The companion book to Who Gets In and Why shifts the spotlight from how colleges pick students to how students can better pick colleges.
Getting into prestigious schools has become a kind of lottery. “Plan A” may work out, but increasingly it doesn’t. In Dream School, Jeff urges families to ditch the “Top 25 or bust” mindset and look beyond the usual suspects. Hidden-gem schools with incredible value and rich opportunities are waiting to be discovered.
Backed by unparalleled research—and an eye-opening survey of more than 3,000 parents—Dream School reveals what really matters in a college: strong job prospects after graduation, hands-on learning experiences, and a sense of belonging.
To help students find their perfect match, Jeff highlights 75 accessible and affordable colleges that will satisfy those priorities.
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Insightful…actionable advice…Selingo effectively exposes how the American ‘“elite college or bust” mentality’ damages students, the education system, and the professional world.
– Publishers Weekly
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Part myth-buster, part blueprint, Dream School offers families a clear, research-backed path to a meaningful college experience that is worth the investment. Dream School is more than a book—it’s a movement aimed at redefining college admissions.
– Jennifer Breheny Wallace
New York Times bestselling author of Never Enough
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An essential book. The college search, always bewildering, has grown more baffling than ever. Combining deep research with human-scale storytelling, Selingo makes sense of it all—explaining not just what students and families can do to improve their odds, but also, how the process got so messed up in the first place.
– Paul Tough
Bestselling author of How Children Succeed and The Inequality Machine
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Amid the clamor of college admissions angst, Jeff Selingo is a voice of calm and clarity. Dream School is the book we've been waiting for to help families broaden their lens and focus their perspective on what matters most.
– Ned Johnson
Bestselling coauthor of The Self-Driven Child: The Science and Sense of Giving Your Kids More Control Over Their Lives
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Selingo masterfully examines why a student’s ideal college choice isn’t always initially obvious….A must-read for students and parents navigating the complex college selection process.
– Gene Block
Former Chancellor of UCLA
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A dream resource for any student and family choosing among college opportunities….With clear-eyed discussions of topics like admission rates, costs, debt, and career preparation, Dream School will inform and empower its readers—and inspire them.
– Daniel R. Porterfield
President and CEO of The Aspen Institute and author of Mindset Matters: The Power of College to Activate Lifelong Growth
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Incredibly informative, highly engaging, thoroughly researched, and deeply empathetic. This book delivers on every level. A must read for anyone supporting a college applicant or looking to better understand the admissions process and how it impacts our kids’ future success.
– Lindsey Pollak
New York Times bestselling author of Getting from College to Career: Your Essential Guide to Succeeding in the Real World
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Dream School is the desperately needed, level-headed college admissions guide that we have been waiting for. Jeff Selingo's sane and seasoned voice cuts through the madness.
– Lisa Damour, PhD
New York Times bestselling author of The Emotional Lives of Teenagers
How to Find Your Dream School
Jeff talks about the big takeaways from his new book, Dream School.
Making the Bachelor’s Degree More Valuable
Factors in B.A. programs that increase the ROI of the degree.
In Demand Job Skills for New College Grads
The foundational skills in high demand for digitally intensive jobs and the wider economy.
Navigating the College Search
How to prioritize learners' goals and key factors in applying.
A twice-monthly newsletter with more than 145,000 subscribers, featuring Jeff’s unique blend of storytelling and provocative insights on higher ed.
