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edgiles4's review against another edition
3.0
The details of legacy and other preferences in college admissions mentioned in this book will not surprise anyone working in higher education, but the extent to which these practices are used at the best US colleges (and beyond) might. This is not a book to read if you're looking to retain any optimism about issues of access or meritocracy at the nation's better institutions.
oranjenaranja's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting, infuriating, strangely un-surprising, eye-opening. Somewhat therapeutic.
jsisco's review against another edition
4.0
An incredible work detailing how several colleges and universities have utilized their admissions offices to raise money and prestige, while sacrificing their academic integrity. Each chapter focuses on a different tactic or issue in higher education admissions, be it legacies, development cases, patrician athletics and how they manipulate Title IX, or discrimination against Asian American students. Every tactic is explored largely at one school, but other institutions are freely listed, and most resurface throughout the entire text. Anecdotal evidence lies next to statistics and numerical data for a fascinating read that moves quickly.
Golden skewers highly esteemed schools for their utter disregard of integrity to achieve a higher ranking or a larger endowment. He has accomplished a truly stunning book.
Golden skewers highly esteemed schools for their utter disregard of integrity to achieve a higher ranking or a larger endowment. He has accomplished a truly stunning book.
holleyreads's review against another edition
4.0
“Admission is a zero-sum game.”
I first heard about this book while listening to a podcast in the wake of the recent college admission scandal. All I can say is: I thought the scandal itself was bad, but the practiced admissions process, which has been going on for decades, is appalling (I have a lots of feelings after reading this, so I’ll try to keep myself from ranting too much).
Daniel Golden does an excellent job of presenting the facts, garnered through research or interviews with students, faculty, alumnus, and sheds light on several groups that receive an admissions edge that - quite honestly - don’t deserve it. These groups include legacy & development admits and celebrities (or celebrity children). These groups are generally given an edge during the admissions process; in some cases, their shortcomings in terms of standardized test scores and GPAs are offset by their status as a legacy/development/celebrity admit. (I don’t mean to say that universities should only factor in standardized test scores as part of the admissions criteria; I really think we have an overarching problem with education in this country that has only exacerbated these problems in higher education).
At times the book felt quite repetitive; often in the same chapter, he would refer to a source by name and title that might have been mentioned in the exact same manner only a few paragraphs before. Perhaps he does this to mitigate confusion since there are a number of sources at different schools with various positions and titles.
All in all, I would say this is a must-read for anyone with interest or passion toward our educational system, especially higher education.
P.S. Andy Bernard was 100% a legacy admit to Cornell.
I first heard about this book while listening to a podcast in the wake of the recent college admission scandal. All I can say is: I thought the scandal itself was bad, but the practiced admissions process, which has been going on for decades, is appalling (I have a lots of feelings after reading this, so I’ll try to keep myself from ranting too much).
Daniel Golden does an excellent job of presenting the facts, garnered through research or interviews with students, faculty, alumnus, and sheds light on several groups that receive an admissions edge that - quite honestly - don’t deserve it. These groups include legacy & development admits and celebrities (or celebrity children). These groups are generally given an edge during the admissions process; in some cases, their shortcomings in terms of standardized test scores and GPAs are offset by their status as a legacy/development/celebrity admit. (I don’t mean to say that universities should only factor in standardized test scores as part of the admissions criteria; I really think we have an overarching problem with education in this country that has only exacerbated these problems in higher education).
At times the book felt quite repetitive; often in the same chapter, he would refer to a source by name and title that might have been mentioned in the exact same manner only a few paragraphs before. Perhaps he does this to mitigate confusion since there are a number of sources at different schools with various positions and titles.
All in all, I would say this is a must-read for anyone with interest or passion toward our educational system, especially higher education.
P.S. Andy Bernard was 100% a legacy admit to Cornell.
bootman's review against another edition
5.0
When the "Operation Varsity Blues" college admissions scandal news broke, I thought, "Why is this news? This is the norm." The wealthy and privileged have always been advantaged when it comes to getting into top schools, and in this incredible book, Daniel Golden lays it out masterfully. Golden discusses how wealth, donations, legacy preferences and other factors play a major roll in wealthy kids getting into a good college.
This is one of the books I'm going to have my son read in high school so he understands that colleges aren't necessarily based on merit. Golden's book has countless stories of high achievers not getting into decent schools because spots were taken by low-scoring rich kids. And when you read this book, is it any wonder why our capitalist system isn't working? We perpetuate the cycle of rich, legacy kids going to the top schools and then getting government positions. The whole system needs to be overhauled, and Golden offers some great suggestions.
This is one of the books I'm going to have my son read in high school so he understands that colleges aren't necessarily based on merit. Golden's book has countless stories of high achievers not getting into decent schools because spots were taken by low-scoring rich kids. And when you read this book, is it any wonder why our capitalist system isn't working? We perpetuate the cycle of rich, legacy kids going to the top schools and then getting government positions. The whole system needs to be overhauled, and Golden offers some great suggestions.
amyma's review against another edition
2.0
This should have been a magazine or newspaper article, there just wasn't enough information to fill an entire book. The author said the same things over and over, just gave examples of different kids. I'm not bothered by the subject matter either, so maybe that was why I found the book to be pretty boring. Having just gone through college admissions with my daughter, I thought this book would be a fun read, wrong! She had not one of the advantages mentioned and had zero trouble getting into multiple good colleges. For that matter, it was the same for her friends. Of course, there were schools that turned her down, but that is to be expected at the high levels to which she applied. Honestly, there are only so many spots for tons of kids that are applying each year. You win some, you lose some.
rebus's review against another edition
5.0
We certainly aren't being ruled by the best and the brightest.