Questions and Admissions: Reflections on 100,000 Admissions Decisions at Stanford

Written in a lively manner by a former Dean of Undergraduate Admissions at Stanford University, this book will enlighten college applicants and their parents, teachers, and counsellors about the practical, philosophical, and ethical issues involved in selecting a college class. Though it draws on the selection process at Stanford from 1984 to 1991, discussion is not limited to Stanford. There are sections on the use and abuse of standardised tests; special considerations such as extra-curricular talents, alumni parents, and donors. One chapter considers ethical dilemmas, e.g., possible dishonesty by applicants and high school and college admissions officials. Two chapters deal with the vexed subjects of affirmative action and varsity athletics. Though the book is not about ‘how to get into’ college, the information presented is helpful to anyone concerned with the admissions process.