Loren Pope facts for kids

Loren Brooks Pope (July 13, 1910 – September 23, 2008) was an American writer and expert on colleges. He was famous for his book Colleges That Change Lives. He also worked as an education editor for The New York Times.

Early Life and Career

Loren Pope was born in Minneapolis. He grew up in northern Virginia. He went to DePauw University. Later, he became a writer and editor.

In 1965, Pope started the College Placement Bureau. This was one of the first services to help students find the right college. He helped many young people with their college choices.

Pope's Books and Articles

Pope wrote several books to guide students. His first book was The Right College: How to Get In, Stay In, Get Back In. It came out in 1970. He also wrote articles like "Twenty Myths That Can Jinx Your College Choice." These were published in The Washington Post Magazine and Reader's Digest.

Another book he wrote was Looking Beyond the Ivy League. This book helped students find colleges that were a good fit for them. It was published in 1995.

The Pope-Leighey House

Pope is also known for a special house he had built. In 1939, he asked the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright to design it. The house is called the Pope-Leighey House. It was first built in Falls Church, Virginia.

Pope wrote a very nice letter to Wright. He told Wright how much he admired his work. Wright agreed to design the small house for him. This shows how persuasive Pope could be.

Colleges That Change Lives

Pope's most famous book is Colleges That Change Lives. In this book, he wrote about 40 colleges he thought were excellent. He believed these schools could help students grow and have successful lives. He felt they were just as good, or even better, than more famous universities.

He mainly focused on smaller liberal arts colleges. Pope argued that these smaller schools offered a better learning experience. They helped students become well-rounded thinkers.

Why These Colleges Matter

The first edition of Colleges That Change Lives came out in 1996. Updated versions were published in 2000 and 2006. A final update came out in 2012, after Pope had passed away.

These colleges focus on educating undergraduate students. They help students develop important skills. They aim to create thinkers, leaders, and good citizens. Many of these colleges have been leaders in education for a long time. They have helped many graduates become scientists and scholars.