College Admission Book Recommendations

There are hundreds of books about the college admission process available today. All of them tend to focus on the subject of “how to get in.” Over vacation, I read the most recent book to focus on the process. The name of the book is appropriately titled Who Gets In and Why – A Year Inside College Admissions. The author, Jeffrey Selingo who is an award-winning journalist for the Wasting Post, the New York Times, the Atlantic, and the Wall Street Journal, spent over a year “embedded” in three different admissions offices with one of them being Emory University. I found the book to be an insightful and refreshing look at the college admission process. The author has encouraged me to look at schools differently. To quote the book jacket, Jeffery “reveals that teenagers and parents have much to gain by broadening their notion of what qualifies as a good college.” The book jacket continues, “Hint: it’s not about the sticker on the car window.”

Jeffery asks readers to think about colleges differently. His book refers to colleges as either “buyers” or “sellers.” The “sellers,” or the “haves” of the college world, offer something that consumers really want. That usually means a brand name that signals prestige in social circles or the job market. The “sellers” are overwhelmed with inquiries and applications from top students representing most of the world. Jeffery writes, “Admission officers at “sellers” see their roles as the gatekeepers who allow successful applicants into their inner sanctum for the opportunity to interact with other star students.” The “buyers” are the “have-nots” in the college admission world even though they likely provide a superior undergraduate education. The major difference in terms of the admission process between “buyers” and “sellers” is that “buyers” often lack names that are recognized when sports scores are streamed on ESPN. Jeffery writes, “Rather than select a class, their admission officers must work hard to recruit students to fill classroom seats and beds in dorm rooms.” The book goes into great detail talking about the differences between “buyers” and “sellers” and why students should have “buyers” on their list.

I highly recommend this book. To quote the book jacket, “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 unusually intimate look at how admissions decisions are made but also guides prospective students (and their parents) on how to honestly assess their strengths and match with the schools that will best serve their interests.” I completely agree.