Jeff Selingo Reveals "Who Gets In and Why" - ASK HIM ANYTHING!

[Jeff_Selingo]

@whidbeyite2002

Jeff, why did you choose to research the University of Washington’s admissions process instead of University of Michigan’s or that of another state flagship?

I approached the most selective flagships. UM, UCLA, UVA, UNC-CH all said No. UW was simply next on my list.

[Jeff_Selingo]

@ucbalumnus

If an applicant has AP courses listed in 11th grade or earlier, but does not self report AP scores for some or all of them, do admission readers assume that the scores were 1 or 2?

No, they don’t assume that (at least the ones I observed both during reading and in committee). Admissions readers aren’t dectectives. They only know what you tell them. They don’t usually go hunting for more information nor make assumptions. And with AP, they seem to be more interested in course taking and grades than in scores.

[Jeff_Selingo]

@Knowsstuff

@Jeff_Selingo

@northshoreofma

Are you aware of any of the 3 schools using enrollment management software, consultants, or software, at anytime during the process? PS Great book. I highly recommend it; wish I had it as early as middle school, when the seeds of math destiny were being sown.

All the time. They are constantly massaging the numbers.

To expand on this and just read on Amazon the first chapter or “selling”, (great historical review), you state software /ip being used so…

Is it an advantage for a student to go to a school’s website and spend time browsing around? If so, how many times and in what time frame? Ie: once as a junior and a few times as a senior? Weekly for target schools?
This also comes up a lot of the “myth” of this practice.

Totally appreciate you answering these questions.

I also hope you’ll purchase the book I wouldn’t try too hard to “game” the system. That said, for browsing around, it’s better if the would-be applicant is doing it after responding to something from the college that makes it easier for them to connect applicant to back-end system. And if browsing around, be sure it’s strategic and not just random. Don’t spend time on pages you aren’t interested in, for instance.

[Jeff_Selingo]

@NateandAllisMom

Jeff, thanks for being so generous in answering our questions.

Do you have any thoughts or did you hear any chatter about the impact on 2021s of the UCs going test blind, or other UC trends?

I think that test-optional will become more of the norm in 2021 and going forward. Then what might happen after that comes in the conclusion from my excerpt in The Atlantic:

"One factor about test scores that often goes unnoticed is the signaling power that published average scores have for the entire college-search industry. Although I saw a student with a 1570 get denied at Emory and one with an 1120 get in, what most people see is that Emory’s average admitted students have a score from 1390 to 1510. That range creates the entire context for counselors, students, and families. Is Emory a reach or a safety school? Should I even bother to apply?

As long as colleges offer an option that applicants think gives them a leg up, some teenagers will continue to look for every edge. But when the only students submitting scores are those well above the average, any meaning that published scores have is diminished. And that might be the moment when standardized tests die."

[Jeff_Selingo]

@HighTide2020

I’ll definitely be reading the book. I read the WSJ article and appreciated that information.

Thank you.

[Jeff_Selingo]

@Eeyore123

Jeff, I am also interested in hearing if you ever overheard a comment about an essay appearing to be heavily influenced by someone else (parent/consultant)?

No, I didn’t. I think that was just assumed and baked into the review for applicants from top high schools.

[beebee3]

Jeff I wanted to let you know I read your book and found it to be exceptional. I hope a lot of people read it and really take your advice to heart.

Loved how you described driver and passenger students/families, as well as your categorizing buyer and seller colleges. Great analogies I hope will help many families understand the process better, and perhaps be more open to thinking about their colleges searches differently.

[Jeff_Selingo]

@beebee3

Jeff I wanted to let you know I read your book and found it to be exceptional. I hope a lot of people read it and really take your advice to heart.

Loved how you described driver and passenger students/families, as well as your categorizing buyer and seller colleges. Great analogies I hope will help many families understand the process better, and perhaps be more open to thinking about their colleges searches differently.

Thank you. I appreciate the feedback – tell others!

[Jeff_Selingo]

@hopefulglitter

How much of a role does historical data factor into college admissions? For example, if in the past couple of years a specific college has only admitted 1-2 people each year from a specific high school, is that something they consider when assessing who to admit? Moreover, will schools compare you to other applicants from your high school? Thank you!

This plays a role in that colleges know those high schools and their models for yielding those students greater. So, yes, it matters even if they don’t say it does.

[CC_Sorin]

Thank you all for participating and THANK YOU @Jeff_Selingo for doing the AMA! I’ll be closing the thread now.