Who gets into college and why
A behind-the-scenes look at college admissions that'll both open your eyes and rack you with concern.
Who Gets In and Why: A Year Inside College Admissions
By Jeffrey Selingo
Grade: 97
As I read this book, I kept saying, “I wish every parent preparing to send a child to college would read this book. It would quash so much of the misinformation we see flying around about college admissions.”
Who Gets In and Why: A Year Inside College Admissions by Jeffrey Selingo owns a special distinction among the books I’ve read in the last five years:
It’s the most eye-opening book I’ve read on the topic of college admissions.
It’s the most-recommended book by me for parents with kids soon to enter college.
It’s that good.
The book, a compelling exploration of the enigmatic world of college admissions, is a masterful display of Selingo’s investigative journalist’s eye. For he takes readers behind the scenes, unveiling the intricate, often opaque process that determines who gets the coveted acceptance letters.
Why I loved the book
The book is a deep dive into the selection process of three diverse colleges—Emory University in Atlanta, the University of Washington in Seattle, and Davidson College in North Carolina—and provides a rare behind-the-scenes look at the selection process taking place at selective colleges.
Be forewarned: The is rare level of transparency is both enlightening and unsettling.
Selingo’s candid narrative reveals an admissions process that, far (FAR) from meritocratic, is often influenced by a myriad of factors, some of them quite nebulous. Think minorities—especially Blacks or Latinos—have the biggest leg up when it comes to admissions at competitive colleges?
You’d be wrong, Wrong, WRONG. It’s actually males. And athletes.
This book is an invaluable guide for students and parents alike, offering a clearer understanding of what colleges seek in their applicants. It’s a thought-provoking read that challenges preconceived notions and equips readers with knowledge to navigate the admissions maze.
Additionally
A few months ago, the Southlake Public Library had Selingo as a guest speaker via Zoom. I’ve re-watched it three times. It’s worth your time as well, especially for the perspective he shares about how parents and kids should approach applying to college.
The thing to remember, he said, is that [college] is a consumer product that you’re buying like anything else. [However, when it comes to college], emotions tend to take over. Kids see it as a capstone to their childhood. If they go to a great school, it means they did a great job. Parents see it as validation of their involvement in their kids’ education.
The approach he advises parents to take: “We’re going to look for the best fit financially, socially, and academically. Most importantly…we’re not going to go deep into debt as a family or as a student to reach for a school that may be a little bit better than a school is a better financial fit.”