Gibson's Student Guide to Ontario Universities: 1992

George G. Ambury is an associate professor of adult education at
Queen’s University.

Gibson uses her experience in university teaching and admissions to
create this guidebook for graduating high-school students who are
thinking about going to university in Ontario. The book begins with a
chapter devoted to helping the reader decide whether university is the
wisest choice, and if it is, what school and program might make sense.
Useful advice is offered through “Gibson’s Rules,” which include:
“Trust your own judgement,” “Listen to university
representatives,” “Don’t believe everything you hear,” and
“Visit before you decide.”

The guide includes a variety of self-diagnostic exercises and a
questionnaire useful for assessing the universities under consideration.
It also includes a comprehensive profile of each Ontario university,
providing information ranging from the name of a contact person through
registration data and programs to residences, clubs, and pubs.

Gibson has successfully designed this work with the high-school reader
in mind. Thoughtful readers will appreciate the self-help exercises, the
sound advice (including the suggestion that not all high-school
graduates should decide to go to university), and the thorough research
that went into preparing the university profiles. Nevertheless, the book
is not without some problems. It is large for a guide, and could present
information more succinctly, especially by using summary tables and
figures. In a subsequent edition the author could provide an overview
sheet synthesizing the data and creating a profile that would aid
students in making decisions.