Interesting Writing Elsewhere on Education

I like the idea of providing some links to compelling reading about education. Though I wouldn't want this blog to become a link dump, I think it is appropriate to link to outside work from time to time. Thus, without further ado:

1. A Los Angeles Times (free subscription required) opinion piece on the soaring costs associated with attending some private institutions. The target of this particular screed is George Washington University, which recently became the first college in the United States to charge over $50,000 a year for tuition ($39,000/year) plus assorted fees, housing included. Though the first university to hit the $50K barrier, it will not be the last. What I like about the article is that it explicates the dirty reasons as to why the price of an education has risen so dramatically over the past decade.

2. An article from Inside Higher Ed on the upcoming novel, Acceptance, about the ridiculous nature of admissions to highly competitive colleges and universities. The novel is a satire of the entire process, from selecting the right preschool, to the hiring of consultants to help an applicant flush out their profile. In an admissions world that puts so much pressure on students to get into the "best" colleges, it is not surprising the measures people are resorting to.

3. A National Public Radio series on "The College Admissions Game." This is an examination of the issues surrounding how college admissions became so nutty, alternatives to following the herd, and tips for surviving the process with some integrity.

Enjoy!