Introduction
In "Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be," Frank Bruni tackles the increasingly frenzied world of college admissions in the United States. The book explores how the pursuit of elite college education has become an all-consuming obsession for many students and parents, often at the expense of personal growth, well-being, and a more holistic approach to education.
Bruni challenges the widely held belief that attending a prestigious university is the key to success and happiness in life. Through a combination of research, anecdotes, and expert opinions, he presents a compelling case for why the college admissions process has spiraled out of control and why the emphasis on elite institutions may be misplaced.
The book serves as a wake-up call for students, parents, and educators alike, encouraging them to reconsider their priorities and approach to higher education. Bruni argues that success and fulfillment in life are not determined by the name on one's diploma but by the experiences, skills, and personal growth gained during the college years and beyond.
The Myth of Ivy League Superiority
One of the central themes of Bruni's book is debunking the myth that Ivy League and other elite universities are the only path to success. He presents several compelling arguments and examples to support this view:
Successful People Come from Diverse Educational Backgrounds
Bruni points out that many successful individuals, including CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, did not attend Ivy League schools for their undergraduate degrees. He cites a study showing that only 30 percent of US-born CEOs in the top 100 Fortune 500 companies attended Ivy League schools. This statistic challenges the notion that attending an elite institution is necessary for reaching the highest levels of success in business.
The Chris Christie Example
The author shares an anecdote about former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who attended the University of Delaware. Despite his own positive experiences and success, Christie felt compelled to advise his son to attend Princeton if accepted, due to the perceived advantages of an Ivy League education. This example illustrates how deeply ingrained the belief in Ivy League superiority is, even among those who have achieved success without it.
Perception vs. Reality
Bruni argues that while there may be some advantages to attending an Ivy League school, much of it is based on perception rather than actual educational quality or outcomes. He suggests that the real value of education lies in the experiences, skills, and personal growth gained during college, which can be achieved at a wide range of institutions.
The College Admissions Arms Race
Bruni delves into the increasingly competitive nature of college admissions, highlighting how it has led to extreme measures and distorted priorities:
Plummeting Acceptance Rates
The author notes the dramatic decrease in acceptance rates at elite institutions over the years. For example, Yale's acceptance rate dropped from 20 percent in the late 1980s to just 6.5 percent in 2015. Stanford's acceptance rate hit a record low of 5.05 percent in 2015.
The Numbers Game
Bruni reveals that these low acceptance rates are not necessarily a sign of rising standards but rather a deliberate strategy by colleges to appear more selective. He cites Ted O'Neill, former dean of admissions at the University of Chicago, who explains that colleges use low acceptance rates as a promotional tool and to improve their rankings in publications like the US News & World Report.
The Wide Net Strategy
Colleges actively work to increase their applicant pools, not to find more qualified students, but to lower their acceptance rates and improve their rankings. This practice contributes to the illusion of increased selectivity and prestige.
Legacy Bias
Bruni discusses the advantage given to legacy applicants – those with family members who previously attended the school. He cites research by Michael Hurwitz showing that legacy students had a 23.3 percent better chance of admission to the 30 most selective colleges, compared to non-legacy applicants with similar qualifications.
Extreme Measures in College Preparation
The intense competition for spots at elite colleges has led to increasingly extreme measures taken by students and parents:
Expensive College Prep Services
Bruni describes the rise of costly college preparation services, such as Bespoke Education in New York, which charges upwards of $5,000 for SAT preparation alone. These services cater to parents willing to spend significant sums to give their children an edge in the admissions process.
Early Preparation
The author notes that the pressure to prepare for college admissions now extends even to preschool and kindergarten in some areas. He mentions the Aristotle Circle, a company offering guidance and test preparation for young children applying to competitive schools, with services costing up to $450 per hour.
Bizarre Application Strategies
Bruni shares an anecdote from Michael Motto, a former Yale admissions officer, about a student who claimed in her application essay that she had intentionally urinated in her pants rather than interrupt an intellectually stimulating conversation with her French teacher. This extreme example illustrates the lengths to which some students go to stand out in their applications.
The Problem with College Rankings
Bruni dedicates significant attention to the issues surrounding college rankings, particularly those published by the US News & World Report:
Unscientific Methodology
The author cites Jeffrey Brenzel, former dean of Yale, who criticized college rankings for their lack of scientific rigor. Brenzel argued that Consumer Reports magazine uses more scientific methods to rank vacuum cleaners than the US News & World Report does to rank colleges.
Misplaced Focus
Bruni argues that rankings encourage students to focus on a school's prestige rather than on finding the best academic and personal fit. This can lead to students choosing schools based on rankings rather than on their individual needs and goals.
Arbitrary Criteria
The rankings take into account subjective factors like "reputation" and a university's financial resources, which have little to do with the quality of education students receive. Meanwhile, important factors such as job placement rates and international opportunities are often ignored.
Reliance on Superficial Opinions
Bruni reveals that over 20 percent of a school's final ranking is based on the opinions of high school guidance counselors, university presidents, and other educational professionals who may have limited knowledge of most institutions.
The Importance of Diversity and Stepping Out of Comfort Zones
Bruni emphasizes the value of diverse experiences and environments in college education:
Howard Schultz's Experience
The author shares the story of former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, who chose to attend Northern Michigan University instead of staying close to his Jewish roots in Brooklyn. This decision allowed Schultz to expand his horizons, meet new people, and gain valuable life experiences outside the classroom.
Lack of Socioeconomic Diversity at Elite Schools
Bruni highlights the limited socioeconomic diversity at many elite institutions. He cites research by Yale graduate Rebecca Fabbro, which found that nearly half of Yale students come from families earning over $200,000 per year – representing the wealthiest 5 percent of the United States.
The Value of New Perspectives
The author argues that one of the most important aspects of college education is the opportunity to encounter different ways of life and thinking. This exposure is often limited at elite schools with homogeneous student bodies.
Success Beyond Intelligence and Prestigious Education
Bruni challenges the notion that intelligence and a prestigious education are the primary determinants of success:
Bradley Tusk's Perspective
The author cites businessman and former deputy governor of Illinois Bradley Tusk, who emphasizes that success requires more than just smarts and a good school. Tusk values qualities such as work ethic, good instincts, drive, communication skills, and creativity – traits that are not necessarily correlated with attending an elite institution.
The Importance of College Experiences
Bruni references a 2013 poll of college graduates, which found that the most significant factor in determining future happiness was deep involvement in campus activities during college. This engagement was more important than the prestige of the school attended.
Minimal Impact of School Ranking on Life Satisfaction
The author notes that attending a highly ranked school provided only a slight increase in life or career satisfaction. The poll showed that 11 percent of graduates from top-50 schools felt they were thriving across all categories of well-being, compared to 10 percent of all graduates regardless of school ranking.
The Narrowing Effect of Elite Education
Bruni explores how the focus on prestige and career success can actually limit students' horizons:
Shift in College Motivations
The author cites a study by UCLA's Higher Education Research Institution, which found that the percentage of incoming freshmen who named money as their primary reason for attending college increased from 42 percent in the mid-1960s to 73 percent in 2014.
The Funnel Effect
Bruni discusses research from Harvard's Graduate School of Education, which found that Harvard undergraduates often experience a narrowing of career interests during their time at the university. Many students enter with diverse interests but end up pursuing a limited range of high-paying jobs in fields like consulting.
Junot Díaz's Observations
The author shares insights from Pulitzer Prize-winning author and MIT professor Junot Díaz, who has observed that elite schools often produce "fragile thoroughbreds" – students who excel academically but are ill-prepared for the challenges of adulthood.
The Benefits of Smaller Schools
Bruni highlights the advantages that smaller, less prestigious schools can offer:
Personal Attention
The author shares the experience of bestselling novelist John Green at Kenyon College, where he received personal mentorship and encouragement from his professor, Fred Kluge. This level of individual attention is often harder to find at larger, more prestigious institutions.
Encouraging Creativity
Bruni contrasts the career-focused atmosphere at elite schools with the more open and creative environment found at smaller institutions. He cites the example of Scott Pask, a successful Broadway set designer who found the freedom to explore diverse interests at the University of Arizona's School of Architecture.
Balanced Education
The author argues that smaller schools often provide a better balance between rigorous coursework and the freedom to pursue a wide range of interests, leading to a more well-rounded education.
Rethinking College Choice
Throughout the book, Bruni encourages readers to reconsider their approach to college selection:
Look Beyond Rankings
The author advises students and parents to ignore arbitrary rankings and instead focus on finding schools that best fit their individual needs, interests, and goals.
Value of Experiences
Bruni emphasizes that the experiences and personal growth gained during college are more important than the prestige of the institution attended.
Broaden Horizons
The author encourages students to seek out diverse environments and step out of their comfort zones, rather than choosing schools based on familiarity or perceived status.
Focus on Engagement
Bruni stresses the importance of deep involvement in campus activities and organizations as a predictor of future satisfaction and success.
Conclusion
In "Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be," Frank Bruni presents a compelling case for rethinking the college admissions process and the emphasis on elite institutions. He argues that success and fulfillment in life are not determined by the prestige of one's alma mater but by the experiences, skills, and personal growth gained during the college years and beyond.
The book serves as a much-needed antidote to the college admissions mania that has gripped American society. Bruni encourages students, parents, and educators to shift their focus from chasing prestige to seeking out meaningful educational experiences that foster personal growth, creativity, and a broader worldview.
By highlighting the success stories of individuals from diverse educational backgrounds and emphasizing the importance of engagement and personal development, Bruni challenges readers to reconsider their priorities when it comes to higher education. He reminds us that the true value of a college education lies not in the name on the diploma but in the transformative experiences and skills acquired along the way.
Ultimately, "Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be" is a call to action for a more balanced and holistic approach to college admissions and education. It encourages readers to look beyond the narrow definitions of success propagated by rankings and instead focus on finding the right educational fit that will allow students to thrive and grow into well-rounded, successful adults.
The book's message is particularly relevant in today's hyper-competitive educational landscape, where the pressure to attend elite institutions can overshadow the true purpose of higher education. Bruni's work serves as a valuable resource for anyone navigating the college admissions process or reconsidering the role of higher education in shaping one's future.
By challenging long-held beliefs about the importance of attending elite schools and offering a fresh perspective on what truly matters in education, Frank Bruni provides a much-needed reality check for students, parents, and educators alike. His insights encourage a more thoughtful and individualized approach to college selection, one that prioritizes personal growth, diverse experiences, and long-term fulfillment over short-term prestige.
In the end, "Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be" reminds us that success and happiness in life are not determined by the name of the institution on one's diploma, but by the experiences, skills, and personal growth gained during the college years and beyond. It's a powerful message that has the potential to reshape the way we think about higher education and its role in shaping the lives and futures of young people.