Who Gets in and Why

A Year Inside College Admissions

By: Jeffrey J. Selingo

Narrated by: Sean Patrick Hopkins

Length: 10 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

A New York Times Notable Book of 2020

From award-winning higher education journalist and New York Times best-selling 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.

©2020 Jeff Selingo. All rights reserved. (P)2020 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

A must read!

If you have a kid in high school, you should definitely read this book! (COVID era withstanding 😬)

Extremely informative

I bought this book and decided to get the audio version to listen to while on the subway. My daughter is a rising senior and we started touring colleges over the summer. This book gives
detailed information and valuable advice on the admissions process. I highly recommended.

Imperative reading

I found the book quite thoughtful, full of relevant data, context and ethics. It will definitely educate readers on the college application process and even how it became what it is.

thumbs up

a must read/listen for HS students heading to college or parents of those students. I wish I found it sooner.

A MUST READ….

Very insightful and detailed. Have a pen handy as there are very important resources provided.

@sassynchicago

Provides so much useful information in a easy way to understand-and does give you an inside look of various administration process at a handful of colleges.

Highly recommended

This book really is a godsend. I have two teenaged kids about to enter their junior year. Jeffrey offers tremendous insights no matter your child’s situation. Also, it takes the pressure off the need to get into a top school. You can still find a great education that prepares you for your future.

what I didn't know

things have changed drastically or I was too oblivious at 18 to even care . this work provides a roadmap for people who have kids they will be sending to college

Insightful

learned at lot, although the content caused some stress. worthwhile to add insight into a vague and stressful process

Very helpful!

The information in this book is extremely helpful. I am mom to a highly gifted and very driven son who skipped a grade 2 months into public school (after homeschooling) and suddenly is in high school. I don't dream for him, but he dreams of studying finance at Stanford. Thankfully he knows he can get a great education at other schools, too. I took loads of notes from Who Gets In and will be guiding him (and his expectations) the next few years. Highly recommend! But the stories of amazing applicants who don't get into Emory was a wake-up call! My son will need to find some safety schools he likes!