Selected Education and Career Reference Sources
Cornell Career Services~ Career Planning~ Resumes and Cover Letters
College Directories: United States~ College Directories: International~ Directories for Specific Disciplines
Ratings and Rankings of Colleges~ Test Prep~ Financial Aid, Scholarships, Fellowships, Internships
Study Abroad Programs~ College Catalogs
Uris Library's Education and Careers collection of print resources will assist Cornell undergraduate and graduate students in career planning, college and graduate school assessment, resume preparation, and test prep. The collection is located just beyond the Uris reference desk in the reference alcove. This guide also includes some online resources.
New career and education information is appearing on the Web daily. The Cornell Career Services Web site is an excellent starting point. (URL: http://www.career.cornell.edu/).
- Bolles, Richard Nelson. What Color is Your Parachute: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career Changers. Berkeley: Ten Speed Press, 1970- .
(Uris Ref HF 5383 .B693)An annual publication which provides up-to-date information on the job market and how to break into it. Useful also for getting ideas about various careers and what they're all about. Packed with useful information, tables, charts, tests, and bibliographies.
- U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Washington: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1957- .
(Uris Ref HF 5381 .U58 D14 and online)The Handbook describes in detail about 200 occupations giving information about what education and training are required, earnings, job outlook, the nature of work, etc. Photographs, tables, statistical charts and an index enhance the value of this publication. Published annually.
- Hopke, William E., ed. Encyclopedia of Career Development. Edited by Jeffrey H. Greenhaus, Gerard A. Callanan. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
(Online; print version in ILR Ref HF 5381 .E517 2006)With an online browseable index, an article title list, and a reader's guide to the major subjects covered, this is now the premier academic encyclopedia on careers and career choice. Bibliographies ("Further Reading") available for many articles.
- Hopke, William E., ed. The Encyclopedia of Careers and Vocational Guidance. 10th edition. 4 vol. Chicago: J.G. Ferguson, 1997.
(Uris Ref HF 5381 .E56 1997)Presents "as complete a picture as possible on the information needed to make a preliminary investigation of a career path" (Preface). Volume 1 gives an overview of 76 major industries; volumes 2-4 cover almost 1000 specific jobs within those industries from managerial, administrative and professional to clerical, support, and emerging technician occupations. A good source to use to find an overview of the major industries and the specific jobs within those industries.
- Jackson, Acy L. How To Prepare Your Curriculum Vitae. Chicago: VGM Careers, 2003.
(Uris Ref HF 5383 .J24x 2003)"How To Prepare Your Curriculum Vitae provides an in-depth explanation of the components of the curriculum vitae as well as step-by-step instructions for condensing your career into a concise biographical sketch that underscores your assets."
- Wright, John W. The American Almanac of Jobs and Salaries. New York: Avon, 2000.
(Uris Ref HD 8038 .U5 A51)Ceased publication with the 2000/2001 edition, but still useful for comparative information. Contains statistics and salary summaries collected from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics and professional organizations and publications on thousands of jobs and careers. It includes job descriptions and evaluations of future job opportunities. The emphasis is on white collar service jobs in the public and private sector.
The Education and Careers collection contains a regularly updated selection of guides to preparing resumes, cover letters, and curriculum vitae. All these guides are shelved under the call number HF 5383.
- The College Handbook. New York: College Entrance Examination Board, 1941- .
(Uris Ref LA 226 .C694; also Olin) - The College Blue Book. 5 vols. New York: Macmillan, 1923- .
(Uris Ref LA 226 .C69+; also Mann, Olin Ref)A comprehensive college directory in 5 volumes: Degrees Offered by College and Subject, Narrative Descriptions, Occupational Education, Scholarships, Fellowships, Grants, and Loans, and Tabular Data. Almost 3000 two-year colleges, liberal arts colleges, specialized schools and universities in the United States and Canada are included. The Occupational Education volume lists about 8,000 business, trade and technical schools NOT covered in other descriptions. Simple state maps help locate schools. Uris has most recent edition.
- Higher Education Directory. Washington: Higher Education Publications, 1983- .
(Uris Ref L 901 .A31, also in Olin Ref L 901 .H52+)Annual directory of institutions in the US, its possessions and territories accredited by regional, national, or professional agencies recognized by the US Department of Education. Descriptions include county, Congressional district, FICE identification number, IRS status, Carnegie classification code, accreditation, and administrative and academic officers.
- Peterson's Guide to Four-Year Colleges. Princeton: Peterson's Guides, 1988- .
(Uris Ref L 901 .P48)Annual directory containing profiles of 2005 colleges with in-depth two-page descriptions of 800 institutions. The latter descriptions, written by the college officials, include information on campus environment and student activities. This information comprises most of the directory. The basic profile consists of enrollment statistics, expenses and financial aid, housing, career services, and special programs.
- Commonwealth Universities Yearbook: A Directory to the Universities of the
Commonwealth and the Handbook of their Association. 2 vols. London: Association of Commonwealth Universities, 1914- .
(Olin Ref LB 2310 .G7; also Mann Ref. Uris copy cancelled 2001)Use Olin Reference copy. Produced by the oldest international association of universities in the world, this four-volume set is alphabetically arranged by country name. Indexes provide access to specific institutions, topics (e.g. university presses), subjects of study and personal names. Material for each country includes a map, an introductory essay, which often includes a brief bibliography, and the entries of each school. Entries include general information about each school, names of administrative staff and a list of faculty names by department. Appended sections provide information on the Association, financial aid opportunities and select bibliography. Uris has most recent edition.
- International Handbook of Universities and Other Institutions of Higher Education. Paris: International Association of Universities, 1959- .
(Olin Ref LA 183 .I61)Note location in the Olin reference collection. Contains information on over 4000 university level degree granting institutions in over 169 countries and territories. Entries vary in length, some providing only a minimum of postal and telephone information. Most descriptions include: Name, location, history and administrative structure, admission requirements, degrees, academic year, enrollment, faculty, library holdings, and publications. Uris has the latest edition only.
- American Dental Education Association. ADEA Official Guide to Dental Schools Washington:
American Dental Education Association, 2001- .
(Uris Ref RK 91 .A51) - American Psychological Association. Graduate Study in Psychology and Associated Fields. Washington: APA, 1984- .
(Uris Ref BF 77 .G73)This directory provides information about graduate programs in psychology and related fields as obtained from questionaires sent to university departments. Organized alphabetically by state (Canada is included). Includes a list of programs by type of degree offered and an alphabetical index of schools. Uris has the most recent edition.
- American Sociological Association. Guide to Graduate Departments of Sociology. Washington: ASA, 2003.
(Uris Ref LB 2372 .S6 G94) - Associated Writing Programs. The AWP Official Guide to Writing Programs. Norfolk, VA: Paradise,
CA: Associated Writing Programs in cooperation with Dustbooks, 1990- .
(Uris Ref PN 181 .A81; also Olin Ref PN 181 .A84) - Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture. Guide to Architecture Schools. Washington:
ACSA, 1994- .
(Uris Ref NA 2103 .G94) - Directory of History Departments, Historical Organizations, and Historians. Washington: American Historical Association, Institutional Services Program, 2001- .
(Uris Ref E 11 .G94; earlier years in Olin stacks) - Directory of Teacher Education Programs in TESOL in the United States and Canada. Arlington, VA: Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, 2002/2004- .
(Uris Ref PE 1128 .A2 D59)Basic information about college and university programs in the United States leading to a degree or certificate in the teaching of English to speakers of other languages (TESOL). Each school's entry includes an address for further information. State certification guidelines for teachers of TESOL are supplied for all 50 states. Uris has most recent edition.
- Guide to Geography Programs in the Americas: AAG Handbook and Directory of Geographers. Washington: Association of American Geographers, 2006- .
(Uris Ref G 76.5 .U5 G94) - Health Professions Career and Education Directory. Chicago: American Medical Association, 2000- .
(Uris Ref R 745 .A73) - Miller, Eugene. Barron's Guide to Graduate Business Schools. Woodbury, NY: Barron's Educational Services, 1984- .
(Uris Ref HF 1131 .B27; also Management Ref)Contains profiles of universities offering MBA or Ph.D. programs in business, arranged geographically by state. Introduction includes information on the admissions process, financial aid and a ranking of the top 21 schools by corporate recruiters. The profiles include information on the student body, faculty, programs, course requirements, cost, library and computing facilities.
- The Official Guide to ABA-approved Law Schools. New Town, PA: Law School Admission Council, 2001- .
(Uris Ref KF 266 .P92; also Law)Probably the "most complete information available about the application process at the 175 ABA approved law schools." Produced in cooperation with the American Bar Association and the Association of American Law Schools.
- Peterson's Annual Guides to Graduate Study. 6 vols. Princeton: Peterson's Guides, 1986- .
(Uris Ref LB 2371 .A611)Comprehensive annual survey of over 31,000 graduate and professional degree programs in the United States, its territories, and in foreign countries that are accredited by U.S. accrediting agencies. Each brief description contains complete information on fields of study, accreditation, entrance and degree requirements, expenses, financial aid, areas of faculty research, and application contact. Supplementary full descriptions, including faculty names and areas of expertise, are provided by some institutions. Book 1 contains an overview of the institutions; book 2: humanities and social science; book 3: biological and agricultural sciences; book 4: the physical sciences and mathematics; book 5: engineering and applied sciences; book 6: business, education, health, and law programs.
Some of these publications are being superseded by online resources. These print versions may provide information and background not available online, however. The Peterson's Annual Guides to Graduate Study is still the most comprehensive reference to graduate programs available.
- America's Best Colleges. Washington: U.S. News and World Report, 1988- .
(Uris Ref LB 2331.63 .A51; earlier years in Olin stacks)This report by the editors and reporters of U.S. News and World Report ranks 1400 colleges and universities according to a survey completed by college presidents and deans who rated similar institutions: (national universities, national liberal arts colleges, regional colleges and universities, regional liberal arts colleges, and specialized institutions). The methodology used in the ranking is also included in the report. The rankings are based on: reputation, student admissions, faculty and financial resources, graduation rates and alumni satisfaction. Includes a directory of colleges and universities and news articles covering college admissions, costs, and profiles of current students.
- America's Best Graduate Schools. Washington: U.S. News and World Report, 1994- .
(Uris Ref L 901 .A546, current year only; Olin Ref L 901 .A546+ (shelved at the Olin reference desk; earlier years in Olin stacks)An annual report that ranks major graduate school programs in the U.S. Additional article highlighting specific disciplines varies from year to year.
- College Results Online. [Washington]: The Education Trust, 2005- .
(URL: http://www.collegeresults.org/mainMenu.aspx)This excellent web site "examines overall graduation rates and see how those rates have changed over time." Contains comparative and individual instituional data on college and university graduate rates overall and for diverse groups of students. Comparisons of the graduation rates of similar institutions -- colleges and universities that share many characteristics and serve similar student populations--are available. Colleges and universities are required by law to collect this information.
Educational Rankings Annual.. Detroit: Gale Research, 1991- .
(Uris Ref LB 2331.63 .E24; earlier years in Olin stacks)Annotated citations to thousands of sources that rank institutions of higher education according to admissions selectivity, alumni achievement, test scores, tuition rates, faculty publications and salaries, as well as other topics regarding the the potential quality of education. Most recent year available is 2006. May have ceased publication.
- Insiders' Guide to the Colleges. New York: St. Martin's, 1970- .
(Uris Ref L 901 .I59)Compiled and edited by the staff of The Yale Daily News, this guide is "the inside story from students at colleges coast-to-coast." Two-page highly subjective narrative descriptions of over 280 colleges and universities dominate the guide; inclusion was based on academic quality first and then on size of the school (the size emphasized in the most recent edition is the large university). Also included are chapters on the interview and application process, on trade-offs to consider when selecting a school and an essay on education trends in the Eighties. Uris has most recent edition.
- Peterson’s 440 Colleges for Top Students. [Formerly Peterson's Competitive Colleges] Lawrenceville, NJ: Thomson Peterson’s, 2006- .
(Uris Ref LB 2351.2 .C73)Annual publication containing brief descriptive information on a selection of the "most challenging" (Introduction) four-year colleges. It does not rank the college, but gives statistics on the SAT, GPA, and ACT scores and high school rank of incoming students. The data given on the schools includes faculty, libraries, computer facilities, campus life and athletics, academic programs, campus life, and the academic awards and job offers of graduates.
The Education and Careers collection maintains subscriptions to GMAT and LSAT test preparation guides. We recommend purchasing the latest version of any test prep guide so you can mark up the guide and take the sample tests at your convenience.
- Cracking the GMAT. The Princeton Review. New York: Villard, 1992- .
(Uris Ref HF 1118 .C89) - Cracking the LSAT. New York: Villard, 1992- .
(Uris Ref KF2 85 .Z9 C88) - The Official Guide for GMAT Review. Graduate Management Admission Council. Princeton: The Council, 1986- .
(Uris Ref HF 1118 .O32; also Management Ref, Hotel Ref)
- Getting Financial Aid.. [Continues The College Costs and Financial Aid Handbook.] New York: College Board, 2006- .
(Uris Ref LB 2342 .C69)The College Board's annual guide to paying for college. Contains advice on long range and short term planning for college expenses for students and parents. It lists costs and financial aid information for colleges and universities, including state, and federal scholarship programs.
Oldman, Mark and Samer Hamadeh, ed. The Best ... Internships. The Princeton Review. New York: Random House, 2000- .
"This edition offers the latest information on dozens of time-tested programs from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences to The Washington Post. It also provides completely rewritten accounts of internship programs that have recently undergone significant changes."
(Uris Ref LC 1072 .I58 B47)- Oldman, Mark and Samer Hamadeh, ed. The Internship Bible. New York: Random House, 2004.
(Uris Ref LC 1072 .I58 O43 2004)Offers descriptions of thousands of enriching internship opportunities at a wide variety of companies and organizations around the world.
- Schlachter, Gail Ann. Financial Aid for African Americans. El Dorado Hills, CA: Reference Service Press, 1997- .
(Uris Ref LB 2338 .F564)"More than 1,400 grants, scholarships, fellowships, loans, awards, prizes, and internships open specifically to Black/African Americans."
- Schlachter, Gail Ann. Financial Aid for Asian Americans. El Dorado Hills, CA: Reference Service Press, 1997- .
(Uris Ref LB 2338 .F567)"Over nine hundred grants, scholarships, fellowships, loans, awards, prizes, and internships (representing billions of dollars) open specifically to Asian Americans."
- Schlachter, Gail Ann. Financial Aid for Hispanic Americans. El Dorado Hills,
CA: Reference Service Press, 1997- .
(Uris Ref LB 2338 .F569)"More than 1,300 grants, scholarships, fellowships, loans, awards, prizes, and internships open specifically to Hispanic Americans."
- Schlachter, Gail Ann. Financial Aid for Native Americans. El Dorado Hills,
CA: Reference Service Press, 1997- .
(Uris Ref LB 2338 .F613)"More than 1,500 grants, scholarships, fellowships, loans, awards, prizes, and internships open specifically to Native Americans."
- Schlachter, Gail Ann. Directory of Financial Aids for Women. Santa Barbara, CA: Reference Service Press, 1978- .
(Uris Ref LB 2338 .D595, also in Olin Ref)Comprehensive biennial source for over 1,700 financial aid programs for and about women, including secondary, undergraduate and graduate school programs. Includes an annotated bibliography of other financial aid sources and state sources of information on financial aid. There are indexes on sponsor, topic, and location. Uris has the most recent edition.
- IIEPassport Academic Year Abroad. New York: IIEPassport Study Abroad Print Directories, 2004- .
(Uris Ref LB 2376 .L43)Similar to its companion volume IIEPassport Short-Term Study Abroad (Uris Ref LB 2376 .S95), this publication from the Institute of International Education serves as an annual comprehensive compliation of over 2200 study abroad programs sponsored by U.S. accredited colleges and universities. Although designed mainly for U.S. undergraduates, it includes programs for graduate students, adults and professionals. Arranged geographically by country, it includes indexes by sponsors, consortium, fields of student, cost, special options and duration of program.
- Peterson's Study Abroad: A Guide to Semester and Year Abroad Academic Programs. Princeton: Peterson's Guides, 1994- .
(Uris Ref LB 2376 .P48)Contains descriptions to over 1,300 accredited study abroad programs in 80 countries for undergraduate credit at U.S. colleges and universities. The introductory 7 chapters written by study abroad experts provide useful information on planning, travel, financial aid, and internships. Program descriptions include detailed information on cost, living arrangements, and faculty. Includes indexes by field of study, program sponsor, and host institution.
- IIEPassport Short-Term Study Abroad. [Continues Vacation Study Abroad]. New York: IIEPassport Study Abroad Print Directories, 2004- .
(Uris Ref LB 2376 .S95)Annual compilation that is a companion to Academic Year Abroad from the Institute of International Education. It contains descriptions of 1,600 summer programs and short term programs offered during the school year. It also includes many foreign university programs, language school and travel programs, many of which would appeal to adults. Learning options include: lectures, internships, student teaching, field research, and voluntary service. Approximately 60% of the programs are sponsored by U.S. accredited colleges and universities. Arranged geographically with indexes by: sponsors, consortia, cost, duration, and special options.
- College Catalog Collection. San Diego: Career Guidance Foundation, 1976-1999.
(Olin Library Lower Level, Microfiche 2815)Annual microfiche collection of over 3000 undergraduate and graduate catalogs from colleges and universities that are accredited by the U.S. Department of Education. It also contains catalogs from the U.S. territories and some foreign countries. The fiche cards are arranged alphabetically by state or country; they are indexed by state and college name.
Updated by Michael Engle. Previous update by Megan Perez.
8 April 2009 (MOE)
Michael Engle
Librarian, Reference Services
URL: http://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/seleduca.html
Olin and Uris Libraries, Cornell University, Ithaca NY 14853
Information and reference: 607-255-4144, okuref@cornell.edu
Circulation: (Olin) 607-255-4245, (Uris) 607-255-3537, okucirc@cornell.edu