The Years That Matter Most: How College Makes or Breaks Us

[Anonymous]

Has anyone completed reading this book? I just bought it based on recommendations. Well written book that makes the point that where you go to college matters. It's written from a social justice perpective (e.g. top schools benefit the poorer kids benefit more than the rich kids). From a selfish perspective, I'm looking for a summary or at least a pointer to the chapters where it summarizes what gets you into a top school (e.g. Play lacrosse). Is that even covered in this book or does it just talk about social injustice anectodes and how kids from lower strata of society adjust at high end colleges like a Princeton?

[Anonymous]

You have the book in hand but needs someone on the Internet to help you read it?

[Anonymous]

You bought a book that looks at implications of college attended through a social justice lens and you want someone to point you to which chapter talks about how helpful lacrosse will be????

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You bought a book that looks at implications of college attended through a social justice lens and you want someone to point you to which chapter talks about how helpful lacrosse will be????

Yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You have the book in hand but needs someone on the Internet to help you read it?

It's a big book and if it's not going to help with college admissions, I'll take my time reading it.

[Anonymous]

College doesn't make or break anyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:College doesn't make or break anyone.

+1, I think too many people (parents) overthink college.

[Anonymous]

Your poor children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You have the book in hand but needs someone on the Internet to help you read it?

It's a big book and if it's not going to help with college admissions, I'll take my time reading it.

You bought the wrong book lady. I hope your kid is really good at lacrosse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:College doesn't make or break anyone.

+1, I think too many people (parents) overthink college.

+2 I read this book a while ago but what I recall is not that the college matters (except for URM) but what you do there matters and you can do that at a lot of places. Things like building relationships with faculty, getting involved in activities, getting internships, etc.

And, yes, country club sports will help you get in (although lately some big name schools have dropped some of those sports)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:College doesn't make or break anyone.

For most people the die is cast by high school. I was poor growing up went to ivy and ended up in same kind of job as my peers. Partly b/c of risk tolerance and lack of connections, but also just ignorance of how much early choices matter (right internship rather than spending summer painting with my hometown crew).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:College doesn't make or break anyone.

For most people the die is cast by high school. I was poor growing up went to ivy and ended up in same kind of job as my peers. Partly b/c of risk tolerance and lack of connections, but also just ignorance of how much early choices matter (right internship rather than spending summer painting with my hometown crew).

Thank you for this perspective. I really didn't know about the importance of internships at my Ivy either. Plus the administration kept pushing "follow your passions," "take obscure courses outside of your major," etc. and I had absolutely no idea what the average GPA was in my class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:College doesn't make or break anyone.

For most people the die is cast by high school. I was poor growing up went to ivy and ended up in same kind of job as my peers. Partly b/c of risk tolerance and lack of connections, but also just ignorance of how much early choices matter (right internship rather than spending summer painting with my hometown crew).

PP, do you wish that you had made different choices?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:College doesn't make or break anyone.

For most people the die is cast by high school. I was poor growing up went to ivy and ended up in same kind of job as my peers. Partly b/c of risk tolerance and lack of connections, but also just ignorance of how much early choices matter (right internship rather than spending summer painting with my hometown crew).

I disagree I was very poor and worked a lot and never studied. Graduate with a 76 GPA. Went to college unprepared took five years full time to graduate and switching schools. Then started work, did MBA at night and finally got traction and had a big job by 45. Same as if rich and went to Harvard.

I did 100 percent of my career moved in my 40s where school no longer matters but not at 50 glass ceiling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:College doesn't make or break anyone.

For most people the die is cast by high school. I was poor growing up went to ivy and ended up in same kind of job as my peers. Partly b/c of risk tolerance and lack of connections, but also just ignorance of how much early choices matter (right internship rather than spending summer painting with my hometown crew).

Thank you for this perspective. I really didn't know about the importance of internships at my Ivy either. Plus the administration kept pushing "follow your passions," "take obscure courses outside of your major," etc. and I had absolutely no idea what the average GPA was in my class.

Happened to me too. I despise the “follow your passion” BS. How about telling people to think about what kind of overall work environment they want to be in in their life, and how does it intersect with what skills and interests they have.