Selected by NPR as a Book We Love for 2025

“Jeff Selingo has a radically different map to college success.”
—Michael Smerconish, CNN

“If you are the parent of a high school student, a cool aunt or uncle who always knows what to say, a high school guidance counselor or a grandparent who’s picking up part of the college tab, then this is the book for you. And if you are a student thinking about college? Read it to help you decide what you really care about before you throw big money into a prestige trap that might have nothing to do with who you really are and what you want to do in life.”
—Michel Martin, host of NPR’s Morning Edition

“What makes Selingo’s book essential isn’t just its puncturing of admissions mythology, but its practical framework for identifying what he calls the real dream schools—and he names names in the Appendix.”
—Ann Kirschner, Forbes

“[Dream School] serves as a roadmap for families facing the daunting admission process.”
—MSNBC Morning Joe

“Insightful…actionable advice…Selingo effectively exposes how the American ‘“elite college or bust” mentality’ damages students, the education system, and the professional world.”
—Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

“This one will make the difference in who applies to colleges, how they do it, and why….Selingo breaks down stereotypes and assumptions about the real value of schools so students can make informed decisions, based less on false notions of prestige and more on what will pay off for them as they receive degrees and move onto the next phase of their personal and professional lives.”
—Library Journal

“Part myth-buster, part blueprint, Dream School offers families a clear, research-backed path to a meaningful college experience that is worth the investment. Dream School is more than a book—it’s a movement aimed at redefining college admissions.”
—Jennifer Breheny Wallace, New York Times bestselling author of Never Enough
 
“An essential book. The college search, always bewildering, has grown more baffling than ever. Combining deep research with human-scale storytelling, Selingo makes sense of it all—explaining not just what students and families can do to improve their odds, but also, how the process got so messed up in the first place.”
—Paul Tough, bestselling author of How Children Succeed and The Inequality Machine
 
“Amid the clamor of college admissions angst, Jeff Selingo is a voice of calm and clarity. Dream School is the book we've been waiting for to help families broaden their lens and focus their perspective on what matters most.”
—Ned Johnson, bestselling coauthor of The Self-Driven Child: The Science and Sense of Giving Your Kids More Control Over Their Lives

“Selingo masterfully examines why a student’s ideal college choice isn’t always initially obvious….A must-read for students and parents navigating the complex college selection process.”
—Gene Block, former Chancellor of UCLA
 
“A dream resource for any student and family choosing among college opportunities….With clear-eyed discussions of topics like admission rates, costs, debt, and career preparation, Dream School will inform and empower its readers—and inspire them.” 
—Daniel R. Porterfield, President and CEO of The Aspen Institute and author of Mindset Matters: The Power of College to Activate Lifelong Growth
 
“Incredibly informative, highly engaging, thoroughly researched, and deeply empathetic. This book delivers on every level. A must read for anyone supporting a college applicant or looking to better understand the admissions process and how it impacts our kids’ future success.”
—Lindsey Pollak, New York Times bestselling author of Getting from College to Career: Your Essential Guide to Succeeding in the Real World
 
“Dream School is the desperately needed, level-headed college admissions guide that we have been waiting for. Jeff Selingo's sane and seasoned voice cuts through the madness.”
—Lisa Damour, PhD, New York Times bestselling author of The Emotional Lives of Teenagers