TOW #26 - Looking Beyond the Ivy League (IRB)

 
     

     For my final IRB book, I chose to reader Loren Pope's "Looking Beyond the Ivy League." Having spent many years working as an expert on the college application process, Pope is a very credible resource on advice for choosing colleges. She has written many books on the secrets of good applications, how to chose the right school for you, and how to write a good college application. In this book, she focuses on why an Ivy League school is not a guarantee match for every student and how to determine whether a school is good for you. Pope is able to convey this message to her audience effectively through her use of expert testimonials and anecdotes. 
     Pope begins her book by going through a list of common college myths and proving them wrong. The first myth that she addresses is that "an Ivy League school will absolutely guarantee the rich, successful life" (3). She proves this false with her claim that "liberal education in the research universities is a project in ruins" (3). Realizing that many of her readers may not buy her claim, she uses a former Harvard dean and Princeton scholar to provide a second opinion. He, too, believes that there is no hope of change in Ivy League schools that will provide students with a liberal education. Pope continues to use expert testimonials when she mentions Harvard's Dr. Harry Lewis, who is a notable author for writing in detail about his school's failings and their causes: "H is for Harvard and Hypocricy" (2). The purpose of higher level education is to help teenagers find themselves and their passions, but as Pope well-craftedly points out, Ivy League school do not always guarantee such an experience. 
     Pope continues to touch upon the college application process, and through her use of anecdotes she is able to have the reader better connect with the message being conveyed. Looking for colleges that are right for you is an extremely stressful process that she and many of her students have gone through and understand. She includes their experiences of going to an open campus college tour and meeting the admissions office for an in depth information session. By including personal experiences as well as stories from her own students, Pope adds the personal element into her book. She offers information on the application process, and this personal element helps to reassure her readers that you don't have to attend an Ivy League school to be successful in life. 
     Lauren Pope has spent many years studying colleges, the admissions process, and overall what makes a college great. From her studies, she has come to the realization that an Ivy League school is not necessary to be successful in life. Through expert testimonials and anecdotes, Pope is able to break down the common stigma and instead encourage students to pursue a college that is actually right for them.