Future U Podcast - The Pulse of Higher Ed Redefining the ‘Dream School’
Sep 9, 2025
Jeff Selingo, co-host of Future U and author of 'Dream School,' brings fresh insights into college selection. He dismantles the myth that only highly-selective colleges lead to success, emphasizing a thoughtful approach to finding the right fit for each student. Selingo discusses the importance of teaching quality, budget considerations, and individual motivations. He also tackles the impact of college choice on dropout rates and the evolving landscape of higher education influenced by societal expectations and financial challenges.
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Rankings Distort College Choice
- Rankings concentrate attention on a tiny set of elite colleges and obscure the rest of higher education.
- Jeff Selingo argues most students attend non-elite schools and need better guidance about those options.
Filter Schools With Measurable Criteria
- Use concrete filters like acceptance rate, size, affordability, and outcomes when evaluating colleges.
- Selingo created a 75-school 'New Dream School' list using those measurable criteria to guide families.
Elites Aren't The Only Path To Success
- Elite colleges give an extra 'lottery ticket' but aren't as determinative of lifetime success as people assume.
- Deming's research shows average students at elite schools often earn similar long-term outcomes to students at less selective publics.
