Who Gets In and Why: A Closer Look at How Admissions Really Work

https://t.me/lilian_lori

Intro:

When you apply to a university, it’s easy to focus on the obvious: grades, documents, deadlines. But there’s more going on and not all of it is visible from the outside.

Over the past few years, I’ve been helping applicants navigate admissions systems in France and beyond. And the more I work with real cases, the more I realize how little most people know about how these systems actually function. That’s why I often recommend one particular book Who Gets In and Why by Jeff Selingo.

A View from the Inside

Selingo, an American journalist, spent time inside the admissions offices of several competitive U.S. universities. He wasn’t just reporting — he was observing, sitting in on meetings, watching the actual decision-making process. And what he writes confirms what I see again and again: admissions isn’t just a numbers game. It's a system with its own logic, priorities, and limits.

Yes, the book is about the U.S., but it travels well. Many of the underlying principles apply across countries, including France.

One Key Idea: Sellers and Buyers

Selingo divides universities into two categories:

• Buyers are institutions that need to attract students. They offer grants, incentives, and extra flexibility.
• Sellers are highly selective. They have far more applicants than seats, so they pick only the strongest, no discounts, no negotiations.

If you're applying to top schools, you're most likely dealing with "sellers." That changes how you should read your chances and what kind of positioning makes sense.

I’ve seen cases where great candidates were rejected simply because the institution didn’t “need” them or because they applied as if they were negotiating with a buyer, when they were actually facing a seller.

For Those Applying Alone

This matters a lot if you’re applying on your own, no agency, no insider contacts. In that case, knowing how the system works becomes your main tool. You can't afford to guess.

This book won’t give you a formula, but it will give you a vocabulary. It helps you understand what admissions officers are doing on their end and how you can respond to that strategically.

If you're:

• targeting selective schools,
• making your own choices without external help,
• and planning not just for admission, but for your future positioning —

…then reading this kind of material isn’t optional. It’s part of doing your homework.

Final Thought

I’m not saying Who Gets In and Why is the only book you need but it’s a good place to start if you want to move from applicant to strategist. In admissions, as in most systems, knowing how things really work is half the battle.

About the author

Lilian Lori (Liliane Laurie) is a language instructor and education consultant helping international applicants navigate admissions to French universities. She writes about how admissions systems really work — and who gets access to education and why.

Her current projects include WindowToFrance and STUDYON, both focused on helping people navigate higher education in Europe.

You can follow her work via WindowToFrance and STUDYON.