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The Five Year Party - Book Review

Five Year Party Thinking about sending your child to the local college? Read this book before you enroll your student. The Five Year Party by Craig Brandon, a former college professor at a “party school” shares what happened on his college campus, and on college campuses across America.

Brandon, who has won multiple awards for his writing, builds a strong case against the current college system – especially against party schools which provide what he calls a “sub-prime” education. Check out some of the stats he presents:

These party schools view students as customers and try their hardest to maintain a high retention rate. As college tuition continues to rise at astronomical rates, these schools are able to provide students with amenities such as state-of-the-art student centers, massages, roving ice cream carts, Jacuzzis, multi-million dollar sports complexes, and plush housing for upperclassmen. What isn’t improving is educational quality. Students aren't paying for education, they are paying for an experience.

As colleges try to keep their “customers” happy, grades are falsely inflated. By grading on the curve, students who should be receiving D and F grades are now getting A and B grades. College professors are encouraged to dumb-down classes to keep students enthusiastic about their college experience that often stretches beyond the four years it traditionally takes to get a degree. Many students are taking six years to finish their degrees, increasing the cost of their education by 50%.

Poor educational quality is just one of the issues Brandon addresses. He raises serious questions about binge drinking, white-washed campus crime statistics, and the obscure FERPA law which colleges invoke to keep parents in the dark about the truth about how their student is doing on campus. Be aware though that as the book delves into the social problems rampant on college campuses, explicit language is used. This is a book for parents, not young students.

The Five Year Party is an excellent book for parents who are seriously considering sending their child to college. Brandon includes a list of hard questions to ask on college tours to get an accurate view of the school. The Wall Street Journal called it a "useful handbook for parents to pack when they take their teenager on a college tour."

Want to get a great education without the high costs of a traditional school? There's no need to get on the six-year plan. Click here to find out how CollegePlus! can help you.

FTC disclosure: The Five Year Party was provided free of charge from BenBella Books in exchange for an honest review.

Caitlin Caitlin went on the three year plan to get her BA in Journalism. She did not go to a school with Jacuzzis, multi-million dollar student entertainment complexes, or a snazzy college viewbook. But she did graduate debt-free and far ahead of her peers.

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