Who Gets In and Why

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Who Gets In and Why

A Year Inside College Admissions

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.

A New York Times Editors’ Choice
A USA Today Bestseller

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Which Colleges Are Really Buyers and Which Are Sellers

A new way to think about your college list: the Buyers and Sellers.

NEW, updated for 2024.

While cost is a concern, families have only a hazy idea of what their tuition bill might look like. So they don’t think about the price of college until it’s too late.

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Discussion Guide: Who Gets In and Why

If you’re a teenager, a parent, a high-school counselor, a college admissions officer, or just an interested observer of higher ed, “Who Gets In and Why” tells the story of a year inside college admissions process. To facilitate your discussion of the book in group settings, we’ve put together this discussion guide.

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