The Gatekeepers: Inside the Admissions Process of a Premier College

I wouldn't recommend.

This author is under the impression that all white students have advantages like personal tutors for SAT prep etc. He believes that minority students deserve extra "points" so to speak, in the admissions process because they are disadvantaged. I resent this line of thinking because my son is a white student who will be applying to college next year, and we most definitely can NOT afford a tutor, or any of the other advantages he refers to. Not all white students are rich, and conversely, not all minority students are poor. There is much too much stereotyping in this book. The author also focuses all of his "journeys" in the book on minority students ONLY.

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

A Great Read!

The Gatekeepers is a great book for any parent or child who wants a taste of the college admissions process. Being a senior in high school, however, I found this book to be a difficult read- After hearing from my colleges already, I had little interest in the in- depth look Jacques Steinberg flooded his readers with. I would have definitely been more interested in this book if it provided perspective from multiple college admissions office, not just Wesleyan's. There are great ideas in this book, but I think it would have been a better read for someone who had not just finished applying to college.

Highly Recommended

It is a great book for high school seniors getting ready to fill out their college applications. Steinberg shares the secrets behind the walls of the admission offices and how each applicant is reviewed. It is a must read for parents and students alike.

HIGHEST POSSIBLE RATING !

This book is simply superb. Not only informative but so readable. I passed this around in the family and we all enjoyed it. He did a marvelous job in making the students come alive. You really care what happened to these kids. This will be very helpful to all families whose children are headed off to college. I highly recommend this.

There are always two sides to a coin

This book is great for incoming college freshmen and high school seniors who have to deal with college process. You see the other side of the admissions and the stress they have to deal with as well. It's not just hard for the students applying but for the people who have to deal with reading your applications and reviewing your test scores and evaluating your essays,etc. It's a tough decision for them to make as to who they should accept and reject. I thought this was a very insightful book for people having to go through the hassles of college.

Most frightening book of my life

I read this while I was going through the college admissions process and it scared me half to death. It's an excellent book, but not one I'd suggest reading during such a stressful time. I'd say that students should read this book in ninth grade to see what admissions officers are really looking for.

I'm a 29 year old college graduate and I still loved this book!

This book was incredible! I picked it up at a bookstore on vacation because it looked interesting. Needless to say, I didn't do much sightseeing. It reads like a novel, and you just can't wait to find out what happens to the high school students featured in it. Strongly recommended!

Nothing else like it!

Everything an applicant/parent/guidance counselor needs to know about the college admissions process of a private institution. You will not be disappointed!

A 'must-read' for prospective college students everywhere.

I stumbled across this book while looking for college admission books for my brilliant baby sister. J. Steinberg depicts the admission process in a new light as admissions officers, often portrayed as cold and calculating, are depicted as caring humans who genuinely want the best for their applicants. This book gives first hand accounts of students, parents, guidance counselors, and admissions officers throughout all phases of the college selection process. There are definite 'admission tips' to be gained from this book, although they are interwoven throughout the book as themes. For those who want quick ways to 'outsmart the system' this is not the book for you; rather, read it to make sense of the sometimes, seemingly arbitrary game of college admissions. I think this would be a great book for any high school student (my own children will receive a copy in their freshman year of HS!) with plans of attending college.

Compelling insight and true-life stories

Jacques Steinberg has pulled the covers off the highly selective college admissions processes. With access to every twist and turn, he provides compelling insight to this harrowing rite of passage. Using Wesleyan University as an archetype, his characters are real, adding a personal element to intrigue as riveting as a mystery novel. The passion and professionalism of the admissions Gatekeepers inspires admiration, assuring that there is a school for every kid, and usually the right one. Parents of college-bound students should read this for its humanity, not to get a leg-up on the process. Leave that to the college prep jackals that profit so bountifully by agitating our anxieties.

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