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New York Times bestselling author and higher education expert Jeffrey Selingo — whose latest book, “Dream School: Finding the College That’s Right for You,” debuted as an instant bestseller — visited campus and spoke with NSCD’s Director of College Counseling Kristen Kaczynski about the evolving landscape of college admissions and shared practical guidance on how families can take a more thoughtful, empowered approach to the college search process. Here are five key takeaways:

You have more control than you think
Selingo reminded parents that despite how overwhelming the process can feel, students and families hold real agency.

“Simply put, you have so much more control over this process than you’re led to believe,” he said. “Ask questions like you would for any other purchase.”

He encouraged parents to treat college as a major investment — not just an emotional decision — and to push past the idea that prestige alone equals quality.

Focus on fit, not rankings
Families often turn to rankings because they seem to bring order to a confusing system. But Selingo noted that the top 25 colleges admit only a small percentage of applicants, while hundreds of other schools offer strong outcomes.

“We go to the rankings because they make sense of a world that doesn’t really make sense,” he said. “But if I was going to encourage parents and students and counselors to look deeper in the rankings, I felt like I needed to give them a roadmap. And that’s what this book is.”

He urged parents to help their children explore a broad range of options and to think about what kind of environment—large or small, urban or rural, structured or flexible—best fits their student’s interests and needs.

Look for signs of student support and engagement
When evaluating colleges, Selingo suggested parents look beyond glossy brochures and acceptance rates to understand how schools actually help students succeed. Focus instead on qualities that support student success, including a strong first-year transition, meaningful faculty mentorship and hands-on learning opportunities like internships and research. 

“These are the things that truly define quality,” he explained. 

He pointed to examples of schools that intentionally build strong first-year programs, connect students with faculty mentors, and offer project-based or experiential learning opportunities as part of the curriculum.

Encourage authenticity over strategy
Selingo cautioned against treating high school as a checklist for admissions.

“When we turn high school into jumping through another hoop to get into college, it’s going to end in disappointment,” he said. “High school is a moment when you’re figuring things out, when you’re growing.”

Rather than focusing on what they think colleges want, he advised students to pursue activities and subjects that genuinely interest them — something that often shines through in applications more than any formulaic approach.

Partner with your school’s college counselors
Selingo closed the morning with a reminder to lean on the expertise of NSCD’s counseling team.

“They know your school, they know your kids, and they know the history of your high school compared to where they’re going to college,” he said. “Use them as a resource.”

This private parent education event was part of North Shore Country Day’s ongoing partnership with the Family Action Network (FAN) to bring nationally recognized thought leaders to campus. 
 
North Shore Country Day extends its gratitude to Lonnie Stonitsch of FAN and to the parent volunteers who helped organize the event — Lindsay Theile, Peter Hulick, Tara Goldfarb and Robyn Schuster — for their time and support in making the morning possible.