you application essays of people who have been accepted to HBS. The editors also comment each essay.
Overall, I'd say the book offers a pretty good overview, it may trigger some thoughts and give indications as to 1) what the application office might be looking for, 2) the characteristics of a typical HBS student. I like the fact that the editors comment both strengths and weaknesses of each essay.
Some 'issues':
1. The book is created by the Harbus news corporation, an independent nonprofit entity, not the Harvard Business School. Since the essays were not chosen/commented by the admissions office, the sample may not properly represent typical entries (perhaps only the 'best ones', perhaps only ones by students/friends who the editor personally knows etc), nor the factors that actually determine admission (for sure they show factors that _the editors BELIEVE_ are important for admission).
2. You will not see any examples of how NOT to write your essay. Such a contrasting view would have been useful for figuring out exactly what the admission office is looking for, what they want to learn about you as an applicant/potential member of the community.
3. You will not see examples of essays of ppl who were accepted to other comparable schools, hence it is difficult to figure out exactly what make HBS students different from typical students at i.e. at Kellogg, Stanford, Wharton.
Usuage: I'd have a look at this book before writing my HBS apps, then contrast my impression of HBS students and the HBS community with what I have learned about the students and community of other schools, following which I'd use this knowledge to properly design essays that match my impression of what the adm office wants to learn about me. With some drafts at hand, I'd show my essays to an alumni/discuss with him/her how to go about/tweak the application.
Customer Reviews:
Fun, but out of date.......2007-07-25
This is the 80's edition, and mentions mostly faded sports starts. INteresting, and useful, but dated. Try "What they STILL don't teach you..."
Don't be fooled.........2006-03-13
If you are in the business, this book can be a little educational.
The main point in the successful of a business is the PR and have a vast (or worthy) business net and the reputation.
Negotiation is important but you will have nothing if you cannot start a negotiation. You think that can make a deal with a famous? Mark H. Mccormack amass a fortune not only following this instructions in this book, also with their contacts and he say nothing about it. ;-) Of course only a dumbass can success in the life and talk about their secret to how to obtain it.
Anyways, the book is a little boring.
Is It Possible They Still Don't Teach It At Harvard?.......2002-10-22
Mr. McCormack reminds us of the fundamentals and basic goals of business in order to succeed and prosper. The book is quite clear and informative. It's the kind of book that you want to share with everyone, but on the other hand keep it to yourself because what you learn from this book will make you appear like a genius. This is a book that everyone from students to business managers and owners should read. It's a quick and easy read with long-lasting practical benefits. It is a must read.
A Must Read.......2001-08-06
I read McCormack's first book right out of college and use his advice daily. He has a no-nonsense approach to business and understands business is about common sense and relationships. This is an important book that everyone from the recent college graduate to the CEO should read. It is a must read.
How To Become a Successful Negotiator.......2001-02-07
This book applies by all circumstances and all field of our life to improve its quality. I would like to pay more attention to the following 5 points of view and learn how to control your bad luck.
1. In charge of host not guest. He says, "Do prepare the things they are never expecting at the meeting. This means surprised something always can enforce the relationship between you and them. Get ready? Go for it. 2. Know about your customer or client first before you let them purchase your produts. Keep listening and watching their body and oral language to understand what they want rather than emphasize your desire. That's the point. This may lead you high performance.
3. Avoid conflicting. Excellent negotiator can be able to endure until right time coming with perseverance to win finally.
4. More listen less speak. Open your ears and close your mouth toward others. It will lead to successful businessmen but difficult to do.
5. Remind the importance of time management Persuade your time or you will be conquered by it. Manage it minute by minute effectively. In this case, we don't need speed. We need depth.
His lesson is still available even though 13 years over from his writing time.
Book Description
Making Harvard Modern is a candid, richly detailed portrait of America's most prominent university from 1933 to the present: seven decades of dramatic change. Early twentieth century Harvard was the country's oldest and richest university, but not necessarily its outstanding one. By the century's end it was widely regarded as the nation's, and the world's, leading institution of higher education. With verve, humor, and insight, Morton and Phyllis Keller tell the story of that rise: a tale of compelling personalities, notable achievement and no less notable academic pratfalls. Their book is based on rich and revealing archival materials, interviews, and personal experience. Young, humbly born James Bryant Conant succeeded Boston Brahmin A. Lawrence Lowell as Harvard's president in 1933, and set out to change a Brahmin-dominated university into a meritocratic one. He hoped to recruit the nation's finest scholars and an outstanding national student body. But the lack of new money during the Depression and the distractions of World War Two kept Conant, and Harvard, from achieving this goal. In the 1950s and 1960s, during the presidency of Conant's successor Nathan Marsh Pusey, Harvard raised the money, recruited the faculty, and attracted the students that made it a great meritocratic institution: America's university. The authors provide the fullest account yet of this transformation, and of the wrenching campus crisis of the late 'sixties. During the last thirty years of the twentieth century, a new academic culture arose: meritocratic Harvard morphed into worldly Harvard. During the presidencies of Derek Bok and Neil Rudenstine the university opened its doors to growing numbers of foreign students, women, African- and Asian-Americans, and Hispanics. Its administration, faculty, and students became more deeply engaged in social issues; its scientists and professional schools were more ready to enter into shared commercial ventures. But worldliness brought its own conflicts: over affirmative action and political correctness, over commercialization, over the ever higher costs of higher education. This fascinating account, the first comprehensive history of a modern American university, is essential reading for anyone with an interest in the present state and future course of higher education.
Book Description
It was an experiment . . .
but no one could have predicted the results.
For eight weeks FInCOM agent P.J. Richards is being given access to the absolutely-no-women-allowed world of the U.S. Navy SEALs, and she isn't about to let anyone tell her she can't hack it. P.J. can't afford to be distracted by anything . . .or anyone. And that includes Senior Chief "Harvard" Becker.
Harvard believes that there is no room for women in a combat zone. It's too dangerous, too tough . . .and with P.J. involved, too distracting. He might respect her sharp intellect and her shooting abilities, but he still doesn't want the responsibility of making sure she stays alive. But P.J. isn't a woman who backs down easily, and to her mind, Harvard has a lot to learn. She just doesn't expect him to be so eager to instruct her on other subjects . . .like trust, desire and maybe even love.
Customer Reviews:
Training doesn't take place in Korea.......2006-11-19
I'm writing this in response to a post below. I saw it quoted and I don't want people believing Ms Brockmann is so sloppy. The quote from the book is, "They'd taken an Air Force flight all the way to South Korea. Now, by sea, they were approaching the tiny island nation where their latest in training op was to take place." They flew to Korea and from there went by sea to the (fictional) island nation. As far as I can remember, Brockmann uses fictional countries for her stories.
HARVARD'S EDUCATION.......2006-08-23
FROM THE BACK COVER:
For eight weeks FInCOM agent P.J. Richards is being given access to the absolutely-no-women-allowed world of the U.S. Navy SEALs, and she isn't about to be distrated by anything...or anyone. And that includes Senior Chief "Harvard" Becker. Harvard believes that there is no room for women in a combat zone. It's too dangerous, too tough...and with P.J. involved, too distracting. He might respect her sharp intellect and her shooting abilities, but he still doesn't want the responsibility of making sure she stays alive. But P.J. isn't a woman who backs down easily, and to her mind, Harvard has a lot to learn.
NOT set in Korea, as otherwise posted.......2005-12-10
I'm attempting to correct an error made by the reviewer 'scorpio' who said that Ms. Brockmann made an uneducated error by calling Korea an island nation. The name of the nation is not disclosed in this book, but in its subsequent sequel, It Came Upon a Midnight Clear (Hawken's Heart), we learn that it happened in Hong Kong. In this book, it is only ever referred to as "the island nation' or 'Southeast Asia.' The only mention of Korea is the nickname of one of the tango's, Kim - The Korean, which we learn in the next book is because his father was from there. So this book does not contain a glaring factual error. It is well written and entertaining.
Ooops...some research required, please!.......2005-09-29
I love Suzanne Brockmann's books and make a point of reading every single one I can get my hands on. Her books provide a great deal of info and insight on the lives of some of the toughest men on earth, both professional and personal.
That said... I was sadly disappointed and even mildly amused to see a major mistake in this book. The "island nation" that P.J. and Havard end up on, Korea, is not an island at all, but a peninsula. Nor is it ruled by druglords and it certainly doesn't have any jungles. Sorry, wrong climate. Why Ms Brockmann didn't conjure up a fictional name is beyond me. It makes me wonder if the facts are straight on all the other countries that have been mentioned in her books. What kind of editor let such a mistake go? But wait, it gets even better. In another book, "Hawken's Heart", the same mistake is repeated. I literally cringed. I guess no one has enlightened Ms. Brockmann yet. Maybe I'm taking this too seriously, but I do feel that I need to bring this up. I really don't think I could bear reading it in another book.
A Great Addition To A Great Series!!!.......2004-08-27
I can honestly say that this series keeps getting better and better. I missed these stories the first time around, so I've been picking them up with the re-issues! I've been looking forward to Harvard's story for quite sometime and it was well worth the wait.
This was a fast-paced read with all of our old favorite characters coming back (Blue, Joe Cat...) and Harvard has been teamed with the perfect lady.
P.J. has stepped into the world of the Navy SEAL's and she is not going to let any man (including Harvard) tell her she can't do something. She's a perfect match for Harvard. Harvard believes that a combat zone is just not the place for a lady, especially a lady that makes him feel the things he feels like desire, and passion. She may be with FInCOM and he may admire the way her mind works, but he wants nothing to do with her form of distraction out in the field. Problem with his thinking is he's dealing with one strong willed lady who is more then capable of taking care of herself and perhaps him as well!
This is a series is great. The characters are real and you can't help but be drawn into their world. This is a series and an author that I highly recommend.
Official Reviewer for www.romancedesigns.com
Books:
- Mama Day
- Nephilim and the Pyramid: Nephilim and the Pyramid of the Apocalypse
- New X-Men Omnibus
- No Sheep for You: Knit Happy with Cotton, Silk, Linen, Hemp, Bamboo & Other Delights
- Owl Moon
- Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid
- Pardon My English - Vocal Score
- PATH, THE: CREATING YOUR MISSION STATEMENT FOR WORK AND FOR LIFE
- Pattern Classification (2nd Edition)
- Q & A: A Novel
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Web Project Management: Delivering Successful Commercial Web Sites
- The Honeymoon's Over: True Stories of Love, Marriage, and Divorce
- Play Piano in a Flash! Play Your Favorite Songs Like a Pro--Whether You've Had Lessons or Not!
- Papa Rico, Papa Pobre: Lo Que Ensenan los Ricos a Sus Hijos Sobre el Dinero-que los Pobres y la Clas
- Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Resource Kit
- The Macho Paradox: Why Some Men Hurt Women and and How All Men Can Help
- Sam Walton: Made In America
- Your Money: Total Financial Planning on Your Computer
- Publishing Economics: Analyses of the Academic Journal Market in Economics
- Diary of a Mad Housewife: A Novel
General
| Education
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
What the Best College Teachers Do
My Freshman Year: What a Professor Learned by Becoming a Student
How College Affects Students: A Third Decade of Research (Jossey-Bass Higher & Adult Education)
Student Success in College: Creating Conditions That Matter
Student Development in College: Theory, Research, and Practice (Jossey Bass Higher and Adult Education Series)
