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by Robin Sharma
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Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be summary
Frank Bruni
An Antidote to the College Admissions Mania
23 mins
Brief summary
'Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be' by Frank Bruni challenges the notion that attending prestigious colleges is the only path to success and happiness. The book covers the experiences of accomplished individuals that attended non-elite institutions and still achieved greatness.
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Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be
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The Ivy League universities aren’t the only producers of successful people.
Ask people which are the elite American colleges – the places said to put people on a fast-track to success – and most will think of the Ivy League schools of Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton, Yale and the University of Pennsylvania.
This widespread perception of Ivy League superiority is hard to ignore, even for people who are well aware that you can get a world-class education outside of these schools.
Take Chris Christie, for example. When the former New Jersey governor was helping his son Andrew consider his options, the question arose as to whether Christie would send his son to Princeton if he was accepted. After all, Christie’s alma mater was the University of Delaware, a school that had both served him well and provided him with cherished experiences.
Nevertheless, Christie felt that public perception was perhaps more important. He told Andrew that, even though he would receive a fine education if he chose to follow in his father’s footsteps, he would probably have to work harder to prove himself. So, even though he didn’t necessarily consider it fair, he advised his son to go to Princeton if they accepted him and to take advantage of the opportunities that came with the perception of Ivy League students being the best of the best.
In reality, however, successful people come from a wide range of schools, and certainly not just the Ivy League.
If we take a look at the people who were running Fortune 500 companies in 2014, only one CEO from the top ten businesses received their undergraduate degree from an Ivy League school. If we expand that number to look at the top 30 businesses, we’ll see more Ivy League representatives, but the list of alma maters continues to be diverse enough to include schools like the University of Minnesota, the University of Central Oklahoma and Penn State.
When we look at the top 100 companies on the Fortune 500 list, only 30 percent of US-born CEOs attended Ivy League schools.
Sure, being accepted to an Ivy League school may give a student an advantage in life, but they’re far from being the only places producing successful adults.
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What is Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be about?
Where You Go Is Not Who You’ll Be (2015) casts a critical eye over the mania surrounding the college admissions process in the United States. For decades, students and parents have become increasingly convinced that future success is dependent upon landing a spot at the most prestigious schools, while colleges have become engaged in their own competition for a spot at the top of the school rankings. Bruni argues that this has led to an out-of-control system that has caused people to lose sight of the real benefits of higher education.
Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be Review
Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be (2015) is a thought-provoking book that challenges the conventional belief that attending an elite college is the key to success. Here's why this book is definitely worth reading:
- Through compelling stories and data, it debunks the myth of the college obsession, emphasizing that success comes from personal drive and determination.
- By highlighting diverse paths to success, it encourages readers to focus on their own passions and talents rather than getting caught up in the prestige of certain institutions.
- With its refreshing perspective and reassurance, the book manages to make a potentially weighty topic engaging and relatable.
Best quote from Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be
I think US News & World Report will go down as one of the most destructive things that ever happened to higher education – Adam Weinberg, president of Denison University
—Frank Bruni
Who should read Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be?
- Prospective college students
- Scholars who care about the state of higher education
- Parents who want their kids to flourish in college
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Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be FAQs
What is the main message of Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be?
The main message of Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be is that college prestige does not guarantee success or fulfillment.
How long does it take to read Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be?
The reading time for Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be varies depending on the reader, but it usually takes a few hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in 15 minutes.
Is Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be a good book? Is it worth reading?
Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be is worth reading as it challenges the notion that college brand determines success. It provides valuable insights into the college admissions process.
Who is the author of Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be?
The author of Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be is Frank Bruni.
What to read after Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be?
If you're wondering what to read next after Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- The End of College by Kevin Carey
- The Price You Pay for College by Ron Lieber
- The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
- How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie
- The 5 AM Club by Robin Sharma
- Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
- Atomic Habits by James Clear
- On the Edge by Nate Silver
- How Highly Effective People Speak by Peter Andrei
- Good Leaders Ask Great Questions by John C. Maxwell