The Gatekeepers, by Jacques Steinberg
The Gatekeepers: Inside the Admissions Process of a Premier College
by Jacques Steinberg
292 pages (hardcover)
Genre: Nonfiction/Education/College
Disclaimer: I'm fascinated by the conundrum of higher education, so I sped through this book like a much-anticipated thriller. If you are normal, YMWV.
As the title hints, The Gatekeepers is a (slightly dated, because of recent changes) inside look at Wesleyan University's admissions process. Wesleyan is a highly selective liberal arts college in Connecticut; one, in fact, that I visited, although I failed to "click" with the campus. And, for once, it is a book that lives up to the hype. I enjoyed the insights into the thinking of admissions officers/committees, as well as to Wes as a school (I'm sure that I'm not right for it). True to his day job as an NYT reporter, Steinberg writes with spare but emotional clarity--a beautiful example of good narrative nonfiction, by engaging with real people as characters. I think it was suspenseful; the twisty prose managed to surprise me with the students' and the adcom's ultimate decisions. So, a highly recommended read in the highly specialized field of College TMI.
by Jacques Steinberg
292 pages (hardcover)
Genre: Nonfiction/Education/College
Disclaimer: I'm fascinated by the conundrum of higher education, so I sped through this book like a much-anticipated thriller. If you are normal, YMWV.
As the title hints, The Gatekeepers is a (slightly dated, because of recent changes) inside look at Wesleyan University's admissions process. Wesleyan is a highly selective liberal arts college in Connecticut; one, in fact, that I visited, although I failed to "click" with the campus. And, for once, it is a book that lives up to the hype. I enjoyed the insights into the thinking of admissions officers/committees, as well as to Wes as a school (I'm sure that I'm not right for it). True to his day job as an NYT reporter, Steinberg writes with spare but emotional clarity--a beautiful example of good narrative nonfiction, by engaging with real people as characters. I think it was suspenseful; the twisty prose managed to surprise me with the students' and the adcom's ultimate decisions. So, a highly recommended read in the highly specialized field of College TMI.