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102 reviews for:
Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be: An Antidote to the College Admissions Mania
Frank Bruni
3.94 AVERAGE
102 reviews for:
Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be: An Antidote to the College Admissions Mania
Frank Bruni
3.94 AVERAGE
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
Nothing was surprising to me as a college access counselor in 2023. That said, I loved the anecdotes and insights. This is an important read for any one with connection to the college application process- student, parent, or even someone who let what ifs from when they applied before change their self-perception. Today is November 1st, the day when thousands of students submit applications to their “dream school”. Imagine if they checked out this book out first and let its message sink in.
challenging
informative
slow-paced
informative
this book has a good message about college admissions and helps to dispel myths or worries about applying for and getting into college. a little bit dated (written in 2014) and a LOT of statistics, but solid message overall.
I stumbled upon the advice that everyone with a junior in high school should read this book. Considering how little time it took me to do so, I’d agree. It offers insight and perspective I appreciate.
This book was a little boring. It relied a lot on rather disorganized anecdotes, which sorta annoyed me but made for a fairly good story. This might have been better as a series of essays, because different sections didn't really stitch together. There actually was a lot of evidence, and some of the anecdotes did turn into the life experience/views of famous/successful people. And I appreciated the main point, which is why I read it in the first place.
informative
This is a tough one to rate because stars don't really apply to this sort of book. I'm glad I listened to it because it was just repetitive enough that if I walked out of the kitchen for a minute, I could pick up what I had missed without backing up the track. I'm also glad it is done, because it was repetitive enough to make me wish it was over.
The point is all in the title. You can listen or read if you don't believe the author's stated premise, or you can just take it at face value and go read something that will really flip your lid. It doesn't matter where you or your child goes to school. Phenomenally successful people have been educated at all sorts of different types of schools, and have achieved wealth, fame, and prestige because they worked hard and stayed focused on their goals. Don't stress over college applications. Go to a place that suits your personality and has a program you find interesting. Make connections with professors and stay in touch. Take advantage of opportunities, or create your own opportunities. Now go read something you didn't know.
The point is all in the title. You can listen or read if you don't believe the author's stated premise, or you can just take it at face value and go read something that will really flip your lid. It doesn't matter where you or your child goes to school. Phenomenally successful people have been educated at all sorts of different types of schools, and have achieved wealth, fame, and prestige because they worked hard and stayed focused on their goals. Don't stress over college applications. Go to a place that suits your personality and has a program you find interesting. Make connections with professors and stay in touch. Take advantage of opportunities, or create your own opportunities. Now go read something you didn't know.
I really liked the messages in this book. It really felt like it returns agency back to the kid.
The college admissions system in America is one of the most needlessly stressful processes one can experience. As this book details, it's become a status symbol to brag about if a student gets into a "good" college, instead of an actual learning opportunity. It took a lot of stress off my shoulders when the author mentioned how going to a prestigious college was by no means an indicator of later success, which is completely true.
By no means is this a perfect book, however. It felt hypocritical at times, where for instance the author would denounce a particular metric when it favored ivies but not when it favored less conventially prestigious schools.
However, given my personal connections to the topic, and the insight this book has given to me, I am willing to overlook its flaws and rate it 5 stars.
By no means is this a perfect book, however. It felt hypocritical at times, where for instance the author would denounce a particular metric when it favored ivies but not when it favored less conventially prestigious schools.
However, given my personal connections to the topic, and the insight this book has given to me, I am willing to overlook its flaws and rate it 5 stars.