Guide

Finding Your Dream School: A Guide 

The college search doesn’t have to become a stressful race for rankings and prestige. This practical companion workbook to Jeff Selingo’s book, Dream School, helps families have conversations about what will actually help a student thrive.

Organized around four essential questions, the guide shows parents and teens how to break free from the Top 25 mindset, identify what they truly want from college, find campuses where meaningful relationships can take root, and decide whether the investment will pay off. Guided discussions, hands-on exercises, and questions for campus visits offer families a concrete way to broaden their college lists, compare schools, and weigh together the outcomes from college, the skills needed for the workforce, and how to pay for it all.

Designed to be used throughout high school, the workbook is also a resource for counselors and anyone helping a teenager navigate what comes after graduation. The goal is not to find one perfect school, but a range of colleges where a student can grow, belong, and prepare for a meaningful future.