The Good College

“The Good College provides an indispensable look into what smart college consumers need to know when creating a college list and evaluating their choices. The high-stakes college admission process is pockmarked with land mines, but The Good College will get you safely to the finish line.”

~ Lynn O’Shaughnessy, Founder of The College Solution, Higher-ed Author, Journalist, Speaker

“Most families begin their college search knowing almost nothing about particular colleges. Worse yet, most do not know what questions to ask or how to assess the answers they receive if they do ask. What I admire most about Stuart Nachbar’s work is that he is a gifted “explainer.” His essays and interviews do an exceptional job of showing families not only what to look for when they research colleges, but also when to be skeptical about what they read or hear. Whether the subject is financial aid, admissions, academics, campus life, outcomes after graduation, or reputation, Stuart always has something thoughtful to say, and it is generally something that you won’t learn from other sources.”

~ Lou Hirsh, retired Director of Admissions, University of Delaware, and former Admissions Practices Committee Chair, the National Association for College Admission Counseling

“My colleague and friend Stuart Nachbar covers colleges more thoroughly than any college advisor I know.  Stuart’s school profiles on his website, Educated Quest, provide in-depth information that independent educational consultants, families and students can use to make better informed college choices. Reading The Good College will help you learn how to evaluate colleges for services such as academic advising, residence life and career development and more. These are among the most important factors that influence student ability to thrive and succeed. Stuart’s book guides you so that you too can learn to critically assess each school on a college list and make far more informed decisions about where to apply and ultimately what school to attend.”

~ Elizabeth LaScala, PhD, College & Graduate Admissions Advisor, founder of Doing College and Beyond

“My colleague and friend Stuart Nachbar covers colleges more thoroughly than any college advisor I know.  Stuart’s school profiles on his website, Educated Quest, provide in-depth information that independent educational consultants, families and students can use to make better informed college choices. Reading The Good College will help you learn how to evaluate colleges for services such as academic advising, residence life and career development and more. These are among the most important factors that influence student ability to thrive and succeed. Stuart’s book guides you so that you too can learn to critically assess each school on a college list and make far more informed decisions about where to apply and ultimately what school to attend.”

~ Elizabeth LaScala, PhD, College & Graduate Admissions Advisor, founder of Doing College and Beyond

“Whether you are a parent with a first child going to college or a long-time professional counselor, or anything in between, Stuart Nachbar’s new book is a valuable resource.

For parents, especially ones interested in a pre-career undergraduate education for their child and ROI, the book provides a road map through your FAQs utilizing an intuitive and straightforward series of questions and answers that comprehensively build one upon the other to help inform any search for—and getting into—The Good College.

For the professional, especially one dealing with such parents and their concerns (and who isn’t!), Stuart’s book comprehensively charts their questions and concerns: I can’t tell you how many times I found myself saying “oh yeah, I have to remember they need to hear that too!” Even when I sometimes don’t agree with his conclusions, I am always glad to have read his arguments: collectively they have made me rethink and revise so many of my own assumptions and practices.”

~ W. Laird Durley, Independent Educational Consultant, Retired College Professor, Fresno, California

“Whether you are a parent with a first child going to college or a long-time professional counselor, or anything in between, Stuart Nachbar’s new book is a valuable resource.

For parents, especially ones interested in a pre-career undergraduate education for their child and ROI, the book provides a road map through your FAQs utilizing an intuitive and straightforward series of questions and answers that comprehensively build one upon the other to help inform any search for—and getting into—The Good College.

For the professional, especially one dealing with such parents and their concerns (and who isn’t!), Stuart’s book comprehensively charts their questions and concerns: I can’t tell you how many times I found myself saying “oh yeah, I have to remember they need to hear that too!” Even when I sometimes don’t agree with his conclusions, I am always glad to have read his arguments: collectively they have made me rethink and revise so many of my own assumptions and practices.”

~ W. Laird Durley, Independent Educational Consultant, Retired College Professor, Fresno, California

“Stuart Nachbar is one of the most conscientious and knowledgeable colleagues that I have. When touring a college, he asks questions others might not think of or might hesitate to ask. The curiosity that drives his exploration results in the gifted blog, Educated Quest. His insights and evaluations are clear, without prejudice or favor. No name brand snobbery from him; he is eager to share the hidden gems, disclose overrated name brands, and decipher financial mysteries. When I have had the privilege of being on a tour with Stuart, his questions dig deeply into features of a college that many people would not think to ask about. I am certain that The Good College will become one of the go-to books in my professional library.”

~ Jodi R. Atkin, Certified Educational Planner, Rochester, NY