Anonymous
09/12/2025 08:58
Subject: New "Dream Schools" from Selingo's new book ...
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote: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.
but for this guy - full pay at Columbia vs in state MN is a jump ball imo.
but some of this seemed like, saving 10k a year for a WAY lower ranked, fewer resourced college
The first profile wasn't just trading down for financial saving, it was about getting a better fit. The student felt stressed and isolated in Columbia's grinder culture. The student said he regretted not thinking about fit earlier, was obsessed only with getting into the highest ranked school he could get into.
Gladwell writes about being a big fish in a small pond vs having imposter syndrome at a super competitive school in one of his books. Same idea. I think it matters.
Agree, watch Gladwell's video on why you shouldn't go to harvard. Should choose a great state school if you're interested in the odds.
Anonymous
09/12/2025 08:55
Subject: New "Dream Schools" from Selingo's new book ...
Anonymous wrote:Just read the list. Completely random. Save your money. Don't buy.
Just the list on here? If you look at the book there's a lot of reasons why they're not random.
Anonymous
09/12/2025 08:43
Subject: New "Dream Schools" from Selingo's new book ...
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I have one child at an Ivy, absolutely thrives in that type of environment and loves to be pushed and challenged at every turn. My middle child is at a private on the hidden value list. They are at the top there with tons of opportunities and would’ve crumbled in a more intense environment. Their stats were good, they could’ve gotten into more selective, but we prioritized fit, and it was absolutely the right choice. No point in being at a higher ranked school if you’re stressed and unable to take advantage of all it has to offer. Having kids with different personalities in different selectivity ranges really highlights fit above all else for success. Very happy with both schools.
Not sure why you needed to do an eye roll, it’s true, and I was complimenting a wide range of schools as being wonderful options. Maybe save the eye rolls for those that think anything outside the T20 is worthless.
Anonymous
09/12/2025 08:38
Subject: New "Dream Schools" from Selingo's new book ...
Anonymous wrote:I have one child at an Ivy, absolutely thrives in that type of environment and loves to be pushed and challenged at every turn. My middle child is at a private on the hidden value list. They are at the top there with tons of opportunities and would’ve crumbled in a more intense environment. Their stats were good, they could’ve gotten into more selective, but we prioritized fit, and it was absolutely the right choice. No point in being at a higher ranked school if you’re stressed and unable to take advantage of all it has to offer. Having kids with different personalities in different selectivity ranges really highlights fit above all else for success. Very happy with both schools.
Anonymous
09/12/2025 08:26
Subject: New "Dream Schools" from Selingo's new book ...
I have one child at an Ivy, absolutely thrives in that type of environment and loves to be pushed and challenged at every turn. My middle child is at a private on the hidden value list. They are at the top there with tons of opportunities and would’ve crumbled in a more intense environment. Their stats were good, they could’ve gotten into more selective, but we prioritized fit, and it was absolutely the right choice. No point in being at a higher ranked school if you’re stressed and unable to take advantage of all it has to offer. Having kids with different personalities in different selectivity ranges really highlights fit above all else for success. Very happy with both schools.
Anonymous
09/12/2025 08:21
Subject: New "Dream Schools" from Selingo's new book ...
Just read the list. Completely random. Save your money. Don't buy.
Anonymous
09/12/2025 08:17
Subject: Re:New "Dream Schools" from Selingo's new book ...
It’s easy to take pot shots at the “hidden values” section of list. I don’t see anyone claiming they’d never in a million years allow their child to apply to UMCP, VT, or W&M, all of which are also on the complete Selingo list.
Anonymous
09/12/2025 07:53
Subject: New "Dream Schools" from Selingo's new book ...
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The "hidden value" list is a list of schools I would not spend my money on. If those are my kids options, in-state it is.
Isn't the assumption that those would be nearly free due to merit? Otherwise, I 100% agree with you.
I suspect that they get down to State costs with merit, not nearly free. There are schools on that list that are far better than most state schools.
Such as? I would choose one of our excellent state schools any day over that random list of "hidden value" schools.
DP
I agree.
Yep, economy is going to hell. Not the time to take a chance on a flailing private. This list is a decade too late.
Maybe, but I think the intro to the list is interesting in the data used to compile it. This just wasn't tossed off. I like the idea of looking at places that have acceptance rates where you can actually get in. The price to earnings ratio is good. And the predicted earnings based on majors and who is in the student body. As I always tell my kids, the rankings are great but the top schools are already taking A+ students and you can't get into them anyway.
Anonymous
09/12/2025 07:41
Subject: New "Dream Schools" from Selingo's new book ...
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The "hidden value" list is a list of schools I would not spend my money on. If those are my kids options, in-state it is.
Isn't the assumption that those would be nearly free due to merit? Otherwise, I 100% agree with you.
I suspect that they get down to State costs with merit, not nearly free. There are schools on that list that are far better than most state schools.
Such as? I would choose one of our excellent state schools any day over that random list of "hidden value" schools.
DP
I agree.
Yep, economy is going to hell. Not the time to take a chance on a flailing private. This list is a decade too late.
Anonymous
09/12/2025 07:37
Subject: Re:New "Dream Schools" from Selingo's new book ...
Anonymous wrote:Ha.
He can’t sell books by saying the same stuff over and over….same reason USNWR shakes things up occasionally.
100%
If you are churning out books year after year you have to say something different even when relatively little has changed in a year or two.
Anonymous
09/12/2025 07:24
Subject: New "Dream Schools" from Selingo's new book ...
Both of our sons considered a lot of these schools. It seems like they are good schools and aren't impossible to get into. Our older son was focused on the larger schools. Our younger son, now a senior, has a mix of small and large schools on his list. Nice to see some of the smaller schools on his list are considered hidden values.
Anonymous
09/12/2025 00:28
Subject: New "Dream Schools" from Selingo's new book ...
Anonymous wrote:Some of these are on my kid’s list. Hopefully they don’t get a surge in applicants this year from this book! (His criteria is schools that have high acceptance rates, good music programs, and where he could get some merit if it’s a private school).
+1
I’m hoping that the fact that my DC visited these schools in person in her junior year before this book came out will be recognized. Otherwise what seemed like great odds may no longer be great odds!
Anonymous
09/11/2025 22:39
Subject: New "Dream Schools" from Selingo's new book ...
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The "hidden value" list is a list of schools I would not spend my money on. If those are my kids options, in-state it is.
Isn't the assumption that those would be nearly free due to merit? Otherwise, I 100% agree with you.
I suspect that they get down to State costs with merit, not nearly free. There are schools on that list that are far better than most state schools.
Such as? I would choose one of our excellent state schools any day over that random list of "hidden value" schools.
DP
I agree.
+100
Anonymous
09/11/2025 22:37
Subject: New "Dream Schools" from Selingo's new book ...
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The "hidden value" list is a list of schools I would not spend my money on. If those are my kids options, in-state it is.
Isn't the assumption that those would be nearly free due to merit? Otherwise, I 100% agree with you.
I suspect that they get down to State costs with merit, not nearly free. There are schools on that list that are far better than most state schools.
Such as? I would choose one of our excellent state schools any day over that random list of "hidden value" schools.
DP
I agree.
Anonymous
09/11/2025 20:53
Subject: New "Dream Schools" from Selingo's new book ...
Some of these are on my kid’s list. Hopefully they don’t get a surge in applicants this year from this book! (His criteria is schools that have high acceptance rates, good music programs, and where he could get some merit if it’s a private school).