<p>Hmmm . . . he went to UNC undergrad and Columbia Journalism, according to Wiki. </p>
<p>Well, it’s not clear to me whether Mr. Bruni is speaking more to the construction of a list to apply to or to the selection of one school from those admitted to. Those are two entirely different tasks, each presenting unique challenges. Wouldn’t most of us agree that putting together the app list is harder than choosing from what might be a fairly narrow set of options after letters arrive? </p>
<p>I fell in love with a U. campus during the touring phase of junior year, knew it would feel right every morning I woke up there, and was fortunate enough to be applying from New Mexico in the “less” or “non” competitive late 1970s. The whole process was cake and I have no regrets whatsoever – I really did feel inspired and uplifted throughout the entire undergraduate experience, post-calculus (though that lesson too was a big link in the chain of transformation).<br>
Can’t recommend the “fall in love” approach anymore unless heartbreak is given its allowance. Yet, I would say this more emotional approach has merit precisely because “thinking” about all the fact-based reasons on which to compare so many institutions is a task with an ever receding endline. Identify some guiding principles as Bruni does, but from there . . . make sure the place will help put your mind in right place for doing serious work.</p>