Best Colleges - 2016 Edition

For more than 30 years, U.S. News & World Report's "Best Colleges" has been the definitive guide to undergraduate study in the United States. As The Washington Post said, "You can't pass up the granddaddy of college rankings." But the Best Colleges guidebook is much more, as the Post also noted: Perhaps the best part . . . is all of the articles offering advice on college admissions, studying abroad, application fees and anything else you might want to know about."

The 2016 edition will guide you through the college-admissions process from SATs and ACTs, through finding (and getting into) your dream college, to financing your education without piling up debt. Education journalists dig into such emerging trends as business schools incorporating more liberal arts courses, changes to the SAT test, and how colleges are battling sexual violence. Admissions officers and other experts provide advice on planning your college search, including what to say and what not to say on applications and essays.

As "USA Today" noted, the guidebook "gathers up all the pertinent information about a college and some of the best advice possible, all in one organized place." A 160-page directory section profiles nearly 1,600 colleges that adMISSION POSSIBLE said is appreciated by college-admissions professionals for the "up-to-date information it provides re median 25th-75th percentile scores for all the colleges in the US, as well as current information on application deadlines, ethnic make-up of the colleges, most popular majors, and expenses for tuition, room and board."

And of course there are U.S. News' exclusive rankings. Based on extensive data and analysis. The rankings highlight a variety of schools - large national universities and small liberal arts colleges, top best undergraduate business and engineering programs, state-supported colleges, "best value" schools, and historically black colleges and universities. Also noted are colleges that excel in such areas as providing internships and undergraduate research - and those where graduates carry the least debt.

Other chapters include:

• Tame Your Test Anxiety

• Is Greek Life Right for You?

• A+ Schools for B Students

• Consider A Public Honors College

• Your College Search To-Do List, starting with freshman year of high school

• The Inside Scoop on Financial Aid

• Work-study, STEM scholarships, and how to save money on textbooks