New "Dream Schools" from Selingo's new book ...

[Anonymous]

List of new "Dream Schools". He adds more detail and "stand-out factor" for each in his new book:

Hidden Values:
Augustana College (IL)
Bentley University (MA)
Berry College (GA)
Butler University (IN)
Creighton University (NE)
Denison University (OH)
DePaul University (IL)
DePauw University (N)
Dickinson College (PA)
Elon University (NC)
Fairfield University (CT)
Furman University (SC)
Gettysburg College (PA)
Hobart and William Smith (NY)
Ithaca College (NY
Loyola University Maryland (MD)
Macalester College (MN)
Saint Mary's College of California (CA)
Santa Clara University (CA)
St. Olaf College (MN)
Stevens Institute of Technology (NJ)
Trinity University (TX)
University of Dayton (OH)
University of Denver (CO)
University of the Pacific (CA)

Breakout Regionals:
Baruch College (NY)
Binghamton University (NY)
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (CA)
California State University, Fresno (CA)
College of New Jersey (NJ)
Florida A&M University (FL)
Florida International University (FL)
George Mason University (VA)
Georgia Southern University (GA)
Marquette University (WI)
Montclair State University (NJ)
San Diego State University (CA)
University of North Carolina Asheville (NC)
University of Puget Sound (WA)
Washington State University (WA)

Large Leaders:
Arizona State University (AZ)
Case Western Reserve University (OH)
Clemson University (SC)
Colorado State University (CO)
Drexel University (PA)
Fordham University (NY)
Howard University (DC)
Indiana University - Bloomington (IN)
Miami University of Ohio (OH)
Michigan State University (MI)
North Carolina State University (NC)
Oregon State University (OR)
Rochester Institute of Technology (NY)
Rutgers University (NJ)
Southern Methodist University (TX)
Spelman College (GA)
Syracuse University (NY)
Texas A&M University (TX)
University of Alabama (AL)
University of California, Davis (CA)
University of California, San Diego (CA)
University of Connecticut (CT)
University of Delaware (DE)
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (IL)
University of Iowa (IA)
University of Kentucky (KY)
University of Maryland, College Park (MD)
University of Massachusetts, Amherst (MA)
University of Minnesota (MN)
University of Missouri - Columbia (MO)
University of Oklahoma (OK)
University of Pittsburgh (PA)
University of Utah (UT)
Virginia Tech (VA)
College of William & Mary (VA)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:List of new "Dream Schools". He adds more detail and "stand-out factor" for each in his new book:

Hidden Values:
Augustana College (IL)
Bentley University (MA)
Berry College (GA)
Butler University (IN)
Creighton University (NE)
Denison University (OH)
DePaul University (IL)
DePauw University (N)
Dickinson College (PA)
Elon University (NC)
Fairfield University (CT)
Furman University (SC)
Gettysburg College (PA)
Hobart and William Smith (NY)
Ithaca College (NY
Loyola University Maryland (MD)
Macalester College (MN)
Saint Mary's College of California (CA)
Santa Clara University (CA)
St. Olaf College (MN)
Stevens Institute of Technology (NJ)
Trinity University (TX)
University of Dayton (OH)
University of Denver (CO)
University of the Pacific (CA)

Breakout Regionals:
Baruch College (NY)
Binghamton University (NY)
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (CA)
California State University, Fresno (CA)
College of New Jersey (NJ)
Florida A&M University (FL)
Florida International University (FL)
George Mason University (VA)
Georgia Southern University (GA)
Marquette University (WI)
Montclair State University (NJ)
San Diego State University (CA)
University of North Carolina Asheville (NC)
University of Puget Sound (WA)
Washington State University (WA)

Large Leaders:
Arizona State University (AZ)
Case Western Reserve University (OH)
Clemson University (SC)
Colorado State University (CO)
Drexel University (PA)
Fordham University (NY)
Howard University (DC)
Indiana University - Bloomington (IN)
Miami University of Ohio (OH)
Michigan State University (MI)
North Carolina State University (NC)
Oregon State University (OR)
Rochester Institute of Technology (NY)
Rutgers University (NJ)
Southern Methodist University (TX)
Spelman College (GA)
Syracuse University (NY)
Texas A&M University (TX)
University of Alabama (AL)
University of California, Davis (CA)
University of California, San Diego (CA)
University of Connecticut (CT)
University of Delaware (DE)
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (IL)
University of Iowa (IA)
University of Kentucky (KY)
University of Maryland, College Park (MD)
University of Massachusetts, Amherst (MA)
University of Minnesota (MN)
University of Missouri - Columbia (MO)
University of Oklahoma (OK)
University of Pittsburgh (PA)
University of Utah (UT)
Virginia Tech (VA)
College of William & Mary (VA)

self-interest? he went to one of these and his kids and relatives go to several others?

[Anonymous]

Is this basically a list of very solid colleges and universities that aren't super selective or very expensive?

[Anonymous]

Book is great so far ... I'm 75% through it.

He makes the case for prioritizing value and fit (over prestige/rankings) and incorporates lots of data and student anecdotes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this basically a list of very solid colleges and universities that aren't super selective or very expensive?

Here's the blurb off the back. I just ordered it.

"The companion book to Who Gets In and Why shifts the spotlight from how colleges pick students to how students can better pick colleges.

Getting into prestigious schools has become a kind of lottery. “Plan A” may work out, but increasingly it isn’t. In Dream School, Jeff 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, Jeff highlights 75 accessible and affordable colleges that will satisfy those priorities."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this basically a list of very solid colleges and universities that aren't super selective or very expensive?

yes. nothing impressive.

[Anonymous]

UCs out of state are not affordable or worth the cost.

[Anonymous]

Um. No. Get out of here with the meager attempt at remaining relevant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this basically a list of very solid colleges and universities that aren't super selective or very expensive?

yes. nothing impressive.

What I found most helpful was not the list itself (though I was reassured to see several schools on my kid's list also called out here), but the tips and tools to evaluate schools generally. I feel more empowered to support my kid to make an informed decision by assessing a school's programs, available data, and ask good questions of the AO, students, and administration. But I get it, the list probably sells books.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this basically a list of very solid colleges and universities that aren't super selective or very expensive?

yes. nothing impressive.

I think the point of the book is that students, and parents especially, are looking at college search the wrong way. People try to get into the "best" college they can get into, without critically assessing fit or value or colleges that can provide both but aren't even on their radar. The book starts with a profile of student who got into Columbia but was unhappy and did not find the student culture a fit at all, he ended up transferring to University of Minnesota, where he did find better fit and vibe had more content and less stressed students. Top ranked college is not equal to happiness. We all know this but he shares some powerful stories and data. He also shares that there isn't enough space in top colleges and they don't give enough aid, so many more of these other schools should be considered. Like a person who got into Bowdoin with zero aid and ended up another college with nearly full aid and lots of oter perks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this basically a list of very solid colleges and universities that aren't super selective or very expensive?

yes. nothing impressive.

What I found most helpful was not the list itself (though I was reassured to see several schools on my kid's list also called out here), but the tips and tools to evaluate schools generally. I feel more empowered to support my kid to make an informed decision by assessing a school's programs, available data, and ask good questions of the AO, students, and administration. But I get it, the list probably sells books.

I agree

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this basically a list of very solid colleges and universities that aren't super selective or very expensive?

yes. nothing impressive.

I think the point of the book is that students, and parents especially, are looking at college search the wrong way. People try to get into the "best" college they can get into, without critically assessing fit or value or colleges that can provide both but aren't even on their radar. The book starts with a profile of student who got into Columbia but was unhappy and did not find the student culture a fit at all, he ended up transferring to University of Minnesota, where he did find better fit and vibe had more content and less stressed students. Top ranked college is not equal to happiness. We all know this but he shares some powerful stories and data. He also shares that there isn't enough space in top colleges and they don't give enough aid, so many more of these other schools should be considered. Like a person who got into Bowdoin with zero aid and ended up another college with nearly full aid and lots of oter perks.

Hi Jeff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this basically a list of very solid colleges and universities that aren't super selective or very expensive?

yes. nothing impressive.

I think the point of the book is that students, and parents especially, are looking at college search the wrong way. People try to get into the "best" college they can get into, without critically assessing fit or value or colleges that can provide both but aren't even on their radar. The book starts with a profile of student who got into Columbia but was unhappy and did not find the student culture a fit at all, he ended up transferring to University of Minnesota, where he did find better fit and vibe had more content and less stressed students. Top ranked college is not equal to happiness. We all know this but he shares some powerful stories and data. He also shares that there isn't enough space in top colleges and they don't give enough aid, so many more of these other schools should be considered. Like a person who got into Bowdoin with zero aid and ended up another college with nearly full aid and lots of oter perks.

+100 This community would benefit from reading. We're the "worrying" generation he is writing about and he does reference the DMV mindset on schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this basically a list of very solid colleges and universities that aren't super selective or very expensive?

yes. nothing impressive.

The intro to the list is really helpful because he writes that some of these might not be the right fit depending on where you live or if you're already look at a T10 vs. a T50. The point is that there is no perfect list, even his Dream School list. I also just finished the book, I found the chapter behind the list to be fascinating because it shows just how crazy we all are on here to constantly be debating these fine measues of prestige.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this basically a list of very solid colleges and universities that aren't super selective or very expensive?

yes. nothing impressive.

Agree. Nothing impressive about a NOVA kid attending W&M, VT Engineering, UMD CS… /s