Viewbooks - American Education

Descriptive brochures issued by most private secondary schools and almost all colleges and graduate schools, with extensive photographs and information about their institutions. Most schools, colleges and graduate schools also have Web sites to provide the same data. Although they vary from institution to institution, viewbooks generally include information on life at each school, the range of courses and extracurricular activities, a profile of the most recent freshman class and of the most recent graduating class. Although extremely informative, viewbooks nevertheless portray each institution at its best—with photographs of the campus in full bloom and students universally enjoying themselves at work and play. Mention is seldom made of such matters as crime rates, drug and alcohol abuse, and the percentage of courses taught by untrained teaching assistants rather than professors. Negative data on any given school is usually attainable only through direct inquiry.