Unlocking College Admissions: Key Takeaways from Jeff Selingo’s Who Gets In and Why

Reflections on Jeff Selingo’s book Who Gets in and Why: A Year Inside College Admissions (2020)

Families are often perplexed about why their son or daughter was accepted to one college but not another. The college admissions process is often opaque and
unpredictable. Jeff Selingo participated in the admissions processes of several colleges and learned about the competing and contradictory factors that college admissions officers and staff juggle.

There are specific, concrete factors that influence college admissions: grade point average, the rigor of the courses a high school student takes, and SAT or ACT scores.

In addition to these factors, Selingo learned that admissions officers and staff look for how a specific student fits with their institution and what the student can offer. They also want to assemble a cohort that includes students with a variety of strengths, interests, and talents and that is diverse in gender, ethnicity, and geography. College admissions officers also look for students who stand out among the hundreds, if not thousands, of applications they read.

How an Independent College Consultant Can Help

As an independent college consultant (IEC), I work with students to develop a clear understanding of their passions and goals and to determine the right fit for a given institution. I do this by assessing their interests and goals, identifying the kind of college they are looking for, and getting to know the students. (Side Note: As a parent, I found that a professional can do this more easily than a parent because they have the necessary distance and objectivity to work with a student and draw them out.)

I also work with students to craft a message and brand that weave their coursework, activities, and college essay into a compelling narrative that addresses the question of college fit. I can then access a proprietary database to build a strong, diverse list of colleges whose mission aligns with students’ interests and goals. This list is geographically diverse and includes colleges of varying selectivity to maximize the candidate’s chances of acceptance.

I also work with a student to write an essay that helps them stand out. This involves helping students dig deep to explore how they want to make a difference in the world and what they can contribute.

Finally, I help families figure out how much a college will cost and what the possibilities are for receiving need- and merit-based financial aid from a specific institution.