Rethinking College Admissions: A Conversation with Jeff Selingo

In this new episode of The Raider Ramble, Head of School Tom Flemma sits down with Jeff Selingo, New York Times bestselling author and one of the nation’s most trusted voices on higher education, college admissions and the changing job market. For more than 25 years, Selingo’s reporting has helped families, educators and leaders make sense of an ever-shifting landscape — and today’s conversation is no exception.Together, Tom and Jeff explore the ideas behind Selingo’s latest bestseller, “Dream School: Finding the College That’s Right For You,” a book born from two decades of questions about what college really offers students and how families can approach the admissions journey with more clarity, confidence and agency.Here are the key takeaways we have for you:Families often place too much emphasis on college rankings, when true indicators of quality come from student experience — strong first-year support, faculty mentorship, internships and hands-on learning.Students have more agency than they realize; the college search should empower them, not turn high school into a checklist or performance arena.“Dream School” was written as a roadmap to help families look beyond selectivity and toward fit, value and long-term outcomes.College is a major consumer decision — families should ask questions, compare options and evaluate cost and value just as they would with any significant investment.Career outcomes matter: the transition to the workforce is increasingly shaped by what students do in college — research, internships, campus engagement — not just where they attend.High school is a time for exploration; reducing it to a series of hoops for admissions undermines student growth and well-being.Counselors are essential partners — they understand your student, your school and how to align college choices with academic, social and financial fit.Families should feel empowered, informed and curious — approaching the process with questions, flexibility and an open mind.Links:Dream School: Finding the College That’s Right for Youhttps://jeffselingo.com/books/dream-schoolNSCD College Counselinghttps://www.nscds.org/academics/college-counselingFAN (Family Action Network)https://www.familyactionnetwork.net