Includes bibliographical references (pages 279-288) and index.

A higher-education journalist draws on insider access to explain the nuts and bolts of college admissions today, outlining the unexpected agendas that reflect which and why prospective students receive admission into better schools.

From award-winning higher education journalist and New York Times bestselling author Jeffrey Selingo comes a revealing look from inside the admissions office--one that identifies surprising strategies that will aid in the college search. Getting into a top-ranked college has never seemed more impossible, with acceptance rates at some elite universities dipping into the single digits. In Who Gets In and Why, Jeffrey Selingo dispels misconceptions about how to compete and win at the admissions game, and reveals that teenagers and parents have much to gain by broadening their notion of what qualifies as a "good college." Hint: it's not all about the sticker on the car window. Selingo, who was allowed to "embed" in three different admissions offices--at a selective private university, a leading liberal arts college, and a flagship public campus--closely observed gatekeepers as they made their often agonizing and sometimes life-changing decisions. He also followed select students and their parents, and he traveled around the country to meet with high school counselors, marketers, behind-the-scenes consultants, and college rankers. 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--such as diversity, money, and, ultimately, whether a student will enroll if accepted. One of the most insightful books ever about "getting in" and what higher education has become, Who Gets In and Why not only provides an unusually intimate look at how admissions decisions are made but also guides prospective students (and their parents) on how to honestly assess their strengths and match with the schools that will best serve their interests --,From dust jacket.

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