Podcast appearances and mentions of jeff selingo

Jess here. My guest this week is Jeff Selingo, an author and speaker I've admired for a long time. His work on college, college admissions and the transition to work and life in emerging adulthood are essential reads for anyone looking to understand what want and need in higher education and life. His books, There is Life After College, Who Gets In and Why: A Year Inside College Admissions and his forthcoming book, Dream School: Finding the College That's Right for You are all essential reads for teens and emerging adults as well as parents of teens and emerging adults. I adore all three, but I wanted to talk with Jeff about a few aspects of his writing: how he created a speaking career, finds his topics, and how on earth he gets people to talk about topics that tend to be shrouded in secrecy behind very high walls (such as college admissions). Check out Jeff's newsletter, Next, and Podcast, Future UKJ here, as you probably know, to tell you that if you're not listening to the Writing the Book episodes Jenny Nash and I have been doing, you should be. Jenny's working on her latest nonfiction, and I'm working on my next novel, and we're both trying to do something bigger and better than anything we've done before.We sit down weekly and dish about everything—from Jenny's proposal and the process of getting an agent to my extremely circular method of creating a story. We are brutally honest and open—even beyond what we are here. Truly, we probably say way too much. And for that reason, Writing the Book is subscriber-only.So I'm here saying: subscribe. That's a whole 'nother episode a week, and always a juicy one—plus all the other good subscriber stuff: the First Pages: BookLab, Jess's From Author to Authority series, and whatever else we come up with. (It varies enough that it's hard to list it all.) Plus, of course, access whenever we run The Blueprint—which, I don't know, might be soon.That's all I've got. So head to amwritingpodcast.com, get yourself signed up, and come listen to Writing the Book. Then talk to us. Tell us—tell us about your book writing and what's going on. We really want to hear from y'all.Thanks a lot. And Subscribe!Transcript below!EPISODE 465 - TRANSCRIPTKJ Dell'AntoniaHowdy, listeners—KJ here, as you probably know—to tell you that if you're not listening to the Writing the Book episodes Jennie Nash and I have been doing, you should be. Jennie is working on her latest nonfiction, and I'm working on my next novel, and we're both trying to do something bigger and better than anything we've done before. We sit down weekly and dish about everything from Jennie's proposal and the process of getting an agent to my extremely circular method of creating a story. We are brutally honest and open—even beyond what we are here. Truly, we probably say way too much, and for that reason, Writing the Books is subscriber-only. So I'm here saying: subscribe. That's a whole other episode a week, and always a juicy one—plus there's all the other good subscriber stuff: the First Page Booklab, Jess' From Author to Authority series, and whatever else we come up with, which kind of varies enough that it's hard to list out. Plus, of course, access to whenever we run the Blueprint, which—I don't know—it's going to be soon. That's all I got. So head to AmWritingpodcast.com, get yourself signed up and come listen to Writing the Book, and then talk to us. Tell us—tell us about your book writing and what's going on. We really want to—we want to hear from y'all. Thanks a lot, and please subscribe.Multiple SpeakersIs it recording? Now it's recording. Yay! Go ahead. This is the part where I stare blankly at the microphone. Try to remember what I'm supposed to be doing. All right, let's start over. Awkward pause. I'm going to rustle some papers. Okay. Now, one, two, three.Jess LaheyHey, it's Jess Lahey, and welcome to the Hashtag AmWriting Podcast. This is a podcast about writing all the things—short things, long things, poetry, proposals, queries, nonfiction, fiction—all the stuff. In the end, this is the podcast about getting the work done. And in the beginning of this podcast, our goal was to flatten the learning curve for other writers. So I am super excited about who I have today. Oh—quick intro. I'm Jess Lahey. I'm the author of The Gift of Failure and The Addiction Inoculation, and you can find my work at The New York Times, The Atlantic and The Washington Post, as you can find the work of my guest there too. So my guest today is someone that I have looked up to for a long time, and someone I use as sort of a—to bounce things off of and to think about how I do my work and how to do my work better. Jeff Selingo, thank you so much for coming to on the show. Jeff is the author of a couple of books that I'm a huge—In fact, I can look over at my bookshelf right now and see all of his books on getting into college, why college is not the end point. He has a new book coming out that we're going to be talking about—really; it's coming out real as soon as this podcast comes out. And I'm just—I'm a huge fan, Jeff. Thank you so, so much for coming on the pod.Jeff SelingoJust the same here—and I'm a huge fan of this podcast as well. It's on my regular rotation, so...Jess LaheyOh yay.Jeff SelingoI am thrilled, as always, to be here.Jess LaheyIt's—it's changed over the years, and now that we have four different, you know, co-hosts, there's sort of different takes on it. We've got, like, Sarina—the business side, and Jess—the nonfiction geek side, and KJ—the fiction side, and Jennie—the nuts-and-bolts editor side. So it's been really fun for us to sort of split off. But what I wanted to talk to you about today are a couple of different things. Your book Who Gets In and Why is—um , on the podcast, we talk about dissecting other people's work as a way... In fact, I was talking to my daughter about this yesterday. She's writing a thesis—what she hopes will be one chapter in a book. And I was saying, you know, one of the things you can do is go dissect other books you think are really well constructed—books that are reaching the same, similar audience. And your book, Who Gets In and Why, I think, is essential reading for anyone who's writing interview based, and specifically nonfiction around attempting to get their arms around a process. And a process that—for you—what I'm really interested about in this book is a process that's usually, you know, guarded and kind of secret. And no one wants to let you in for real on all the moving parts and how the decisions are made, because the college admissions process is—it's an inexact recipe. It depends on where you are, it depends on the school, but everyone wants the secret. Like, Jeff, just get me the secrets of how to get in. So how do you approach people who are, in a sense, some ways, secret-keepers and guardians of the secret sauce—to mix metaphors? How do you get those people to agree to be a part of a book—not just to be interviewed, but to actually put themselves out there and to put the sausage-making out there in a book, which can be a huge leap of faith for any organization or human being?Jeff SelingoYeah, and I think it's definitely harder now than it was when I did Who Gets In and Why. I think it's harder than when, you know, other people have been inside the process—whether it's, you know, Fast Food Nation, with the, you know, the fast food industry, which is a book that I looked up to when I was writing, Who Gets In and Why. I think it's—people just don't trust writers and journalists as much as they used to. So I think that's—a lot of this is really trust. First of all, you have to approach organizations that trust their own process. When people ask me, “Why these three schools?” You know, I approached 24 schools when I wrote, Who Gets In and Why, and three said yes. Twenty-one said no. And when I describe the people who said yes and why they said yes, they trusted their own process. And they also trusted me. But the first thing they did was trust their own process.. And so when I heard later on from people who had said no to me—and I would, you know, talk to them, you know, off the record about why they said no—there was always something about their process, their admissions process, that they didn't trust. They were getting a new, like, software system, or they had new employees that they didn't really quite know, or they were doing things—it's not that they were doing things wrong, but that, you know, it was at the time when the Supreme Court was making a decision about affirmative action, and they didn't quite know how that would play, and so they didn't quite trust it—and then how that, obviously, would be used by me. So the first thing you have to do is think about organizations that really believe in themselves, because they're going to be the ones that are going to talk about themselves externally. And then you just have to build trust between them and you. And that just takes—unfortunately, it takes time. And as a book author or a reporter, you don't always have that on your side.Jess LaheySo when—were some of these cold? Like of the 24, were all of these cold? Were some of these colder? Did you have an in with some of these?Jeff SelingoI had an in with most of them, because I had been covering—I mean, that's the other thing. You know, trust is built over time, and I had been covering higher ed for almost 25 years now. So it was just that they knew me, they knew of me, they knew of my work. I had other people vouch for me. So, you know, I had worked with other people in other admissions offices on other stories, and they knew people in some of these offices, so they would vouch for me. But at the end—so, you know, it ended up being Emory, Davidson and the University of Washington. It was really only Davidson where I knew somebody. Emory and University of Washington—I kind of knew people there that were the initial door opener. But beyond that, it was just spending time with them and helping them understand why I wanted to tell the story, how I thought the story would put play out, and getting them to just trust the process.Jess LaheyThere's also something to be said for people who have some enthusiasm for the greater story to be told—especially people who have an agenda, whether that's opening up admissions to the, quote, “whole student” as opposed to just their test scores, or someone who feels like they really have something to add to the story. Both of the people who I featured in The Addiction Inoculation and who insisted on having their real names used said, you know, there's just—there's a value for me in putting this story out there and finding worth in it, even though for these two people, there was some risk and there was embarrassment, and there's, you know, this shame around substance use disorder. But these two people said, you know, I just think there's a bigger story to be told, and I'm really proud to be a part of that bigger story. So there is a selling aspect also to, you know, how you position what it is you're doing.Jeff SelingoAnd there's—so there's a little bit of that, and that was certainly true here. The admissions deans at these places were longtime leaders who not only trusted their own process but understood that the industry was getting battered. You know, people were not trusting of admissions. They felt like it was a game to be played. And there was definitely a larger story that they wanted to tell there. Now truth be told—and they've told this in conferences that I've been at and on panels that I've moderated with them—there was also a little bit of they wanted to get their own story out, meaning the institutional story, right? Emory is competing against Vanderbilt, and Davidson is a liberal arts college in the South, when most liberal arts colleges are in the Northeast. So there was a little bit of, hey, if we participate in this, people are going to get to know us in a different way, and that is going to help us at the end—meaning the institution.Jess LaheyDo you have to? Did you? Was there a hurdle of, we really have, you know, this is some PR for us, too. So did that affect—I mean, there's a little bit of a Heisenberg thing going on here. Did the fact that you were observing them change, you think, anything about what they did and what they showed you?Jeff SelingoIt's an interesting thing, Jess. It's a great question, because I often get that. Because I was—you know, originally, I wanted to do one office. I wanted to be inside one institution. And when all three of them kind of came back and said, yes, we'll do this—instead of just choosing one of them—I thought, oh, this is interesting. We have a small liberal arts college. We have a big, private urban research university. We have a big public university in the University of Washington. So I wanted to show—kind of compare and contrast—their processes. But that also meant I couldn't be in one place all the time. There's only one of me, and there's three of them, and they're in different parts of the country. So clearly I was not there every day during the process. And somebody would say to me, oh, well, how do you know they're not going to do X, Y, and Z when you're not there? And I quickly realized that they had so much work to do in such a short amount of time that they couldn't really—they couldn't really game the system for me. After a while, I just became like a painting on the wall. I just was there. And in many cases, they didn't even notice I was there—which, by the way, is where you want to be—because they would say things, do things, without realizing sometimes that a reporter was present. And there's the opening scene of the book, which is just a fantastic—in my opinion, one of my favorite scenes in the book—right where they're talking about these students and so forth, and in a way that is so raw and so natural about how they did their work. If they knew I was in the room at that point—which of course they did—but if they really perceived my being there, that would have been really hard to pull off.Jess LaheyDid they have, did you guys have an agreement about off the record moments or anything like that? Or was there and speaking of which, actually, was there any kind of contract going into this, or any kind of agreement going into this?Jeff SelingoI basically told them that there would be no surprises. So everything was essentially on the record unless they explicitly said that, and that was usually during interviews, like one-on-one interviews. But while I was in the room with them, there was really nothing off the record. There couldn't be because it was hard to kind of stop what they were doing to do that. The only thing I promised was that there would be no surprises at the end. So when the book was done, during the fact-checking process, I would do what The New Yorker would do during fact-checking. I wouldn't read the passages back to them, but I would tell them basically what's in there, in terms of it as I fact-checked it. And so they really kind of knew, for the most part—not word for word—but they kind of knew what was in the book before it came out.Jess LaheyI like that term—no surprises. It's a real nice blanket statement for, look, I'm not looking to get—there's no gotcha thing here.Jeff SelingoThere's no gotcha, exactly...Jess LaheyRight. Exactly.Jeff SelingoThis was not an investigative piece. But there were things that, you know, I'm sure that they would have preferred not to be in there. But for the most part, during the fact-checking process, you know, I learned things that were helpful. You know, sometimes they would say, oh, that's an interesting way of—you know, I would redirect quotes, and they would want to change them. And I said, well, I don't really want to change direct quotes, because that's what was said in that moment. And then they would provide context for things, which was sometimes helpful. I would add that to the piece, or I would add that to the book. So at the end of the day—again—it goes back to trust. And they realized what I was trying to do with this book. It's also a book rather than an article. Books tend to have permanence. And I knew that this book would have, you know, shelf life. And as a result, I wanted to make sure that it would stand the test of time.Jess LaheyYeah, I've been thinking a lot about your new book—your book that's just coming out as this is getting out into the world—called Dream School. And by the way, such a great title, because one person's dream school is not another's. But like, my daughter happens to be at, I think, the perfect school for her, and my son went to the perfect school for him—which, by the way, wasn't even his first choice. And in retrospect, he said, I'm just so glad I didn't get into that other place—my, you know, early decision place—because this other place really was the perfect match. And I think that's why I love that title so much, because I spend a lot of time trying to help parents understand that their dream may not necessarily be their child's dream. And what makes something a dream school may, you know—in fact, in terms of time—my daughter was applying to colleges just coming out of COVID. Like, she had never been to a school dance. She'd never—you know—all that kind of stuff. So for me, the dream looked very different than maybe it would have four years prior, thinking I was going to have a kid that had the opportunity to sort of socially, you know, integrate into the world in a very different way. So I love that. And is that something that—how did—how do your ideas emerge? Did it emerge in the form of that idea of what is a dream school for someone? Or—anyway, I'll let you get back to...Jeff SelingoYeah. So, like many follow-up books, this book emerged from discussing Who Gets In and Why. So I was out on the road talking about Who Gets In and Why. And I would have a number of parents—like, you know when you give talks, people come up to you afterwards—and they say, okay, we love this book, but—there's always a but. And people would come up to me about Who Gets In and Why, and they would be like, love the book, but it focused more on selective colleges and universities. What if we don't get into one of those places? What if we can't afford one of those places? What if we don't really want to play that game, and we want permission? And this—this idea of a permission structure came up very early on in the reporting for this book. We need to be able to tell our friends, our family, that it's okay, right? You know how it is, right? A lot of this is about parents wanting to say that their kid goes to Harvard. It's less about going to Harvard, but they could tell their friends that their kid goes to Harvard. So they wanted me to help them create this permission structure to be able to look more widely at schools.Jess LaheyI like that.Jeff SelingoSo that's how this came about, and then the idea of Dream School—and I'm fascinated by your reaction to that title. Because the reaction I've been getting from some people is—you know—because the idea, too many people, the idea of a dream school, is a single entity.Jess LaheyOf course.Jeff SelingoIt's a single school; it's a single type of school. And what—really, it's a play on that term that we talk about, a dream school. In many ways, the dream school is your dream, and what you want, and the best fit for you. And I want to give you the tools in this book to try to figure out what is the best match for you that fulfills your dreams. It's kind of a little play on that—a little tweak on how we think about the dream and dream school. And that's really what I'm hoping to do for this book—is that, in some ways, it's a follow-up. So you read Who Gets In and Why, you decide, okay, maybe I do want to try for those highly selected places. But as I tell the story early on in in Dream School. A. It's almost impossible to get into most of those places today—even more so than five or six years ago. And second, many of the students that I met—young adults that I met in reporting Dream School—ended up at, you know, fill-in-the-blank: most popular school, brand-name school, highly selective school, elite school—whatever you want to put in that blank—and it wasn't quite what they expected. And so that's another story that I want to tell families in this book—is that, hey, there's a wider world out there, and there is success to be had at many of these places.Jess LaheyThere's something I say occasionally, that I have to take the temperature of the room, just because I—you know, you and I speak at some fairly similar places, like, you know, the hoity-toity private schools that—you know, everyone's just go, go, go, do, do, do, achieve, achieve, achieve. And every once in a while, I like to insert—I like to, number one, tell them that my college was, I think, perfect for me. I went to my safety school. I went to the University of Massachusetts and had an extraordinary experience. But I'm a very certain kind of person, and maybe for another—like, for example, my daughter, when we were looking at schools, our state school was just too big for her. It just—she was going to get lost. It wasn't going to work very well. But the thing I like to say when I can, when I feel like the audience is ready to hear it is: What if it's a massive relief if you don't have an Ivy kid? If you have a kid who's not going to get into an Ivy school, isn't it a relief to say that's not what we're aiming for here, and we can actually find a place that's a great fit for my kid? And that sometimes goes over really well. For a few people, they'll come up and thank me for that sort of reframing afterwards. But for some people, that is just not at all what they want to hear.Jeff SelingoAnd it's—you know, it's really hard. And I think you go back to audience, and—you know—most people make money on books kind of after the fact, right? The speaking, as you mentioned, and things like that. And it's interesting—this book, as I talk to counselors about it, high school counselors—oh, they're like, this is perfect. This is the message I've been trying to get through to parents. Then I talk to the parents—like, I'm not quite sure this message will work in our community, because this community is very focused on getting into the Ivy League and the Ivy Plus schools?Jess LaheyYes, but that's why your title is so brilliant. Because if you're getting—and I talk a lot about this, I don't know if you've heard, I've talked about this on the podcast—that with the substance use prevention stuff, it's hard for me to get people to come in. So I use The Gift of Failure to do that, right? So you've got this title that can get the people in the seats, and then you, in your persuasive and charismatic way, can explain to them why this is a term that may—could—use some expanding. I think that's an incredible opportunity.Jeff SelingoAnd it's important, too—early on, my editor told me, “Jeff, don't forget, we're an aspirational society.” And I said—I told, I said, “Rick,” I said, “I'm not telling people not to apply in the Ivy League. I'm not saying they're terrible schools. I'm not saying don't look at those places.” All I'm saying is, we want to expand our field a little bit to look more broadly, more widely. So we're not saying don't do this—we're saying, do “do” this. And that's what I'm hoping that this book does.Jess LaheyWell, and the reality is, people listen to the title. They don't read the subtitle, because subtitles are long, and they have a great use—but not when you're actually talking about a book with someone. And so what they're going to hear is Dream School, and I think that's a fantastic way to position the book. But since you opened up the topic, I also—I am right now mentoring someone who is attempting to sell a book while also planning for a speaking career, which, as you know, is something that I did concurrently. How did you—did you know you wanted to do speaking when you were first writing your books? Or is this something that sort of came out of the books themselves?Jeff SelingoIt just came out of the books. You know, the first book, which was College (Un)bound, which was 2012, sold better than I expected, but it was aimed at a consumer audience. But who ended up reading that were college leaders, presidents and people work at colleges. So I had a very busy schedule speaking to people inside the industry. Then I turned my—you know, the second book, There Is Life After College— really turned it to this parenting audience, which was a very new audience to me, and that really led to me to, you know, Who Gets In and Why, and now this book. The difference—and I'm always curious to talk to parenting authors like you—is that college, you know, people—even the most aspirational people in life, I understand, you know, people in certain cities think about preschool, what preschool their kid's going to get into to get into the right college—but in reality, they're going to read a college book when their kids are in high school. And that is the more challenging piece around, you know, I—unlike most parenting authors who have a wider audience, because a lot of the issues that face parents face parents when they have toddlers, when they have pre-teens, when they have teens. Obviously, some parenting authors just focus on teens, I get that.But this book really has kind of a short life in terms of the audience. And so what we're trying to do—so think about it: Who Gets In and Why— it's still in hardcover. Has never been published in paperback, largely because there's a new audience for it every year, which is fantastic...Jess LaheyYeah, I was going to mention that. That is the massive upside. And for me, it's usually a four-year sort of turnover in terms of speaking anyway.Jeff SelingoYeah, you're right. And so the nice thing on the speaking front is that I have almost a new audience every year, so I could continue to go back to the same schools...Jess LaheyRight.Jeff Selingo...every year, which has been really helpful—with a slightly different message, because the industry is also changing, and admissions is changing as a result. So, no, I—the speaking came afterwards, and now I realize that that's really kind of how you make this thing work. I couldn't really have a writing career without the speaking piece.Jess LaheySince figuring that out—and I guess assuming that you enjoy doing it, as I hope you do—is that something that you're continuing to market on your own?Jeff SelingoYes. So that's what we're doing. You know, one of the big changes from the last book is that we have developed a—you know, we built a customer relationship management system under our newsletter. So we use HubSpot, which is, you know, like Salesforce. It's something like that And so we've now built a community that is much stronger than the one that I had five years ago. That's a community of parents, of counselors, of independent counselors. So we just know so much more about who we serve, who our readers are, and who will ask me to come speak to their groups and things like that. So that, to me, has been the biggest change since the last book compared to this book. And it has enabled us—and it's something that I would highly encourage authors to do. I don't think they have to go out and buy one of these big, robust systems, but the more you know about your readers and build that community, the more that they're going to respond to you. They really want to be with you in some way. They want to read your books. They want to come to your webinars. They want to listen to your podcasts. They want to see you speak. They want to invite you to speak. And building that community is incredibly important to having that career, you know, after the book comes out.Jess LaheyIt's also for marketing purposes. So Sarina Bowen—again, brilliant at this. he way she does that is, she slices and dices her mailing list into all kinds of, like, where the reader came from—is this someone who's, you know, more interested in this, did I—did I meet them at this conference, you know, how did I acquire this name for my list? And she does a lot of marketing very specifically to those specific lists, and that information is amazing. And I think so many of us tend to think just—and I have to admit that this is where I spend most of my time—is just getting more emails in your newsletter. Owning, you know, the right—because it's an honor of being able to reach out to those people and have them be interested in what you have to say. But that's your—I may have to have you come back to talk specifically about that, because it's increasingly—as we're doing more of the marketing for our books—I think that's the future for people who want to keep things going.Jeff SelingoAnd that's—you know, that is the reality today. That's why proposals sell. Because people—you know, publishers really want people with platforms. And if you're not a superstar, there are very few of those out there, you need to figure out another way to build that platform. And so marketing yourself is critically important, and I've learned that from book one. You know, people would say, “Well, you're always just selling your book.” And I said, “Well, if I don't sell it, no one else,” right? So at some point, the publisher—you know, there's only so much the publisher is going to do. And they don't really have the tools that you do. And more than that, Jess, like, you understand your audience. Sarina understands her audience, right? Like, we understand our audiences in ways that publishers, who are doing, you know, dozens and dozens of books a year, just don't get.Jess LaheyRight. No, absolutely.Jeff SelingoLike, no offense against them. I think they're doing really good work. But it's just—it's hard for them, I think, to really understand, well, who's going to really read this book?Jess LaheyAnd I love the idea of using the questions you get. As you know, I tend to take the questions that I get and turn them into videos or—and I do answer all the emails—but I keep a spreadsheet of what those questions are so that I can slice and dice it in various ways. And they're fascinating. And that shapes like, oh wow, I had no idea so many people—like, I had no idea that so many kids were actually interested in knowing whether or not the caffeine—amounts of caffeine that they're drinking—are healthy, or how to get better sleep. Because if you ask their parents, they're like, “Oh no, they don't care about sleep,” or, “They just drink so much coffee and they don't care.” And yet what you hear from the kids is such a different story. And the thing that I also love is the idea of, you know, what that dream school concept means to the actual kid applying. You've probably heard this before, but I needed some symbolic way to let my kids know that this was not, in the end, my decision, and how important this decision was for them in terms of becoming adults. And so I said, the one thing I will never do is put a sticker for a school on the back of my car. Because your choice of where to become a young, emerging adult is not—I don't—that's not my currency to brag on as a parent. It's too important for that. And so people go nuts over that. They're like, “But that's what I really want—is that sticker on the back of the car!” And so I have to be careful when I talk about it, but for my kids, that was my one symbolic act to say, this is about your growth and development, and not my bragging rights. And I think that's a hard message.Jeff SelingoI think that's really important—especially, I have two teens at home. And I think this is a whole topic for another conversation around, you know, most parenting authors are also parents at the same time that they're doing this—advice out to everybody else. And I—I'm very aware of that. I'm also very aware of the privacy that they deserve. And so that's an—it's a fine line. It's a hard line to walk, I will say, for authors, because people—they want to know about you. And they ask you a lot of questions—like, especially around college—like, “Well, where are your kids applying? Where are they going to go?” Like, “Oh, I bet you—especially this book, where I'm encouraging parents to think more broadly—well, you're probably giving that advice to everybody else, but you're not going to follow that, surely, right?” So it's—you just have to—it's hard when you're in this world that you're also part of every day.Jess LaheyIt's really tough. And things have gotten a lot more complicated—as listeners know, I have a trans kid, and that means that everything that I've ever written about that kid is out there. Some of it changeable, a lot of it—most of it—not. And would I do it again? I don't—I don't think so. And that—you know, that's been a journey. But it's also been—you know, we can't know what we don't know. I don't know—it's a tough one. But I really admire your—that's why I throw my safety school thing out there all the time. I'm like, “Look, you know, I went to the place that saved my parents a boatload of money and allowed me to do stuff like traveling that I never would have had the ability to do if I hadn't gone to my state school. And my priorities were big, and adventures, and lots of options.” And I'm very, very clear that standing up for myself was something that I wanted to learn how to do more. On the other hand, that's not been the priority for both of my kids, so... Can I just—I want to ask one quick college question, just because it's—in reading all of your books, this comes up for me over and over again. How do you help parents see the difference between their dream and their kid's dream—or their goals and their kid's goals? And how do you dance that line, which I think is a very easy place to lose readers, lose listeners, because they just shut down and they say, “That's not something I want to mess with. This is too important to me.”Jeff SelingoIt's a fine line. It's a difficult line to walk. At some point I have to realize who's the you that you're speaking to. And I even say this in the introduction of the new book—it's largely parents. They're the readers. I know that—I hope their kids will read it. Maybe—maybe they will, maybe they won't, and maybe they'll read it as a family. But I'm really speaking to the families, and I want them to understand that college especially is an emotional good. It's something many of us—you're talking about your undergraduate experience. I'm not going to ask you how long ago that was, but my undergraduate experience...Jess LaheyI'm 55. So it's been a long time ago.Jeff SelingoAnd I'm 52, right? So same here. But we have this—you know, most people, because of the audiences I tend to speak to, they're not first-generation students, right? They're mostly parents. You know, most of the parents in the audience went to college themselves, and for many of them it was a transformative experience, like it was for me.People met their—they met their lifelong friends, they met their partners, they decided what they wanted to do in life. It was— it was this experience we all think it is. And as a result, I think a lot of parents put that then on their kids. “Well, this was a transforming experience for me, so it definitely has to be a transformative experience for you. Oh, and by the way, these are all the mistakes I made in doing that. I want to make sure you don't make any of those.”Jess LaheyAnd, by the way, no pressure, but this is going to be—this is where you're going to meet your best friends, your spouse. It's the best years of your life, so don't sacrifice even a second of it.Jeff SelingoYeah. And then I...Jess LaheyNo pressure.Jeff SelingoNo pressure. And not only that, but it is—it is something we bought a very long time ago. I'm always amazed when—sometimes we go to the Jersey Shore on vacation, and I'll be out on a walk on the beach in the morning, and I'll see people wearing, you know, college shirts, sweatshirts. And, you know, some of these people are old—much older than I am. And I say, “Oh”—you know, we'll start to have a conversation, and I'll say, “Oh, so does your grandkid, you know, go to X school?” Terrible assumption on my part, I know. But they say, “No, that's where I went.” And it's amazing to me—these are people in their 70s and 80s—because I'm the only other person out that early walking—and they love this thing so much that they're still kind of advertising it. But it was so different back then. And that's the thing that I—going back to your question—that's the thing I try to explain to parents. You can guide this. You can put guardrails up. You might have to put guardrails up about money and location and all that other stuff. But college has changed so much that—don't try to make this your search. You had your chance. You did your search. It worked out. It didn't work out. You would have done things differently. I think that's all great advice to give to your kids. But this is their life. This is their staging ground. They have to learn. And again, it's also different. Like, part of what I hope my books do is to try to explain to people—who, you know, kind of dip in and dip out of higher ed just when their kids are applying—that it's very different than when they applied and went to college.Jess LaheyThe thing I like to mention a lot is that people in admissions read so many applications that they can tell when something is sincere and something is personal and smacks of a kid, as opposed to when something smacks of a parent. That is a very different application. It's a very different essay—which is the thing that I guess I have the most experience with. But—so I am just so incredibly grateful to you for this book. I'm so grateful that there's evidence that people will actually agree to be interviewed, even in thorny situations like college admissions, which—I don't know. I'm still in awe of the fact that you got anyone to say yes. But—and I heavily—I heartily, heartily recommend Dream School to anyone who's listening. I just—I don't even have anyone applying to college, and I think it's just a fascinating topic, because the idea of where we become who we're going to be, and how we prime lots of other stuff that's going to happen later on in our life—I think that's a fascinating topic. So thank you so much for writing about it. Thank you for writing about it with such empathy and such interest. That's the other thing—is you can tell when someone really is interested in a topic when you read their book. And thank you for providing a book that I recommend all the time as a blueprint—as a dissection book—for people writing nonfiction, heavily interviewed nonfiction. So thank you, so, so much. Where can people find you if they want you to come speak, if they want you—if they want to find your books—where can people find you?Jeff SelingoPretty simple. Jeffselingo.com is my website, and you can also follow me on most social—handle is @jeffselingo, as in Jeff. And I just love hearing from readers. As you know, books change lives, and I love hearing the stories when readers tell me they read something in a book and they acted on it. It's just the most beautiful thing.Jess LaheyYeah, it's the best. I get videos occasionally; too, of like little kids doing things their parents didn't think they could do. And—“Look! Look! They did this thing!” It's just—it's an amazing and place of privilege. You have a newsletter also…Jeff SelingoI do. Called Next. It comes out twice a month.Jess LaheyIt's Fantastic!Jeff SelingoOh, well, thank you. And I have a podcast also called Future U— that's more around the kind of the insider-y nature of higher ed and how it works. But a lot—I know a lot of families listen to it to try to understand this black box that is college. So that's called Future U as in U for university.Jess LaheyThe reason I love the podcast so much is, a lot of what parents get exposed to when they're doing the college admissions process are those graphs—scatter graphs of like, where do your numbers intersect with the expectations of this school—and it's a real human version of that. It's a human version of how that black box operates.Jeff SelingoAnd at the end of the day, as I always remind parents, it's a business. You might have this emotional tie to college, but if you don't—if you don't—and you know a mutual friend of ours, Ron Lieber, who writes for The New York Times around...Jess LaheyHe's the best! The best!Jeff SelingoCollege finances, right? He always reminds people of this too. I don't remind them as often as he does, and I probably should. It's this—you're buying a consumer product. And you have to act as a consumer. Yes, you can have an emotional tie and a love for this place, but this is a big purchase, and you have to approach it like that.Jess LaheyDid you see his most recent piece about, yeah, taking some time and seeing—seeing what kind of offers you can get? I loved it. I love Ron's approach to—he's just a great guy. And his books are fantastic. Thank you again, so much. I'm going to let you get on with your day, but I'm always grateful for you. And good luck with the launch of Dream School.I will be out applauding on pub day for you.Jeff SelingoAppreciate it. Thank you, Jess.Jess LaheyAll right, everyone—until next week, keep your butt in the chair and your head in the game.NarratorThe Hashtag AmWriting Podcast is produced by Andrew Perella. Our intro music, aptly titled Unemployed Monday, was written and played by Max Cohen. Andrew and Max were paid for their time and their creative output—because everyone deserves to be paid for their work. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amwriting.substack.com/subscribe

What's more important: where you go to college, or what you do in college? Jeff Selingo has written about colleges and universities for more than 25 years and is a New York Times bestselling author of four books. His latest, Dream School: Finding the College That's Right for You, draws on more than two years of research and a survey of some 3,000 parents to give families permission to think more broadly about what signals a “good” college and then the tools to discover their dream school. Hear the Top 5 biggest changes to college admissions in recent years, why you should dig deeper into the universe of colleges to attend, the growing importance of value when it comes to your college choice, the most surprising things Jeff learned while writing the book, and the importance of learning broad skills vs. specialized skills in college. Check out Jeff's new book Dream School: Finding the College That's Right for You, and Subscribe to College Bound Mentor on your favorite podcast platform and learn more at CollegeBoundMentor.com

Is the pressure of college admissions overwhelming your family? You're not alone. Between endless AP classes, campus tours, and the unspoken competition of “where did your kid get in?”, it's easy for parents to feel consumed by stress and worry. But what if the path to your teen's success isn't about getting into the “best” school, but finding the right one? In this episode of Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens & Teens, Dr. Lisa Damour and journalist Reena Ninan sit down with bestselling author and higher education expert Jeff Selingo, author of Dream School: Finding the College That's Right for You, to rethink what makes a college the “dream school.” Drawing on decades of research and thousands of parent and student stories, Jeff helps families step back from the frenzy and see the college search for what it truly is: a chance to find the right fit for your child's growth, learning, and future. - Why prestige isn't everything, and why outcomes from mid-tier schools often match those from elite institutions - How to help your teen find a college where they'll truly belong, both socially and academically - The surprising research on student satisfaction, faculty connections, and opportunities at different types of schools - Smart ways to talk with your teen about money, financial aid, and realistic college costs - Why the approach your child takes to college matters more than the name on the diploma Warm, practical, and myth-busting, this conversation will help you and your teen navigate the admissions maze with less anxiety and more clarity. Dream School: Finding the College That's Right for You https://jeffselingo.com/books/dream-school Study: The Determinants and Causal Effects of Admission to Highly Selective Private Colleges https://opportunityinsights.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/CollegeAdmissions_Paper.pdf Follow and subscribe to our YouTube channel where you can see all our latest video episodes: https://youtube.com/@asklisapodcast And follow us on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn @AskLisaPodcast, @Lisa.Damour, @ReenaNinan. Checkout Dr. Lisa's website for more resources: https://www.drlisadamour.com/ Ask Lisa is produced by: https://www.goodtroubleproductions.com Episode keywords: college search, college prep, college anxiety, dream school, jeff selingo, college admissions, college stress, college success, college tips, college choice Podcast keywords: ask lisa podcast, dr lisa damour, reena ninan, psychology, parenting, podcast, teens, tweens, parenting teens, parenting tweens, teen parenting, tween parenting, parenting tips, parenting advice, positive parenting, parenting podcast, teen behavior, tween challenges, raising tweens, raising teens, parenting hacks, parenting help, family dynamics, kids podcast, mental health, teen mental health, attachment styles, emotional intelligence

In this era of uncertainty, many parents view highly-selective colleges as the best bet for their student's futures. In his new book just out this month, Future U co-host Jeff Selingo challenges that assumption. For this episode, Jeff moves from the host chair to being a guest to share highlights from the book, ‘Dream School.' He talks about going beyond which college's name looks most impressive as a bumper sticker on the family car to focusing on the quality of a college's teaching, whether it really fits the budget, and other factors that are specific to each student. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group.Relevant Links:Jeff Selingo's new book, Dream SchoolChapters0:00 - Intro2:06 - Why write this book?3:23 - The ‘New Dream School' List11:28 - When Mismatched Schools Cause Dropouts14:26 - Sponsor Break16:51 - The Importance of Making Trade-offs18:44 - Understanding What's Motivating Choice19:35 - How AI is Impacting Jobs and Causing Uncertainty About College20:56 - What Should Colleges Do?23:23 - Giving Families ‘Social Proof' of a Broader Group of College25:29 - The Doom Loop of College Finances27:56 - How Future U Shaped the Book29:14 - How Jeff Gets the Word Out on His BookConnect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)Threads  Connect with Jeff Selingo:Dream School: Finding the College That's Right for YouSign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedIn  Submit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

Is the pressure of college admissions overwhelming your family? You're not alone. Between endless AP classes, campus tours, and the unspoken competition of “where did your kid get in?”, it's easy for parents to feel consumed by stress and worry. But what if the path to your teen's success isn't about getting into the “best” school, but finding the right one? In this episode of Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens & Teens, Dr. Lisa Damour and journalist Reena Ninan sit down with bestselling author and higher education expert Jeff Selingo, author of Dream School: Finding the College That's Right for You, to rethink what makes a college the “dream school.” Drawing on decades of research and thousands of parent and student stories, Jeff helps families step back from the frenzy and see the college search for what it truly is: a chance to find the right fit for your child's growth, learning, and future. - Why prestige isn't everything, and why outcomes from mid-tier schools often match those from elite institutions - How to help your teen find a college where they'll truly belong, both socially and academically - The surprising research on student satisfaction, faculty connections, and opportunities at different types of schools - Smart ways to talk with your teen about money, financial aid, and realistic college costs - Why the approach your child takes to college matters more than the name on the diploma Warm, practical, and myth-busting, this conversation will help you and your teen navigate the admissions maze with less anxiety and more clarity. Dream School: Finding the College That's Right for You https://jeffselingo.com/books/dream-school Study: The Determinants and Causal Effects of Admission to Highly Selective Private Colleges https://opportunityinsights.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/CollegeAdmissions_Paper.pdf Follow and subscribe to our YouTube channel where you can see all our latest video episodes: https://youtube.com/@asklisapodcast And follow us on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn @AskLisaPodcast, @Lisa.Damour, @ReenaNinan. Checkout Dr. Lisa's website for more resources: https://www.drlisadamour.com/ Ask Lisa is produced by: https://www.goodtroubleproductions.com Episode keywords: college search, college prep, college anxiety, dream school, jeff selingo, college admissions, college stress, college success, college tips, college choice Podcast keywords: ask lisa podcast, dr lisa damour, reena ninan, psychology, parenting, podcast, teens, tweens, parenting teens, parenting tweens, teen parenting, tween parenting, parenting tips, parenting advice, positive parenting, parenting podcast, teen behavior, tween challenges, raising tweens, raising teens, parenting hacks, parenting help, family dynamics, kids podcast, mental health, teen mental health, attachment styles, emotional intelligence

In this episode of The Self-Driven Child Podcast, I sit down once again with my good friend and New York Times bestselling author Jeff Selingo. You probably know Jeff from his book Who Gets In and Why, which cracked open the mysterious college admissions process. But now, he's back with a powerful new guide, Dream School: Finding the College That's Right for You.We explore the realities behind the college admissions frenzy—the pressures, the myths, and the real indicators of student success. Jeff and I dive deep into why so many students and families narrow their college lists too soon, how prestige bias and community pressure shape decision-making, and what really matters when it comes to finding the best college fit. Whether you're a parent, student, educator, or just curious about higher education, this episode is a roadmap to cutting through the noise and focusing on what will actually help kids thrive. Episode Highlights:[1:55] - Welcoming back Jeff Selingo and his new book Dream School [3:41] - Unpacking the narrative arc from elite admissions to finding fit [5:27] - Why students and parents fixate on prestige and how that narrows options [7:40] - Grade inflation and the overconfidence trap [10:44] - Why balanced college lists matter more than ever [13:49] - Conformist bias and how schools like Archer are challenging the status quo [16:38] - Misconceptions around adding more "backup" schools [18:21] - Is college worth it? A nuanced look at ROI and student outcomes [23:06] - Why regional job markets matter more than college name [26:45] - The value of being a "big fish" at a smaller school [30:56] - Faculty incentives, mentorship, and why engagement matters [34:50] - Hands-on learning and mentors as keys to student success [37:09] - How to spot signs of strong faculty engagement on campus visits [41:23] - Belonging uncertainty and how it affects student retention [45:47] - First-year programming that fosters connection and success [46:59] - Extracurriculars as a path to discovery, not just admissions [49:59] - Bringing joy back to the college search [51:55] - Finite vs. infinite games and redefining what college is really aboutLinks & Resources:·         Jeff Selingo's new book: Dream School: Finding the College That's Right for You·         College Scorecard: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov ·         National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE): https://nsse.indiana.edu ·         The Craziest Year Ever in College Admission with Jeff Selingo: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-craziest-year-ever-in-college-admission-with/id1676859533?i=1000650463806 ·         Who Gets In and Why with Jeff Selingo: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/who-gets-in-and-why-with-jeff-selingo/id1676859533?i=1000613195766  If this episode has helped you, remember to rate, follow, and share the Self-Driven Child Podcast. Your support helps us reach more people and create more content that makes a difference. If you have a high school aged student and would like to talk about putting a tutoring or college plan together, reach out to Ned's company, PrepMatters at www.prepmatters.com

Story #1: As more comes to light around a horrific murder of a young woman, Iryna Zyrutska, on the Charlotte light rail, Will exposes how decades of soft-on-crime policies, cashless bail, and political deflection from leaders like Lori Lightfoot and Brandon Johnson enable the same offenders to terrorize the same victims and why the national media has buried the story. Story #2: Author of 'Dream School,' Jeff Selingo, joins Will to rethink how parents and students should choose colleges. Instead of chasing Ivy League rejection rates, Selingo lays out what really matters: regional networks, affordable tuition, internships, and professors who mentor students. He reveals surprising “dream schools” where graduates earn just as much as those from elite universities without the crushing debt. Story #3: Will and The Crew dive into Josh Allen's incredible miracle comeback over the Ravens. Plus, a "Karen" berates a father and takes a baseball away from a boy on his birthday at Phillies game. Subscribe to 'Will Cain Country' on YouTube here: Watch Will Cain Country! Follow Will on X: @WillCain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mexico has handed over 26 high-ranking cartel members to the United States on Tuesday as part of a deal with the Trump administration to properly address the threat of criminal groups smuggling drugs over the border. Back in February, President Trump signed an executive order that designated six different cartels as a foreign terrorist organizations. Texas Congressman Tony Gonzales (R-TX) joins to discuss the situation at the border and Texas Democrats who've fled the state. Some college students are already getting settled into their dorm rooms to begin college while prospective students are awaiting their admissions letters. The future of college education may look different, as the growing challenges of getting accepted may stem from an increasingly saturated application environment. Jeff Selingo, author of Who Gets In and Why: A Year Inside College Admissions, joins the podcast to stress the importance of prioritizing the right fit over prestige and what factors prospective students should really consider when it comes to their higher education. Plus, commentary from the host of “The Big Ben Show,” Ben Domenech. Photo Credit: AP Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mexico has handed over 26 high-ranking cartel members to the United States on Tuesday as part of a deal with the Trump administration to properly address the threat of criminal groups smuggling drugs over the border. Back in February, President Trump signed an executive order that designated six different cartels as a foreign terrorist organizations. Texas Congressman Tony Gonzales (R-TX) joins to discuss the situation at the border and Texas Democrats who've fled the state. Some college students are already getting settled into their dorm rooms to begin college while prospective students are awaiting their admissions letters. The future of college education may look different, as the growing challenges of getting accepted may stem from an increasingly saturated application environment. Jeff Selingo, author of Who Gets In and Why: A Year Inside College Admissions, joins the podcast to stress the importance of prioritizing the right fit over prestige and what factors prospective students should really consider when it comes to their higher education. Plus, commentary from the host of “The Big Ben Show,” Ben Domenech. Photo Credit: AP Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mexico has handed over 26 high-ranking cartel members to the United States on Tuesday as part of a deal with the Trump administration to properly address the threat of criminal groups smuggling drugs over the border. Back in February, President Trump signed an executive order that designated six different cartels as a foreign terrorist organizations. Texas Congressman Tony Gonzales (R-TX) joins to discuss the situation at the border and Texas Democrats who've fled the state. Some college students are already getting settled into their dorm rooms to begin college while prospective students are awaiting their admissions letters. The future of college education may look different, as the growing challenges of getting accepted may stem from an increasingly saturated application environment. Jeff Selingo, author of Who Gets In and Why: A Year Inside College Admissions, joins the podcast to stress the importance of prioritizing the right fit over prestige and what factors prospective students should really consider when it comes to their higher education. Plus, commentary from the host of “The Big Ben Show,” Ben Domenech. Photo Credit: AP Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Send us a textIn this episode of College Knowledge, Dave and Joe sit down with Jeff Selingo, a leading voice in higher education and author of the new book Dream School. Drawing from his decades of experience—from his early days as an intern at U.S. News & World Report in 1994 to his tenure at The Chronicle of Higher Education—Jeff unpacks the complexities of today's college admissions process.The conversation explores the emotional pull parents feel toward certain schools, the financial realities of making the right choice, and the vital role mentorship plays in student success. Jeff also sheds light on the concept of “merit aid” and offers practical strategies for navigating the financial side of applications.This episode is packed with actionable advice for students and families preparing for the admissions journey, from understanding what truly defines a “dream school” to prioritizing fit over prestige. Video Version of Podcast YouTube:The College Knowledge PodcastFollow us on social media:InstagramFacebookLinkedInVisit us online:The College Knowledge Podcast WebsiteElite Collegiate Planning

In this second part from the Milken Global Institute, Jeff Selingo engages in a provocative conversation with investor and Harvard critic Bill Ackman. They discuss the challenges facing elite higher education today—from DEI rollbacks and government funding threats to what Ackman describes as Harvard's financial crisis and governance failures. Ackman argues that administrative bloat, viewpoint homogeneity, and an unsustainable business model have undermined top institutions, while suggesting Harvard's $53 billion endowment may be significantly overvalued. The discussion explores contentious issues in admissions fairness, including legacy preferences, and concludes with Ackman's vision for higher education's future, where competition from new models might force established universities to reform or risk irrelevance. Key Moments0:00 - Intro1:04 - Federal Funding as a Lever of Influence8:07 - Board Insulation at Harvard13:08 - Limiting Class Size14:25 - Fairness in Admissions18:27 - Where We Go From Here Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)Threads Connect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedIn Connect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedIn Submit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

In this special episode, recorded live at the ASU+GSV Summit, hosts Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn dive into the rapidly evolving higher ed landscape in President Trump's second term. They discuss massive cuts at the U.S. Department of Education, mounting challenges around international student enrollment, and looming threats to federal research funding. They examine the broader, longer-term implications of these shifts for colleges and draw from their recent research to discuss how leaders can nurture positive campus culture during these challenging times. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group and the Gates Foundation. Links We ShareMark Schneider: Blowing Up Ed Research is Easy. Rebuilding it is ‘What Matters' Chapters0:00 - Intro7:32 - Cuts to the Department of Education20:40 - Targeting International Students23:48 - Withholding of Federal Research Grants39:25 - Our Favorite Higher Ed Commentary46:31 - Changing Campus Culture Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)Threads Connect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedIn Connect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedIn Submit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

In this episode, Corey Mohn chats with author and big-picture thinker Michael Horn about his two latest books—especially the newest one, which is all about how to make smarter choices when it comes to your career.Michael breaks down why it's not just about chasing your passion—it's about being strategic and making moves that actually set you up for better options down the road. He also talks about how giving young people real-world, profession-based learning experiences can help them feel more confident and prepared when it comes time to make those big life decisions.If you've ever wondered how to think more clearly about your next career step—or how we can help the next generation do the same—this one's for you.Get Michael's Books including Job Moves.Check out Michael's Podcasts: FutureU with Jeff Selingo and Class Disrupted with Diane TavennerWatch Michael's YouTube Channel: The Future of EductionThe Network is all about discovering the CAPS Model. The CAPS Network is a 501(c)3 supporting over 120 programs, in 20+ states and 4 countries. CAPS reimagines education to be a learner centered, profession based experience that catapults young people into passion and purpose. CAPS is going where students lead.Find us!Twitter: @capsnetLinkedIn: CAPS NetworkFacebook: CAPS NetworkInstagram: @capsnetwork

In this episode, Russ sits down with Dr. D. Nathan Phinney, Vice President for Academic Affairs at Northwestern College, to explore the intersection of leadership, service, and faith. Dr. Phinney shares his journey from faculty member to administrator, reflecting on the importance of humility, patience, and seeing leadership as an opportunity to serve others with grace.The two discuss key leadership principles, including taking the long view in decision-making, embracing trials as opportunities for growth, and fostering a culture of integrity and equity. Dr. Phinney also shares insights on the evolving landscape of higher education and the role of faith in shaping effective leadership. Whether you're an aspiring or seasoned leader, this episode offers meaningful lessons on leading with purpose, wisdom, and a servant's heart.Podcast recommendation: Future You with Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn, At the Table with Patrick Lencioni Book recommendations: Godwin by Joseph O'Neill, I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger, The Ballot and the Bible by Kaitlyn Schiess

Patty Patria, CIO at Babson College, and author Jeff Selingo discuss how Babson integrates technology with its mission as a leader in entrepreneurship and higher education. They explore the college's cloud-first strategy and efforts to align innovation with institutional goals to stay at the forefront of change in the higher ed space.

In this rerun from episode 150, Jeff Selingo welcomes Lynn Perry Wooten, President of Simmons University, for a conversation on the unique position of smaller universities in higher education. They discuss some vital concerns facing smaller universities like Simmons, such as combining less popular liberal arts majors, combatting dropping college enrollment numbers, and embracing online education programs. The episode is sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Ascendium Education Group.Links MentionedStrategies for Digital TransformationKey Moments(0:00) - Intro(4:10) - Small college challenges and strategic planning(11:51) - Small college competitiveness and online education(19:58) - Leadership and collaboration in higher education(21:31) - Higher education leadership and decision-making(27:00) - Higher education data analysis and institutional growth(32:42) - Online education and revenue diversification at Simmons College Season 8 Planning Surveyhttps://bit.ly/3Xtcfd0Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)ThreadsConnect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedInSubmit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

In this episode you will hear:   (03:45) In the News Mark and Julia discuss waitlists and then they discuss an article by Jeff Selingo entitled, “The New Trick Families are using to Lower Tuition” Part 2 of 2 (26:57) Question from a listener:  Our roundtable is back (Hillary, Susan, Julia, Vince and Mark) and we discuss a question from a listener in Narobi, Kenya about the Common App. The roundtable then discusses the Additional Information Section of the Common App.   (38:20) Interview  Mark interviews Matt Carpenter on the topic of, “Understanding College Aid Pro” Part 2 of 2 Preview of Part 2   v  Matt goes over the three different levels of service that they provide v  Matt talks about how to effectively use College Aid Pro v  Matt talks about their “Wake me up when its over” service v  Matt goes on the hotseat v  Matt shares a special offer for our clients to take advantage of their services at reduced pricing       (01:01:33) College Spotlight-Mark interviews Martha Stolze, the Director of Admissions at Beloit College-2 of 3   (47:34) Recommended Resource: AXS Companion – Open Resource - Oregon State University         Speakpipe.com/YCBK is our method if you want to ask a question and we will be prioritizing all questions sent in via Speakpipe. Unfortunately, we will NOT answer questions on the podcast anymore that are emailed in. If you want us to answer a question on the podcast, please use speakpipe.com/YCBK. We feel hearing from our listeners in their own voices adds to the community feel of our podcast.   You can also use this for many other purposes: 1) Send us constructive criticism about how we can improve our podcast 2) Share an encouraging word about something you like about an episode or the podcast in general 3) Share a topic or an article you would like us to address 4) Share a speaker you want us to interview 5) Leave positive feedback for one of our interviewees. We will send your verbal feedback directly to them and I can almost assure you, your positive feedback will make their day.   To sign up to receive Your College-Bound Kid PLUS, our new monthly admissions newsletter, delivered directly to your email once a month, just go to yourcollegeboundkid.com, and you will see the sign-up popup. We will include many of the hot topics being discussed on college campuses.   Check out our new blog. We write timely and insightful articles on college admissions:   Follow Mark Stucker on Twitter to get breaking college admission news, and updates about the podcast before they go live. You can ask questions on Twitter that he will answer on the podcast. Mark will also share additional hot topics in the news and breaking news on this Twitter feed. Twitter message is also the preferred way to ask questions for our podcast:   https://twitter.com/YCBKpodcast   1. To access our transcripts, click: https://yourcollegeboundkid.com/category/transcripts/ 2. Find the specific episode transcripts for the one you want to search and click the link 3. Find the magnifying glass icon in blue (search feature) and click it 4. Enter whatever word you want to search. I.e. Loans 5. Every word in that episode when the words loans are used, will be highlighted in yellow with a timestamps 6. Click the word highlighted in yellow and the player will play the episode from that starting point 7. You can also download the entire podcast as a transcript   We would be honored if you will pass this podcast episode on to others who you feel will benefit from the content in YCBK.   Please subscribe to our podcast. It really helps us move up in Apple's search feature so others can find our podcast.   If you enjoy our podcast, would you please do us a favor and share our podcast both verbally and on social media? We would be most grateful!   If you want to help more people find Your College-Bound Kid, please make sure you follow our podcast. You will also get instant notifications as soon as each episode goes live.   Check out the college admissions books Mark recommends:   Check out the college websites Mark recommends:   If you want to have some input about what you like and what you recommend, we change about our podcast, please complete our Podcast survey; here is the link:     If you want a college consultation with Mark or Lisa or Lynda, just text Mark at 404-664-4340 or email Lisa at or Lynda at Lynda@schoolmatch4u.com. All we ask is that you review their services and pricing on their website before the complimentary session; here is link to their services with transparent pricing: https://schoolmatch4u.com/services/compare-packages/

In this episode you will hear:   (25:20) In the News Mark and Julia discuss waitlists and then they discuss an article by Jeff Selingo entitled, “The New Trick Families are using to Lower Tuition” Part 1 of 2 (49:28) Question from a listener:  Our roundtable is back (Hillary, Susan, Julia, Vince and Mark) and we discuss a question from a listener in Narobi, Kenya about the Common App. The roundtable then discusses the Additional Information Section of the Common App.   (01:04:43) Interview  Mark interviews Matt Carpenter on the topic of, “Understanding College Aid Pro” Part 1 of 2 Preview of Part 1   v  Matt shares his two pieces of advice that he hopes families take away from v  Matt shares what a Bubble family is, and he shares what a Bubble family needs to do to get a great aid package v  Matt shares why he is so confident that College Aid Pro's software is more accurate than the college's own “net price calculator” v  Matt shares how their software can be more accurate than the college's net price calculators v  Matt talks about how they use actual aid awards in their projections v  You get two admission vernaculars from us in this interview as Matt and I have a great conversation about preferential packaging and schools that admit/deny       (01:25:46) College Spotlight-Mark interviews Martha Stolze, the Director of Admissions at Beloit College-1 of 3       Speakpipe.com/YCBK is our method if you want to ask a question and we will be prioritizing all questions sent in via Speakpipe. Unfortunately, we will NOT answer questions on the podcast anymore that are emailed in. If you want us to answer a question on the podcast, please use speakpipe.com/YCBK. We feel hearing from our listeners in their own voices adds to the community feel of our podcast.   You can also use this for many other purposes: 1) Send us constructive criticism about how we can improve our podcast 2) Share an encouraging word about something you like about an episode or the podcast in general 3) Share a topic or an article you would like us to address 4) Share a speaker you want us to interview 5) Leave positive feedback for one of our interviewees. We will send your verbal feedback directly to them and I can almost assure you, your positive feedback will make their day.   To sign up to receive Your College-Bound Kid PLUS, our new monthly admissions newsletter, delivered directly to your email once a month, just go to yourcollegeboundkid.com, and you will see the sign-up popup. We will include many of the hot topics being discussed on college campuses.   Check out our new blog. We write timely and insightful articles on college admissions:   Follow Mark Stucker on Twitter to get breaking college admission news, and updates about the podcast before they go live. You can ask questions on Twitter that he will answer on the podcast. Mark will also share additional hot topics in the news and breaking news on this Twitter feed. Twitter message is also the preferred way to ask questions for our podcast:   https://twitter.com/YCBKpodcast   1. To access our transcripts, click: https://yourcollegeboundkid.com/category/transcripts/ 2. Find the specific episode transcripts for the one you want to search and click the link 3. Find the magnifying glass icon in blue (search feature) and click it 4. Enter whatever word you want to search. I.e. Loans 5. Every word in that episode when the words loans are used, will be highlighted in yellow with a timestamps 6. Click the word highlighted in yellow and the player will play the episode from that starting point 7. You can also download the entire podcast as a transcript   We would be honored if you will pass this podcast episode on to others who you feel will benefit from the content in YCBK.   Please subscribe to our podcast. It really helps us move up in Apple's search feature so others can find our podcast.   If you enjoy our podcast, would you please do us a favor and share our podcast both verbally and on social media? We would be most grateful!   If you want to help more people find Your College-Bound Kid, please make sure you follow our podcast. You will also get instant notifications as soon as each episode goes live.   Check out the college admissions books Mark recommends:   Check out the college websites Mark recommends:   If you want to have some input about what you like and what you recommend, we change about our podcast, please complete our Podcast survey; here is the link:     If you want a college consultation with Mark or Lisa or Lynda, just text Mark at 404-664-4340 or email Lisa at or Lynda at Lynda@schoolmatch4u.com. All we ask is that you review their services and pricing on their website before the complimentary session; here is link to their services with transparent pricing: https://schoolmatch4u.com/services/compare-packages/

In this episode you will hear:   o        Mark shares some updates about upcoming webinars and YCBK meet and greets o        Suan and Julia answer a question from a mom with three high school students that are 18 months apart in age; she wants to know of a good organizational tool to help with the college process o        Mark interviews Jeff Selingo on a range of topics including: undergraduate and graduate certificates, his book, “Who Gets In and Why”, his 2025 book he is working on, dual enrollment and more o        Mark plays a Speakpipe question he has played before but this time he gives some new commentary o            Preview of Part 2 o     Jeff discusses where he sees undergraduate and graduate certificates going, will they be a competitor to the college degree? o     Jeff discusses what he learned from his experience spending a life inside three different admission offices o     Jeff answers a confusing question I have: Just how many high schools are there o     Jeff tells us about a new book he has coming out in 2025 o     Jeff goes on the hotseat in our lightning round o     Jeff shares how to connect with him and his content o     Jeff talks about his thoughts on dual enrollment o       o         Sign up for our Q & A session with YCBK co-hosts, Dr. Lisa Rouff and Lynda Doepker on Thursday, May 30th, 8:30 EST, 7:30 CST, 6:30 MST and 5:30 PST by going to     You can also send in questions for our interviews by using speakpipe.com/YCBK. Our interviews are confirmed for 2024 with the following leaders at the following schools:     To sign up to receive Your College-Bound Kid PLUS, our free quarterly admissions deep-dive, delivered directly to your email four times a year, just go to yourcollegeboundkid.com, and you will see the sign up on the right side of the page under “the Listen to our podcast icons”   Follow Mark Stucker on Twitter to get breaking college admission news, and updates about the podcast before they go live. You can ask questions on Twitter that he will answer on the podcast. Mark will also share additional hot topics in the news and breaking news on this Twitter feed. Twitter message is also the preferred way to ask questions for our podcast:   https://twitter.com/YCBKpodcast   1. To access our transcripts, click: https://yourcollegeboundkid.com/category/transcripts/ 2. Find the specific episode transcripts for the one you want to search and click the link 3. Find the magnifying glass icon in blue (search feature) and click it 4. Enter whatever word you want to search. I.e. Loans 5. Every word in that episode when the words loans are used, will be highlighted in yellow with a timestamps 6. Click the word highlighted in yellow and the player will play the episode from that starting point 7. You can also download the entire podcast as a transcript   We would be honored if you will pass this podcast episode on to others who you feel will benefit from the content in YCBK.   Please subscribe to our podcast. It really helps us move up in Apple's search feature so others can find our podcast.   Don't forget to send your recommended resources and articles by recording your message at speakpipe.com/YCBK   If you enjoy our podcast, would you please do us a favor and share our podcast both verbally and on social media? We would be most grateful!   If you want to help more people find Your College-Bound Kid, please make sure you follow our podcast. You will also get instant notifications as soon as each episode goes live.   Check out the college admissions books Mark recommends:   Check out the college websites Mark recommends:   If you want to have some input about what you like and what you recommend we change about our podcast, please complete our Podcast survey; here is the link:     If you want a college consultation with Mark or Lisa or Lynda, just text Mark at 404-664-4340 to express your interest. All they ask is that you review their services and pricing on their website before the complimentary session. Their counseling website is:   Note, the purpose of the free session to review their services and not to pick their brains and get free information. You can schedule a paid session if you want answers to some questions you have. The free session to only for the purpose of discussing the one-on-one services they offer.

In this episode you will hear:   o   Mark shares a text he received that had an idea he thought could help the podcast o   Mark shares a text message and a Speakpipe comment he thought was profound, and worth sharing o   Suan and Mark answer a question about whether a student graduates from a selective liberal arts school in economics will hurt them compared to if they got a business degree from a national university o   Mark interviews Jeff Selingo on the topic of, How to know if a college is struggling financially-Part 1 of 2   Preview of Part 1 o     Jeff Selingo shares the space he occupies in this o     We talk about a recent tweet from Jeff about how Moody's downgraded Muhlenberg and how small colleges are struggling o     Jeff answers the question, how do you figure out if a college is going in the wrong direction financially o     Jeff explains why he feels a lot of colleges are going to really struggle in the foreseeable future o     Jeff talks about a big change he has seen for colleges in the last 10-15 years o     Jeff talks about the list of colleges in one category is getting smaller and smaller o     Jeff talks about a survey he did of 3500 parents   Sign up for our Q & A session with YCBK co-hosts, Dr. Lisa Rouff and Lynda Doepker on Thursday, May 30th, 8:30 EST, 7:30 CST, 6:30 MST and 5:30 PST by going to     You can also send in questions for our interviews by using speakpipe.com/YCBK. Our interviews are confirmed for 2024 with the following leaders at the following schools:     To sign up to receive Your College-Bound Kid PLUS, our free quarterly admissions deep-dive, delivered directly to your email four times a year, just go to yourcollegeboundkid.com, and you will see the sign up on the right side of the page under “the Listen to our podcast icons”   Follow Mark Stucker on Twitter to get breaking college admission news, and updates about the podcast before they go live. You can ask questions on Twitter that he will answer on the podcast. Mark will also share additional hot topics in the news and breaking news on this Twitter feed. Twitter message is also the preferred way to ask questions for our podcast:   https://twitter.com/YCBKpodcast   1. To access our transcripts, click: https://yourcollegeboundkid.com/category/transcripts/ 2. Find the specific episode transcripts for the one you want to search and click the link 3. Find the magnifying glass icon in blue (search feature) and click it 4. Enter whatever word you want to search. I.e. Loans 5. Every word in that episode when the words loans are used, will be highlighted in yellow with a timestamps 6. Click the word highlighted in yellow and the player will play the episode from that starting point 7. You can also download the entire podcast as a transcript   We would be honored if you will pass this podcast episode on to others who you feel will benefit from the content in YCBK.   Please subscribe to our podcast. It really helps us move up in Apple's search feature so others can find our podcast.   Don't forget to send your recommended resources and articles by recording your message at speakpipe.com/YCBK   If you enjoy our podcast, would you please do us a favor and share our podcast both verbally and on social media? We would be most grateful!   If you want to help more people find Your College-Bound Kid, please make sure you follow our podcast. You will also get instant notifications as soon as each episode goes live.   Check out the college admissions books Mark recommends:   Check out the college websites Mark recommends:   If you want to have some input about what you like and what you recommend we change about our podcast, please complete our Podcast survey; here is the link:     If you want a college consultation with Mark or Lisa or Lynda, just text Mark at 404-664-4340 to express your interest. All they ask is that you review their services and pricing on their website before the complimentary session. Their counseling website is:   Note, the purpose of the free session to review their services and not to pick their brains and get free information. You can schedule a paid session if you want answers to some questions you have. The free session to only for the purpose of discussing the one-on-one services they offer.

Affiliate Partnership Links:PREP EXPERT - TEST PREP/TUTORING: Save 30% on Prep Expert with Coupon Code: COLLEGETALKDormCO - DORM DECORPREP SPORTSWEAR - COLLEGE CLOTHING & APPAREL Full disclosure: if you make a purchase through the affiliate links we've provided, we'll receive a small commission. But rest assured, we only promote products and services that we truly believe in and think will benefit our listeners.—--------------------------Alphabetical List of All Episodes with LinksClick Here To Join The Podcast Email ListJeff Selingo has written about higher education for more than two decades and is a New York Times bestselling author of three books. His latest book, Who Gets In & Why: A Year Inside College Admissions, was published in September 2020 and was named among the 100 Notable Books of the year by the New York Times. A regular contributor to The Atlantic, Jeff is a special advisor for innovation and professor of practice at Arizona State University. He also writes a bi-weekly newsletter on all things higher ed called Next, and co-hosts the podcast, FutureU. He lives in Washington, DC with his family.Jeff Selingo Home PageLink to Jeff's Bookswww.collegeadmissionstalk.com

In this episode of the Self-Driven Child Podcast, we're discussing the ever-tumultuous world of college admissions with special guest Jeff Selingo, a seasoned expert and author who's spent over two decades exploring higher education. We'll dissect the complexities of the admissions process, the heightened stress it causes students and parents alike, and ponder the crucial question: can anything be done to alleviate this pressure? Join us as we navigate through Jeff's latest insights and offer a fresh perspective on making the journey to college less daunting.Episode Highlights:[02:41] - Jeff shatters any illusions of an improved admissions scene.[03:16] - Reflecting on the evolution of early decision strategies.[04:49] - How large universities and early action plans are complicating the admissions narrative.[06:19] - Unraveling the strategy game behind early admissions.[09:04] - Discussing the broader implications of the admissions calendar shift.[13:20] - Commercial dynamics of college admissions and the priority list of institutions.[15:43] - The quest for diversity in admissions post-affirmative action.[17:35] - Examining the emotional and mental toll of the admissions process.[19:04] - How colleges desire for a vast applicant pool.[21:56] - Encouraging students to broaden their college search.[23:30] - Debunking the myth of the “perfect applicant”.[26:05] - Exploring alternative narratives and pathways.[26:59] - The contradiction of the college application.[29:25] - Big fish, small pond. [32:58] - The lottery winner's pressure.[37:38] - The cycle of the same few colleges.[40:13] - Advice to kids in the search and application process. Links & Resources:•Jeff Selingo's past guest episode on The Self Driven Child: Episode 4: Who Gets In and Why with Jeff Selingo•Jeff Selingo's Books: Dive deeper into the world of college admissions and student success with Jeff's insightful publications. https://jeffselingo.com/ •Jeff Selingo's New York Magazine Article: Inside the Craziest College-Admissions Season Ever If this episode has helped you, remember to rate, follow, and share the Self-Driven Child Podcast. Your support helps us reach more people and create more content that makes a difference.If you have a high school aged student and would like to talk about putting a tutoring or college plan together, reach out to Ned's company, PrepMatters at www.prepmatters.com

On this episode Philip is joined by Jeff Selingo, bestselling author, strategic advisor, college admissions and early career expert and Co-host, FutureU Podcast. Philip and Jeff discussed the focus of Jeff's work, his role as special advisor to the president at Arizona State University, his upcoming book, his huge success on LinkedIn, his podcast FutureU and more.

The college admissions process starts almost as early as puberty does! Okay, not quite… but it can feel that way. It's ever-evolving, as mystifying as it is complex. Joining us to make sense of it all and reframe the insanity is journalist and author of Who Gets In and Why, college admissions expert Jeff Selingo.Show Notes:Go to FACTORMEALS.COM/puberty50 and use code puberty50 to get 50% off your order.Get 25% off your first order of Phyla, when you visit PhylaBiotics.com and use the code PUBERTY at checkout!Who Gets In and WhyOrder our book This Is So AwkwardCheck out all of our speaking and consulting work at www.Orderofmagnitude.co and all our super comfy products at www.myOOMLA.comTo bring us to your school or community email communications@orderofmagnitude.coTo submit listener questions email thepubertypodcast@gmail.comWatch the full episode on Youtube!Produced by Peoples MediaTranscript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is a condensed version of a recent webinar in which EAB's John Workman presented findings from EAB's annual “State of the Sector” research. John summarizes EAB's research findings, which focused on six key themes that ranged from questions about declining public confidence in the value of higher education to the risks and benefits of artificial intelligence. He then opens the discussion to a panel of experts including journalist and higher education author Jeff Selingo, California State University Chancellor Dr. Mildred García, and American Council on Education President Dr. Ted Mitchell.

In this inaugural episode of the Higher Ed Pulse, co-hosts Mallory Willsea and Seth Odell cover two newsworthy topics from the past week of higher education marketing and enrollment management. First up, is the traditional college experience over? The hosts discuss how the Kansas Board of Regents allocated $16.5 million so Kansas universities could demolish old buildings to avoid $80 million in repairs. A recent article from Jeff Selingo hones in on the current trend: academic innovation, applying technology in teaching and credentialing and aligning with evolving student preferences and technological advancements.Then the hosts turn to a viral LinkedIn post from Jaime Hunt. Jaime's reflections offer a thought-provoking perspective on higher education marketing, urging professionals to look beyond conventional metrics and focus on the deeper impact of their work. Takeaways:The future of higher education is changing, with a shift towards tech-first education and a focus on microcredentialing.The criteria for selecting an institution is evolving, with younger generations having different priorities compared to previous generations.Implementing high-tech solutions in higher education can widen the gap between institutions that can afford them and those that can't.Higher ed marketers should focus on impact, transformation, and storytelling to make a positive difference in students' lives.Related Links:Kansas article: https://kansasreflector.com/2023/12/28/kansas-universities-demolishing-old-buildings-to-save-millions-on-deferred-maintenance/Chronicle Jeff Selingo article: https://www.chronicle.com/article/the-new-academic-arms-raceJaime's LI Post: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7155213947330056192/?commentUrn=urn%3Ali%3Acomment%3A(activity%3A7155213947330056192%2C7155587369465729025)&dashCommentUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afsd_comment%3A(7155587369465729025%2Curn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A7155213947330056192) Connect with our Co-Hosts:Mallory Willsea https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorywillsea/https://twitter.com/mallorywillseaSeth Odell https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethodell/https://twitter.com/sethodell About The Enrollify Podcast Network:The Higher Ed Pulse is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you'll like other Enrollify shows too!  Our podcast network is growing by the month and we've got a plethora of marketing, enrollment, and higher ed technology shows that are jam packed with stories, ideas, and frameworks all designed to empower you to be a better higher ed professional.Our shows help higher ed marketers and admissions professionals find their next big idea, and feature a selection of the industry's best as your hosts. Learn from Bryan Gross, Eddie Francis, Jenny Li Fowler, Allison Turcio, Dayana Kibilds, and so many other of your favorite leaders in higher ed.Enrollify is made possible by Element451 —  the next generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at Element451.com.  - - - -Connect With Our Co-Hosts:Mallory Willsea https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorywillsea/https://twitter.com/mallorywillseaSeth Odell https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethodell/https://twitter.com/sethodellAbout The Enrollify Podcast Network:The Higher Ed Pulse is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you'll like other Enrollify shows too! Some of our favorites include Generation AI and Confessions of a Higher Education Social Media Manager.Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com. Connect with Us at the Engage Summit:Exciting news — Mallory will be at the 2024 Engage Summit in Raleigh, NC, on June 25 and 26, and we'd love to meet you there! Sessions will focus on cutting-edge AI applications that are reshaping student outreach, enhancing staff productivity, and offering deep insights into ROI. Use the discount code Enrollify50 at checkout, and you can register for just $99! This early bird pricing lasts until March 31. Learn more and register at engage.element451.com — we can't wait to see you there!

To kick off the new year, host Jeff Selingo welcomes Lynn Perry Wooten, President of Simmons University, for a conversation on the unique position of smaller universities in higher education. They discuss some vital concerns facing smaller universities like Simmons, such as combining less popular liberal arts majors, combatting dropping college enrollment numbers, and embracing online education programs. The episode is sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Ascendium Education Group.Links MentionedStrategies for Digital TransformationKey Moments(0:00) - Intro(4:10) - Small college challenges and strategic planning(11:51) - Small college competitiveness and online education(19:58) - Leadership and collaboration in higher education(21:31) - Higher education leadership and decision-making(27:00) - Higher education data analysis and institutional growth(32:42) - Online education and revenue diversification at Simmons College  Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)ThreadsConnect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedInSubmit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn take their conversation on the road with another stop on the Future U. Campus Tour, this time visiting the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. They sat down with president Santa Ono to discuss the future of higher education and Michigan's role in the local and global communities. Following that interview, Jeff and Michael had a discussion with a panel on a range of topics from sustainability to student wellness, and highlighting what it means in 2023 to be a public flagship with a national profile and serve the community at the same time. This episode is sponsored by Dell Technologies and Google Chrome OS.Key Moments(0:00) - Intro(4:54) - The role of the University of Michigan in the state and beyond(10:36) - Higher education, trust, and community involvement in Detroit(16:04) - The future of higher education and the Big Ten conference(21:37) - Mental health challenges in college students(27:41) - Mental health support for college students during pandemic(30:29) - Pandemic's impact on college experience and mental health(32:40) - Supporting international students at the University of Michigan(34:56) - Collective impact and sustainability in higher education(36:40) - Value of study abroad(42:45) - Global education and diversity at the University of Michigan(46:59) - Mental health supports for university staff(52:14) - Jeff Selingo's takeaways(54:07) - Michael Horn's Takeaways Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)ThreadsConnect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedInSubmit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

Jeff Selingo spent eight years at the Chronicle of Higher Education, serving as editor in chief and editorial director, before setting off on his own path. Jeff and I have traded notes on the independent path over the years, and I wanted to have him on The Rebooting Show to discuss what we've both learned on the independent path. We discuss the transition from editorial to sales, why treating “lifestyle business” as a pejorative is strange, and fighting the pull to rebuild what you left behind.

Author Ana Homayoun joins hosts Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn to discuss her new book "Erasing the Finish Line: The New Blueprint for Success Beyond Grades and College Admission." They ask what other measures for success should we consider for a student in higher ed beyond academics. The conversation explores expanding one's social circles, networking, finding mentors, and developing life management skills. The episode is sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Ascendium Education Group.Key Moments00:00 - Introduction05:41 - Intentional College Experiences and Connections09:31 - College Social Connections and Their Impact On Economic Mobility16:34 - College Students' Soft Skills and How Colleges Can Help20:12 - Redefining Success In College And Beyond25:33 - Education And Career Goals With Ana Homayoun26:39 - College Students' Networking Challenges and Strategies31:34 - Networking, Career Advice, and Hands-on Learning.35:46- Intergenerational Relationships and Connecting Students Across DifferencesConnect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)Threads Connect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedIn Connect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedIn Submit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content. 

In this episode, hosts Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn delve into the world of data analytics, as they discuss the evolution of data science needs across various industries and how universities are preparing students to meet those needs in the workforce. They then offer hot takes on recent higher ed headlines, from disenchantment with higher ed to the lack of economic diversity at exclusive institutions. The episode is sponsored by Ascendium Education Group and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.Key MomentsIntroduction [02:38]: The hosts, Michael Horn and Jeff Selingo, introduce the episode and discuss the annual New York Times Education Issue and the importance of data science skills across various industries. New York Times Education Issue [00:13:25]: Michael and Jeff delve into the New York Times Education Issue, discussing its timing, content, and the use of outside writers for the issue. Value of Higher Education [00:15:00]: The hosts analyze an article by Paul Tough on the declining faith in the value of college, discussing root causes of this disenchantment, and the role of informal learning through non-accredited institutions, online platforms, apprenticeships, and certification programs.College Access Index [00:21:51]: Jeff discusses the New York Times magazine story David Leonhardt and Ashley Wu about the college access index.Links We MentionTurning Data into WisdomUpcoming Next Office Hour Webinars and ArchivesConnect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)Threads  Connect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedIn  Submit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn review  recent headlines around higher ed before they speak in person to a community college board at a retreat in Sun Valley, Idaho. They compare the different value propositions of two- and four-year colleges and discuss government intervention into university mergers and acquisitions. Other topics they discuss include legacy admissions and the value of credentials from prestigious universities. And Jeff makes an exciting announcement: his new book! The episode is sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Ascendium Education Group. Key Moments00:00 Intro00:03:36 Declining enrollment at community colleges.00:09:35 Co-location with four-year colleges.00:12:13 Dual enrollment in community colleges.00:14:28 Dual enrollment funding disparities.00:18:29 Merger and acquisition reviews.00:22:03 Community college focus on employment.00:24:24 Legacy admissions in higher education.00:28:56 Seeing colleges as businesses.00:31:21 Cheaper credentials and alumni networks.00:34:30 Planning for college challenges. Links We MentionedDually Noted: Understanding the Link Between Dual Enrollment Course Characteristics and Students' Course and College Enrollment OutcomesHow Can Community Colleges Afford to Offer Dual Enrollment College Courses to High School Students at a Discount? Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)Threads Connect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedIn Submit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

Every decision we make is guided by incentives. From financial incentives to social and political incentives – how we are rewarded shapes how we behave and the choices we make. Have you ever thought about why you do what you do, or why decisions get made a certain way? We're digging into these questions in this special three-part podcast series that we're calling, “What Drives Us?” In this series, we explore how incentives in education and government impact the lives of kids and the adults who serve them - from educators and health care providers, to social workers, to guidance counselors and coaches. We speak with academics and industry leaders to understand how incentives work and the barriers they often pose to reform and innovation in these fields. In the first episode, Jill was joined by Professor Uri Gneezy, Epstein/Atkinson Chair in Management Leadership at the UC San Diego Rady School of Management and author of “Mixed Signals: How Incentives Really Work.” Today, in the second episode of this special series, Jill is joined again by Michael Horn and Jeff Selingo, education advocates and hosts of the “Future U” podcast, to talk about how incentives are structured in education and how we can change those incentives to better prepare students for the workforce. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We're back! Welcome back to the World of Higher Education, Season 2. In this episode, Alex Usher is joined by one of his favourite authors, Jeff Selingo, author of Who Gets in and Why: A Year Inside College Admissions. If you're not American, listen hard to this podcast. Drink in all the weird details about the admissions process, and the amount of effort selective institutions put into identifying things which are not academic achievement but which are nevertheless similarly correlated to wealth and privilege. Have a listen.Book:Jeff Selingo, Who Gets in and Why: A Year Inside College AdmissionsRelated Past Podcast Episode:WorldEd 1.18: Admissions, Affirmative Action, and SCOTUSSPEC 2023:The State of Postsecondary Education in Canada, 2023

Welcome to the College Parent Podcast! On this week's episode, RDs Cody Cline and Lauren Anderson interview Jeff Selingo, New York Times bestselling author, higher education strategist on university innovation and leadership, and an award-winning columnist. We discuss the value of a degree, emerging technology in college, and the financial impact of higher education!

In this special episode of the Future U Podcast, hosts Michael Horn and Jeff Selingo engage in a lively conversation with faculty members Crystal White from the University of Memphis, and Stephanie Speicher from Weber State University. The discussion, sponsored by Course Hero and recorded live during their annual summit, revolves around the need for leadership, connection, relevance, and a culture of care in higher education. The podcast delves into the importance of creating a diverse and inclusive environment in the classroom, as well as the disparity between the racial and ethnic diversity of faculty and students in U.S colleges and universities.

As colleges and universities digest the Supreme Court ruling that effectively ended affirmative action, schools are left to grapple with how to revamp their admission policies to ensure the diversity of their campuses. That will be a challenge and some schools are better prepared for it than others. William Brangham discussed that with Jeff Selingo, author of "Who Gets in and Why?" PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

As colleges and universities digest the Supreme Court ruling that effectively ended affirmative action, schools are left to grapple with how to revamp their admission policies to ensure the diversity of their campuses. That will be a challenge and some schools are better prepared for it than others. William Brangham discussed that with Jeff Selingo, author of "Who Gets in and Why?" PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

It's often a forgone conclusion that you should not only go to a four-year college, but also that the better the university's ranking, the better you'll do in life. On this episode, Jeff and Michael dig into the data behind these assumptions. Might the U.S. News and World Report college rankings even disappear?And do you still need to invest in a four-year degree in order to excel professionally or are employers putting less stock in a bachelor's? This episode is made possible with support from Ascendium Education Group, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Course Hero.Relevant LinksReport on Bachelor's Degrees from Jeff Selingo and Matt Sigelman

Jeff Selingo's book There is Life After College: What Parents and Students Should Know About Navigating School to Prepare for the Jobs of Tomorrow is a hidden gem. Whether you have a student in high school, in college, or a recent graduate, this is a wonderful resource to share with your student. We think higher education professionals will also find this book eye opening and motivating. In this episode Vicki and Lynn touch on some of the key themes and how they have seen these reflected in today's students. Understanding some of the issues facing students as they prepare for a career will help you support and guide your student.Thank you for listening! Much more information for college parents can be found on our website, College Parent Central Find us on Twitter at @CollParCentral Sign up for our newsletter for ongoing information Please leave us a review at “Love the Podcast” to help others find us.

If you know or you are a current college student or a student preparing for college, this is a conversation you will not want to miss. And if you are a parent who has helped your teen through the college application process then today's guest likely needs no introduction. I am beyond thrilled to welcome Jeff Selingo to the podcast. For those who may not know, Jeff is a well-known journalist and respected thought leader in the areas of higher education and the future of work. Through his newsletter, best-selling books, including his recent “Who Gets In and Why”, and his weekly podcast, Jeff continues to share important insights and experiences with his audience. And today that includes my audience, too. During our conversation, Jeff and I discuss the future of education and work and where change needs to occur. He also shares why skills are so important in addition to a college degree. And be sure to stick around to hear Jeff's advice for finding career-based active learning opportunities as great alternatives to internships. This interview is chock-full of valuable advice and many actionable tips for current and soon-to-be college students. Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode. Connect with Me! High School Hamster Wheel Facebook Page Betsy Jewell Career Counseling Instagram LinkedIn Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss a single episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michael Horn, author of From Reopen to Reinvent and co-founder of the Clayton Christensen Institute, joins Corey in a two part series about ways to reimagine the future of education. This episode wraps up the conversation between Corey and Michael by talking about the role educators play in the new vision for education. They explore how the relationship between educator and student can change and how these changes might change the way students see their future. You can find more about Michael on his website: michaelbhorn.comYou can purchase From Reopen to Reinvent: Recreating School for Every ChildListen to his podcasts "Class Disrupted" co-hosted with Diane Tannever and "Future U" co-hosted with Jeff Selingo.Watch his YouTube channel "The Future of Education."The Network is all about discovering the CAPS Model. The CAPS Network is a 501(c)3 supporting over 90 programs, in 23 states and 4 countries. CAPS reimagines education to be a learner centered, profession based experience that catapults young people into passion and purpose. CAPS is going where students lead.Find us!Twitter: @capsnetLinkedIn: CAPS NetworkFacebook: CAPS NetworkInstagram: @capsnetwork

In March 2020, students across the country shifted to an unprecedented learning model as they logged onto their computers to attend classes on Zoom, forcing educators to quickly rethink how to effectively teach students in this new paradigm. As our education institutions worked to shift their models, the longstanding flaws and inequities in our system were put on full display. Now, more than two years later, we're working to fully understand the impacts of this disruption to student learning. What has happened to our students over the past two years? What have we learned from this experience? And what changes are necessary in order to prepare today's students to succeed in this fast-changing world? Over the past few weeks, we have spoken with researchers and change agents who are working to rethink our education system and provide better opportunities and outcomes for all students in a special series called, “Catalysts for Change: What Is World Class Education?” In the previous two episodes, Jill was joined by Professor Tom Kane and Sal Khan. In this series finale, Jill is joined by prominent education advocates and hosts of the “Future U” podcast, Michael Horn and Jeff Selingo, to discuss the future of not only colleges and universities, but of the K-12 pipeline that delivers students to their doorstep. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Horn, author of From Reopen to Reinvent and co-founder of the Clayton Christensen Institute, joins Corey in a two part series about ways to reimagine the future of education. This first episode is about the possibilities for education institutions and community to find synergy and for academics to collaborate with building social capital and durable skills. You won't want to miss this full conversation!You can find more about Michael on his website: michaelbhorn.comYou can purchase From Reopen to Reinvent: Recreating School for Every ChildListen to his podcasts "Class Disrupted" co-hosted with Diane Tannever and "Future U" co-hosted with Jeff Selingo.Watch his YouTube channel "The Future of Education."The Network is all about discovering the CAPS Model. The CAPS Network is a 501(c)3 supporting over 90 programs, in 23 states and 4 countries. CAPS reimagines education to be a learner centered, profession based experience that catapults young people into passion and purpose. CAPS is going where students lead.Find us!Twitter: @capsnetLinkedIn: CAPS NetworkFacebook: CAPS NetworkInstagram: @capsnetwork

On the latest stop of Future U.'s campus tour, hosts Michael Horn and Jeff Selingo visit Bowie State University to speak with President Aminta Breaux, as well as faculty and administrators at the Maryland institution about increased enrollment at HBCUs, partnerships with employers, and student engagement. With support from Salesforce.org.

In a special episode recorded at The Chronicle of Higher Education Festival, Jeff Selingo and guest co-host Bridget Burns talk with three students about what has worked (and what hasn't) in their college experiences. With support from Ascendium Education Group, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Course Hero.

Just when Aidan and Ash thought they had shared everything there is to know about the college admissions process, they found out they had an opportunity to interview one of the brightest minds in the field. In this episode, they welcome on Jeff Selingo, a New York Times bestselling author of three books who has written about higher education for more than two decades. His latest book, Who Gets In and Why: A Year Inside College Admissions, was named among the 100 Notable Books of the year by the New York Times in 2020. Hear why it's so hard to get into college these days, what to focus on when you apply, how schools differ in their admissions process, when it makes sense to apply early, and whether you need to know what you're going to study. Who was more convincing: Aidan or Ash? Vote at HoldMeBack.com

The pandemic accelerated experimentation across industries, including education. Jeff Selingo interviews co-host Michael Horn about his new book called From Reopen to Reinvent: (Re)Creating School for Every Child. The book provides educators with practical examples and roadmaps for change in K-12, many of which can also be applied to higher ed. This episode made possible with sponsorship from Ascendium Education Group and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.Purchase From Reopen to Reinvent: (Re)Creating School for Every Child