5 Things College Admissions Officers Really Look For (and 3 They Don’t) | Jeff Selingo

What do college admissions officers actually look for—and what doesn’t matter as much as you think? 🎓
In this exclusive conversation hosted by Grown and Flown, best-selling author Jeff Selingo (Who Gets In and Why, Dream School) reveals the real secrets behind today’s college admissions process.
Parents and students often stress about the wrong things—prestige, rankings, or packing applications with endless extracurriculars—when in reality, admissions officers focus on a few key factors that truly drive decisions.
In this video, Jeff explains:
✅ The 5 things admissions officers actually care about: course rigor, grades in context, authentic essays, recommendation letters, and character/passion.
🚫 The 3 things that matter less than you think: number of AP classes, the “perfect” test score, and brand-name extracurriculars.
📅 Why Early Action and Early Decision are shaping admissions in 2025–26—and how to decide if they’re right for your family.
💰 How financial aid and merit aid intersect with admissions decisions (and how to negotiate for more).
🧭 How to redefine the idea of a “dream school”—moving beyond prestige to focus on fit, affordability, and student success.
💡 What to do this fall if your teen is applying to college in 2025: practical steps to keep applications on track without unnecessary stress.
This discussion pulls directly from Jeff’s decades of research and his new book Dream School: Finding the College That’s Right for You. Whether your teen is a rising senior or just starting high school, these insights will help your family focus on what matters most.


⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 Welcome & Introductions01:00 Why Jeff wrote Dream School04:20 What families get wrong about the “dream school” idea07:45 Prestige vs. Fit: what actually predicts success12:10 Early Action vs. Early Decision in 2025–2618:40 Course rigor: AP, IB, dual enrollment explained in context24:30 What admissions officers really look for in applications31:15 Financial aid, merit aid, and negotiating your package38:40 Common myths that increase parent and student stress44:50 How to support your teen emotionally through the process52:10 Final advice: 5 things that matter, 3 that don’t


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👉 If you’ve been wondering whether your teen needs more APs, if their extracurriculars are “good enough,” or whether applying Early Decision is worth it, this video has the answers from one of the nation’s top higher education experts.