Dream School

Finding the College That’s Right for You

AVAILABLE SEPTEMBER 9, 2025

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 isn’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.

Dream School book cover

Where to buy

Dream school guide

Pre-Order Offer

For pre-ordering the book now, get immediate access to an 18-page guide designed to help you put the lessons from Dream School into action with important discussion points and exercises. The guide is among several perks you’ll get for ordering the book now and completing the proof of purchase form.

What people are saying about the guide:

“It’s a product in its own right” - Dan Porterfield, CEO/President, Aspen Institute
“I think it is brilliant and especially love the four-quadrant matrix it offers to guide his own assessment of the schools” - Parent Erica S.

Pre-Order Now

Why pre-order? When you pre-order the book, it shows booksellers there’s interest and ultimately helps it reach more people. Plus, you’ll get access to bonuses only available during this pre-order period:

Free download, shown above, that will help you put the advice in Dream School to work right away before you get the book.
Access to an exclusive webinar on September 4, “How to Spot Great Teaching on a College Campus.”

Testimonials

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The "New" Dream Schools

The list of 75 "New" Dream Schools are colleges that might not (but perhaps should) be on your radar. It isn't a ranking, nor is it a comprehensive catalog. It’s a sampling of schools designed to expand your thinking—and your search.

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