Paul Tough

Writer & Speaker

Media

Selected Print Articles and Interviews

Here’s the real tragedy in college admissions (Q&A)

Zachary Wolf, CNN, April 9, 2022

Zachary Wolf, CNN, April 9, 2022

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The harsh truth about black enrollment at America’s elite colleges

Howard Gold, Marketwatch, June 25, 2020

Howard Gold, Marketwatch, June 25, 2020

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‘Do everything’: Journalist Paul Tough on how colleges can get more low-income students to graduate — and why many still do not

Interview with Patrick Wall, Chalkbeat, December 16, 2019

Interview with Patrick Wall, Chalkbeat, December 16, 2019

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The College Trap

Jonathan Silin, East Hampton Star, December 4, 2019

Jonathan Silin, East Hampton Star, December 4, 2019

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The myth of meritocracy

Review by Deborah D. Rogers and Howard P. Segal, Times Higher Education (London), November 14, 2019 [Article behind paywall; see PDF.]

Review by Deborah D. Rogers and Howard P. Segal, Times Higher Education (London), November 14, 2019 [Article behind paywall; see PDF.]

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As Inequities in Higher Ed Grow, So Does the Need To Address Them

By Rebecca T. Miller, School Library Journal, October 23, 2019

By Rebecca T. Miller, School Library Journal, October 23, 2019

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74 Interview: Class, Race & The Pursuit of College. Veteran Journalist Paul Tough Addresses Higher Ed Admissions, Mobility Myths and What His Critics at the College Board Get Wrong

Interview with Greg Toppo, The 74, October 16, 2019

Interview with Greg Toppo, The 74, October 16, 2019

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Selected Radio/Podcast Interviews

Ontario Universities Call for More Funding

Paul Tough discusses his recent New York Times Magazine article and the relevance of its findings to colleges and universities in Canada. The Current with Matt Galloway, CBC Radio, November 23, 2023. [Interview starts at 13:00.] [Another link here.]

Paul Tough discusses his recent New York Times Magazine article and the relevance of its findings to colleges and universities in Canada. The Current with Matt Galloway, CBC Radio, November […]

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The Kids Don’t Want to Go to College Anymore, and Why Would They?

Paul Tough discusses his recent New York Times Magazine article with Gideon Lichfield on Wired Magazine’s “Have a Nice Future” podcast. September 20, 2023. [Another link is here.]

Paul Tough discusses his recent New York Times Magazine article with Gideon Lichfield on Wired Magazine’s “Have a Nice Future” podcast. September 20, 2023. [Another link is here.]

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Is College Worth It?

Paul Tough discusses his recent New York Times Magazine article on The Daily podcast, with host Michael Barbaro. September 20, 2023.

Paul Tough discusses his recent New York Times Magazine article on The Daily podcast, with host Michael Barbaro. September 20, 2023.

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Article Club: “Getting an A”

Interview with Mark Isero for Article Club’s discussion of Chapter Eight of “The Years That Matter Most,” February 17, 2020

Interview with Mark Isero for Article Club’s discussion of Chapter Eight of “The Years That Matter Most,” February 17, 2020

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How Children Succeed (with Paul Tough)

Podcast: Good Kids: How Not to Raise an A**hole, December 2019

Podcast: Good Kids: How Not to Raise an A**hole, December 2019

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Paul Tough – The Years That Matter Most

Interview with Blake McVey, “Book Talk,” WYPL (Memphis), October 26, 2019

Interview with Blake McVey, “Book Talk,” WYPL (Memphis), October 26, 2019

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What Does The SAT Really Measure?

Interview with Krys Boyd, “Think,” KERA (Dallas), September 23, 2019

Interview with Krys Boyd, “Think,” KERA (Dallas), September 23, 2019

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More Radio/Podcast Interviews »

Selected Video Clips

Why Are Americans Losing Faith in the Value of College?

Paul Tough discusses his recent article in the New York Times Magazine with Hari Sreenivasan. Amanpour and Company, PBS, September 12, 2023

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Paul Tough in dialogue with Lewis H. Lapham

Paul Tough in conversation with Lewis H. Lapham, founder and editor of Lapham’s Quarterly. March 2, 2023. More information here.

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Paul Tough

A Conversation with Paul Tough

Paul Tough discusses how college helps — and hinders — social mobility. With Fr. Steve Katsouros, Come to Believe Network virtual retreat, November 8, 2022

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Paul Tough Stanford Wesson Lecture 2020

Rising Inequalities: A Conversation on College Access, Diversity, and Social Mobility in the U.S.

The 2020-21 Wesson Lecture in Problems of Democracy, a dialogue with Anthony Abraham Jack and Jennifer Morton. Hosted by the McCoy Family Center for Ethics in Society at Stanford University, […]

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Paul Tough on PBS Newshour

How the pandemic could cause significant “learning loss” for students

Interview with Jeffrey Brown, PBS Newshour, November 2, 2020.

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Paul Tough and Ruth Simmons in conversation

Aspen Institute Dialogue: The Inequality Machine

Paul Tough discusses his book “The Inequality Machine” with Dr. Ruth Simmons, president of Prairie View A&M University. October 2020.

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Is college education as valuable as it once was to students?

Interview with Kristen Sze and Reggie Aqui, “Midday Live,” KGO San Francisco, October 2, 2019

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After Words with Paul Tough

Interview by Sara Goldrick-Rab, “After Words” on PBS, September 23, 2019

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Paul Tough on Chicago Tonight

Author Paul Tough on ‘How College Makes or Breaks Us’

Interview on “Chicago Tonight,” WTTW TV, September 16, 2019

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Reviews