Jeff Selingo is a journalist and bestselling author.

Jeff has been in and around higher ed for more than 25 years—as a writer, an advisor to presidents and boards, and edupreneur—giving him a front-row seat to the $700 billion industry.

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My story is the story of the promise of higher education.

My grandparents worked for coal mining companies and garment factories in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Now I get to write about the same system of higher education that wasn’t even a possibility they could imagine.

When you find a place where you can grow, challenge yourself, and build meaningful connections, that college will become your dream school.

Jeff’s Story

Key milestones in my higher ed journey

1994 

My First Foray Into Higher Ed Reporting

The summer before my senior year at Ithaca College, I interned at U.S. News & World Report as a researcher for the “Best Colleges” guidebook. That fall I returned to finish my senior year and got a side gig working for the local newspaper covering Cornell University.

1997

The Start of a Career Covering Colleges

I accepted a reporting job at The Chronicle of Higher Education. I thought I’d stay for a few years; I ended up staying for eighteen, reporting and editing on basically every subject from college presidents and budgets to financial aid and endowments.

2007

Appointed Editor of The Chronicle

From 2007 until 2011, I served as top editor at The Chronicle, overseeing a newsroom of 80 reporters, editors, and producers.

2013

My First Book

College (Un)Bound: The Future of Higher Education and What It Means for Students is released. The book is a New York Times bestseller.

2014

Arizona State/Georgetown Academy Launched

Working with the presidents of Arizona State and Georgetown, I launched the Academy for Innovative Higher Education Leadership, a mid-career program to help educators create innovation and change on their campuses.

2015

Academic Intelligence Is Formed

I leave The Chronicle and form Academic Intelligence to serve as the umbrella organization for the three buckets of my work. One is academic. I’m a special advisor and professor of practice to the president at Arizona State University. Second is writing and speaking. And third is advising institutions and brands about the important trends in higher education.

2016

My Second Book Is Released

There Is Life After College: What Parents and Students Should Know About Navigating School to Prepare for the Jobs of Tomorrow is released. The book is a New York Times bestseller.

2020

Third Book Is Released

Who Gets In and Why: A Year Inside College Admissions is released. It will be my bestselling book to date and is named one of the Most Notable Books of 2020 by the New York Times.

2022

Named to Management Committee of EdPlus

EdPlus is a central enterprise unit for Arizona State University focused on the design and scalable delivery of digital teaching and learning models.

Testimonials

You are a master at translation and speaking directly to a question, even if it isn't one.

– Stephanie Zeigler

chair of the Board of Trustees, Berea College 

I’d encourage everyone to read Jeff Selingo’s book on college admissions. He does a better job than anyone I’ve seen at describing what the deliberation process is actually like at selective schools.

– Michael H.

Thanks to Jeff Selingo for your leadership and insights into all things higher ed, including analyzing the changing state of the presidency.

– Shane D.

Appreciate these incredible resources & rich insights!! Thank you all SO much!!

– Jodi S.

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Dream School

Finding the college that’s right for you

Dream School is a must-have playbook for families coping with a more stressful era of college admission that gives them a roadmap for finding a good college where their teen can thrive, learn, and become the person they’re meant to be.