SEARCH ENGINES, BOOKS, WEBSITES, CONTESTS, TOOLS & OTHER INFO...  

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These books and resources are WELL WORTH the time.  Learn something new; your brain will thank you!

 

College search  engines &  ranking sites:

If you believe in rankings, better to use those that compare colleges and universities across the globe. Google, Apple, IBM, LVMH, and all multinational companies recruit around the world - the US is not their only source for skills and talent. Where else are they recruiting for internships or posting job opportunities? 

• College Board search engine  

• QS (international reputation rankings, big picture, from Australia)

• Times Higher Ed (international rankings, an organization in the UK)

• Shanghai Rankings (China's ranking of the top 1000)

• CWUR (another global ranking, top 1000, based out of Ontario)

• Washington Monthly   (quality ranking system top schools in the US) , their "Best Bang for the Buck" page, Best ROI Washington Monthly (by region)

• National Center for Education Statistics, (general info/college stats, search engine)

• College Express  (general info/search engine)

• US Department of Education scorecard site  

• The Economist (The Economist ROI ranking, scroll down to complete register to avoid subscription)

• TIME Influencer Tool  (TIME Magazine, alumni-based)

• Alumni Factor (focus on student outcomes vs. university research, rank based on  alumni financial success, intellectual development, career preparation, etc.)

• Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (websites for schools, data, etc.)

• Massachusetts higher education information

• Texas high school rankings

• US News high school rankings 

• Athletic spending data, university level

• Data from the National Center for Education Statistics provided by the US government

*** COMMON DATA SET INSTRUCTIONS. If you want very specific data on a particular school (i.e., how important certain parts of the application process are/essay, interview, etc., or statistics of the incoming freshman class, etc.), type "common data set __________" or "common data elements ___________________" and fill in the blank with the school name, then add "filetype:PDF" so it will pull up the standard PDF all schools complete. Some schools may provide a different PDF or a web page with links, so those may require a search within their site to find the statistics. You want to look at the section which provides you information on the previous freshman class (Section C). What scores did they have? GPAs? How many were admitted vs. waitlisted or rejected? In any case, it will provide you with targeted information to help you understand where you need to be for admission. Also, read through the section on application requirements in order to understand what a particular school values most during the process. Example: A search for "common data set University of Connecticut filetype:PDF" pulls up this link: https://oire.uconn.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2013/12/CDS_2015_2016.pdf. The more you know, the more you control the process!

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Centralized application systems abroad:

• England, UCAS, search for degrees (courses in the UK) schools, and applications 

• China admissions

• Currency converter

 

College student review    sites:

• https://www.unigo.com/

• https://www.collegeconfidential.com/

• https://www.niche.com/?ref=colleges

• https://www.studentsreview.com/

• https://www.gradreports.com/colleges

• http://www.ratemyprofessors.com/

• What Will They Learn is an independent group grading each university as to whether they deliver on promises to students. You will be a bit surprised as to the 22 receiving an "A."

• Again, the government's Scorecard college search site

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Books by topic:

College...

Colleges That Change Lives, by Loren Pope, and the College That Change Lives site

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Outwitting College Professors: An Insider's Guide to the Secrets of the System, by John Janovy, Jr.

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Academically Adrift: Limited Learning on College Campuses, by Richard Arum, Aspiring Adults Adrift, by Richard Arum and Josipa Roksa 

 

The brain, traits &  behaviors...

Curious: The Desire to Know and Why Your Future Depends on It, by Ian Leslie

 

Creating Innovators, by Tony Wagner

 

How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character, by Paul Tough 

 

The Brain That Changes Itself, by Dr. Norman Doidge 

 

This Will Make You Smarter, and Curious Minds: How a Child Becomes a Scientist, by John Brockman 

 

Coming of Age on Zoloft: How Antidepressants Cheered Us Up, Let Us Down, and Changed Who We Are, by Katherine Sharpe 

 

The Smartest Kids in the World: And How They Got That Way, by Amanda Ripley

 

The Art of Doing: How Superachievers Do What They Do and How They Do It So Well, by Camille Sweeney

 

The Genius in All of Us: New Insights Into Genetics, Talent, and IQ, by David Shenk

 

Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes, by Maria Konnikova

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Thinking Fast and Slow, by Daniel Kahneman 

 

The Art of Changing the Brain, by James Zull

 

Globalization and  the future...

“Our nation’s long-term ability to succeed in exporting to the growing global marketplace hinges on the abilities of today’s students.” - J. Willard Marriott, Jr., Chairman and CEO, Marriott International, Inc.

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The Age of Discovery: Navigating the Risks and Rewards of Our New Renaissance, by Ian Goldin and Chris Kutarna  This book is a MUST read. 

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The Third Wave: An Entrepreneur's Vision of the Future, by Steve Case

 

Connectography: Mapping the Future of Global Civilization, by Parag Khanna

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First Globals: Understanding, Managing & Unleashing the Potential of Our Millennial Generation, by John Zogby and Joan Snyder Kuhl

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Tech Titans of China, by Rebecca Fannin

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Fluent Forever, by Gabriel Wyner 

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How to Learn Any Language, by Barry Farber

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17 year-old/polyglot, Tim Doner: http://bit.ly/1oHA8E7  

 

The Global Achievement Gap: Why Even Our Best Schools Don’t Teach the New Survival Skills Our Children Need—and What We Can Do About It, by Tony Wagner

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AI and the Future of Creative Work, by Michael Filimowicz

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The Future of Money: How the Digital Revolution is Transforming Currencies and Finance, by Eswar S. Prasad

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Experience on Demand: What Virtual Reality is, How It Works, and What It Can Do, by Dr. Jeremy Bailenson

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Real Estate's New World Order: How Demographics, Data, and Digitization are Transforming Investments in the World's Largest Asset Class, by Omar Al Kurdi

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Read Write Own: Building the Next Era of the Internet, by Chris Dixon

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Three Ages of Water: Prehistoric Past, Imperiled Present, and a Hope for the Future, by Peter Gleick

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Pricing the Priceless: The Financial Tranformation to Value the Planet, Solve the Climate Crisis, and Protect Our Most Precious Assets, by Paula DiPerna

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Hacking the Code of Life: How Gene Editing Will Rewrite Our Futures, by Nessa Carey

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The Future of Happiness: 5 Modern Strategies For Balancing Productivity and Well-Being in the Digital Era, by Amy Blankson

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Are They Really Ready to Work, Multiple organizations conducted an in-depth study regarding the readiness of American youth to enter the US workforce based on the level of educational completion. Definitely worth the read. Survey respondents not only indicated which skills were critical (leadership, communication, creativity, critical thinking/problem solving, professionalism/work ethic, etc.) but ranked new entrants into the workforce using three categories: deficient, adequate, and excellent.

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International business and global strategy...

Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make the Competition Irrelevant, by W. Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne

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Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analyzing Industries and Competitors, by Michael E. Porter

 

Import/Export: How to Take Your Business Across Borders, by Carl Nelson

Winning in Emerging Markets: A Road Map for Strategy and Execution, by Tarun Khanna and Krishna G. Palepu 

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Redefining Global Strategy: Crossing Borders in a World Where Differences Still Matter, by Pankaj Ghemawat

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Global Tilt: Leading Your Business Through the Great Economic Power Shift, by Ram Charan

 

The Big Pivot: Radically Practical Strategies for Hotter, Scarcer, and More Open Worlds, by Andrew S. Winston

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Leading with Cultural Intelligence: The Real Secret to Success, by David Livermore and Soon Ang

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Being Global: How to Think, Act, and Lead in a Transformed World, by Angel Cabrera and Gregory Unruh

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Negotiating Globally: How to Negotiate Deals, Resolve Disputes, and Make Decisions Across Cultural Boundaries, by Jeanne M. Brett

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