College Life: Perspectives from Students and Instructors

Gr 10 Up—Navigating the minefield of college life is the theme of this program, aimed at helping youth prepare for all the issues they will encounter. There are an array of interviews with students, professors, alumni, dropouts, and head hunters, but virtually no parents. The emphasis on financial realities hits hard. There's also a lot of information about choosing a school, a major, and whether to take courses on campus or online. Students in small groups and individually speak about their experiences, hopes realized or dashed, and the social aspects of college life. Altruistic students attending school primarily for the enrichment of learning appear in the minority. Care is taken to include a diverse group of speakers. A whopping 27 chapters cover pre-college preparation through the job search after graduation. The breadth of topics often makes the production feel rushed and somewhat overwhelming. Instructors helping high school students prepare for the application process may want to show this program in segments, eliciting discussion after each chapter. Honest, fast-paced, and sensitive to student life, this is a good choice for high schools.—Robin Levin, Ft. Washakie School, WY