Getting in is Not Enough

"A fresh framework for supporting young people's well-being, purpose and resilience in a rapidly changing world."

— - Meg Josephson, NYTimes bestselling author, Are You Mad At Me?

"Timely and Important"

— Jeffrey Selingo, New York Times bestselling author of Who Gets In and Why and There Is Life After College

"This book will come as a relief for every parent"

— Rachel Simmons, author of Odd Girl Out and Enough As She Is

"Smart, practical advice"

— Gregg Behr, co-author, When You Wonder, You’re Learning: Mister Rogers’ Enduring Lessons for Raising Creative, Curious, Caring Kids

"A gift to parents, educators, and adolescents"

— Jessica Lahey, NYTimes bestselling author of The Gift of Failure and The Addiction Inoculation

"Eye-opening and compelling"

— Jordan Shapiro, author of Father Figure and The New Childhood

"Practical, extraordinarily empathetic, and a breath of fresh air"

— Anya Kamenetz, author of The Stolen Year and The Art of Screen Time

"Empowering, open-minded approach"

— Mary Laura Philpott, author of Bomb Shelter: Love, Time, and Other Explosives

"Thought-provoking"

— Kyle Schwartz, author of I Wish My Teacher Knew and I Wish for Change

In Getting In Is Not Enough, academic advisor and early career development strategist Ana Homayoun reveals the research-backed skills that predict everything from college graduation rates to life satisfaction, and how to develop them.

With her refreshing, solutions-oriented approach, Homayoun has written the book we desperately need to empower a complete reimagining of what preparation for adulthood really looks like.

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About Getting In Is Not Enough

The skills that truly predict success aren't what we think—this book reveals how to develop them.

For too long, we've believed that stellar grades, high test scores, and prestigious college acceptance guarantee a successful life. But the data tells a different story: the skills that predict long-term achievement, job satisfaction, and well-being have been hiding in plain sight all along.

What if the key to thriving in our rapidly changing world isn't about checking boxes on a college application, but about developing the foundational abilities that help young people adapt, connect, and flourish?

Academic advisor and early career development expert Ana Homayoun has spent over twenty-five years discovering what truly makes the difference. In Getting In Is Not Enough, she reveals the research-backed skills that predict everything from college graduation rates to life satisfaction—and how to develop them.

With her refreshing, solutions-oriented approach, Homayoun provides a practical blueprint for helping students build the capabilities employers now prioritize, and researchers have proven make the difference, including how to:

Master executive functioning skills that research shows predict academic achievement and life satisfaction years later
Build authentic social capital through genuine connections that open doors and expand perspectives
Identify personal energy patterns and create sustainable systems for success
Develop adaptability and resilience that can turn setbacks into growth opportunities
Cultivate the skills employers now prioritize over technical credentials

Through compelling storytelling, current research, and proven strategies, Homayoun's empowering approach offers a complete reimagining of what preparation for adulthood really looks like. Getting In Is Not Enough is essential reading for parents, educators, and anyone invested in helping young people create their own paths to meaningful success.

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Praise For Getting In Is Not Enough

" In this timely and important book, Ana Homayoun gives students and families the blueprint they need to launch into a fulfilling life and engaging career."
— Jeffrey Selingo, New York Times bestselling author of Who Gets In and Why and There Is Life After College

"Ana Homayoun has given parents a blueprint for guiding all kids — not just the most advantaged — in the how, not the what, of authentic, lifelong success. This book will come as a relief for every parent."
— Rachel Simmons, author of Odd Girl Out and Enough As She Is

"Ana Homayoun is stoking important conversations, and we can only hope parents, teachers, and counselors are listening. I love her empowering, open-minded approach to guiding young adults on their varied paths to adulthood."
— Mary Laura Philpott, author of Bomb Shelter: Love, Time, and Other Explosives

“This book is practical, extraordinarily empathetic, and a breath of fresh air, and it's just what the doctor ordered for anxious parents and anxious teens alike.”
— Anya Kamenetz, author of The Stolen Year and The Art of Screen Time

“[This] is the book I will recommend over and over in the coming years, a gift to parents, educators, and adolescents confused by the conflicting demands of achievement and fulfillment.”
— Jessica Lahey, NYTimes bestselling author of the The Gift of Failure and The Addiction Inoculation

“Eye-opening and compelling, this book has the answers that parents and educators need right now. We’ve been mis-measuring achievement and pushing kids toward the wrong goals. Homayoun shows us how to shift our mindsets and nurture the real skills children need to identify and fulfill their own aspirations.”
— Jordan Shapiro, author of Father Figure and The New Childhood

“In her thought-provoking book, Ana Homayoun fearlessly questions the prevailing mindset that a good life is simply a linear path from good grades to a good school and ultimately a good job. Getting In Is Not Enough will resonate deeply with caring adults who believe that young people deserve the opportunity to self-define success and chart their own authentic path.”
— Kyle Schwartz, author of I Wish My Teacher Knew and I Wish for Change

Ana Homayoun is an academic advisor and early career development expert working at the intersection of executive functioning skills, technology and personal energy management. For over two decades, Ana has dedicated her life to empowering students and young adults to develop the foundational skills to create their own blueprint for success. She is the founder of Silicon Valley based Green Ivy Educational Consulting and the founder and executive director of Luminaria Learning Solutions, a non-profit aimed at bringing her executive functioning and social emotional curriculum work to schools. She is the author of three previous books: That Crumpled Paper Was Due Last Week, The Myth of the Perfect Girl and Social Media Wellness.