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Dream School: Finding the College That's Right for You

by Jeffrey Selingo

A broader framework for choosing a college

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Hardcover New English

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Awards & Recognition

  • Bestseller

    New York Times Bestseller

AlbakiReads Editorial

A broader framework for choosing a college

Jeffrey Selingo shifts the college-admissions question from how institutions select applicants to how students and families can compare their options. The guide challenges a narrow focus on elite schools and organizes its advice around affordability, career prospects, hands-on learning, and students’ sense of belonging. Drawing on a survey of more than 3,000 parents, it examines the trade-offs between prestige and value, then highlights 75 colleges the book presents as accessible and affordable choices. Its three sections move from reconsidering the appeal of elite degrees to weighing college value and assessing whether a degree delivers on its promise.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • Families comparing college options and costs
  • Students seeking alternatives to highly selective colleges
  • Counselors supporting college-choice discussions

Themes

College choice and admissionsAffordability and valueCareer outcomesHands-on learningBelonging on campus

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

New York Times Bestseller!

From the bestselling author of Who Gets In and Why, a must-have playbook for families coping with a more stressful era of startling low admission rates and sky-high prices--one that widens the aperture beyond the Top 25 schools and connects students, parents, and counselors with quality, affordable choices.

Attending college has long been a rite of passage for millions of teens and a bedrock of the American dream. But that well-worn path has lately taken a wrong turn, denying admission even to super-achievers and putting intolerable stress on family finances. Now, in Dream School Jeffrey Selingo shifts the spotlight from how colleges pick students to how students can better pick colleges.

With test-optional policies and grade inflation leveling the playing field for applicants, getting into prestigious schools has become a kind of lottery. "Plan A" may work out, but increasingly it isn't--so Selingo 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, Selingo highlights 75 accessible and affordable colleges that will satisfy those priorities.

Organized into three easy-to-digest sections, Dream School explains why elite college degrees turn out to matter less than you think, why many parents and students are choosing value over prestige, and how to make sure the degree really pays off. In these pages, Selingo's engaging style and expert insights turn what is often an unnavigable maze into a clear roadmap.

Destined to become the ultimate guide for families crossing the perilous college admissions landscape, Dream School isn't just a book--it's a lifeline for those who can find themselves trapped in an overwhelming process.
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