gcindy Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 University of Chicago requires that home educated students submit a reading list (all books read for courses and pleasure). We have a record of all the books that we used for high school. But, did not keep records of all books read. This son reads, everything! How do I honestly answer this question? This son has 70 credits at the local community college (dual enrolled) and very high test scores (mensa level). I always wanted my children to read for pleasure, not because we were keeping a list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 First of all, check with your library. Perhaps they can access past records to see what books you/your son checked out. Otherwise, I'd just start quizzing your son. Walk the aisles of the library or bookstore. See what books are on his shelves. As he starts to list books, other titles will come back to him. When he submits the list, title it "A selection of books read." My daughter was also required to submit booklists to a couple of colleges. As I recall, we sorted her list into non-fiction, literature, fantasy (a favorite genre of pleasure reading for her), essays, Latin books (as this is quite likely what she will major in ... we included serious readings as well as Cat in the Hat in Latin, for example), and textbooks. Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gcindy Posted January 15, 2010 Author Share Posted January 15, 2010 Our library does not keep records because of the 911 privacy law. Wouldn't it just be better to admit that you did not keep a list, and perhaps mention authors and genre? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gwen in VA Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 If you title the list "A Sampling of Books Read during Junior and Senior Years....." that might help. My son applied to and was accepted by U. Chicago two years ago. He submitted a reading list, but it was only 1 1/2 pages long. The books on it were a SMALL fraction of the books he read during his junior and senior years, and he didn't bother submitting any titles from freshman and sophomore years. Even though the list was short, he tried to choose books to put on it that represented the variety of genres that he read as well as his eclectic interests. If your son is a passionate reader, the admissions folks at U Chicago do NOT want to see his COMPLETE reading list! :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gcindy Posted January 16, 2010 Author Share Posted January 16, 2010 Ohh, that's an excellent idea. I can live with that. That is the BEST way of answering the question without being dishonest and still giving my son credit for the massive amount of reading (and yes, very eclectic) that he does. Thank you everyone for your help. Gwen, What is your son studying and is he enjoying his college choice? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBM Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 I have a 1991 list of books from U of C, but I don't remember if freshman were expected to already have read them or would read them their first year. It might give you an idea as to what to include. The Iliad Shakespeare Emma Madame Bovary Death in Venice As I Lay Dying Things Fall Apart The Wealth of Nations Discourse on the Origins and Foundations of Inequality The German Ideology, Part I The Apology The Nichomachean Ethics Adventures of Ideas The Second Treatise...of Civil Government The Origin of the Species The Interpretation of Dreams The Savage Mind The Realms of the Nebulae It's a Matter of Survival Herodutus' Histories The Old Regime and the French Revolution The Education of Henry Adams The Human Condition The Second Sex The Analects The Bhagavad-Gita various essays and poems The poster danielle went to U of C and would know what to include. She also might be able to offer some better suggestions. Good luck to your son. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gwen in VA Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 My son is studying philosophy and economics, with a minor in math. He is enjoying his college choice. He absolutely loves the philosophy profs and his classes with them! He likes the classics dep't, though he decided not to major in it. And he has been blessed by some great research opportunities. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravelingChris Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 If you have read books for classes and know what they are, include those. FOr pleasure reading or reading outside of class, include some of theat but not everything. Many things can be listed in groups, anyway. My son read Science fiction series like Philip K. Dick or the Foundations series. My older daughter is reading Mystery series like Sue Grafton books, JOanne Fluke, and older ones likes SHerlock Holmes and Poe. If someone wants reading lists for her, we will list them like that plus some other reading she has done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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