Overview

A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK OF 2020 From award-winning higher education journalist and New York Times bestselling author Jeffrey Selingo comes a revealing look from inside the admissions office--one that identifies surprising strategies that will aid in the college search. Getting into a top-ranked college has never seemed more impossible, with acceptance rates at some elite universities dipping into the single digits. In Who Gets In and Why, journalist and higher education expert Jeffrey Selingo dispels entrenched notions of how to compete and win at the admissions game, and reveals that teenagers and parents have much to gain by broadening their notion of what qualifies as a ""good college."" Hint: it's not all about the sticker on the car window. Selingo, who was embedded in three different admissions offices--a selective private university, a leading liberal arts college, and a flagship public campus--closely observed gatekeepers as they made their often agonizing and sometimes life-changing decisions. He also followed select students and their parents, and he traveled around the country meeting with high school counselors, marketers, behind-the-scenes consultants, and college rankers. While many have long believed that admissions is merit-based, rewarding the best students, Who Gets In and Why presents a more complicated truth, showing that ""who gets in"" is frequently more about the college's agenda than the applicant. In a world where thousands of equally qualified students vie for a fixed number of spots at elite institutions, admissions officers often make split-second decisions based on a variety of factors--like diversity, money, and, ultimately, whether a student will enroll if accepted. One of the most insightful books ever about ""getting in"" and what higher education has become, Who Gets In and Why not only provides an usually intimate look at how admissions decisions get made, but guides prospective students on how to honestly assess their strengths and match with the schools that will best serve their interests.

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9781797108957

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Reviews

""In this meticulously researched and evenhanded book, the author provides a unique mix of in-depth reporting, insight, and advice that may save readers needless frustration and thousands of dollars. One of the best books on college admissions in recent memory."" -- ""Kirkus Reviews (starred review)"" ""Selingo challenges the facade of meritocracy in his absorbing examination of America's obsession with getting into college. Schools, he argues persuasively, are looking out for their own interests, not yours."" -- ""New York Times Book Review"" ""The college admissions process can seem like a locked vault, but Jeff Selingo has found the key. He unleashes the full force of his reporting and storytelling skills to demystify--and humanize--the journey from high school applicant to college freshman...An illuminating and essential read."" -- ""Daniel H. Pink, #1 New York Times bestselling author""

Author Information

Jeffrey Selingo is an award-winning journalist who has reported on higher education for more than two decades. His writing has appeared in The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Atlantic, and The Wall Street Journal. He's a special advisor to the president of Arizona State University and a visiting scholar at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Selingo is the bestselling author ofThere Is Life After College and College (Un)Bound. He lives in Washington, DC, with his family. A student of neuroscience and speech pathology, Sean Patrick Hopkins has translated his understanding of human behavior and vocal performance into a career in storytelling. His classical training and versatility with dialects has helped to create distinct and varied characters across many genres. In addition to narrating over 100 audiobooks, he has been seen and heard on film, television, video games, and stages in New York City and across the country. When not in the booth, you can find him buried in genealogy research, out exploring our National Parks, and raising an amazing daughter alongside his wife, fellow narrator Patricia Santomasso.

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