Admissions 101: Professors Reviewing Professors

In his Admissions 101 discussion group, Jay asks readers:

Many of our brightest students, once they have been admitted to a top-flight college, consider a life of research and teaching. Most of their role models for those four years are professors, so it is to be expected.

I just received a new book from Harvard University Press that sheds light on the inner workings of academia, particularly how professors judge each other's work. This is a critical issue, since such peer reviews determine who is going to get grant money and who isn't.

This might be an interesting birthday or graduation gift for a superbright high school or college student who seems to be leaning in that direction. The book is "How Professors Think: Inside the Curious World of Academic Judgment" by Michèle Lamont.

Do you think this is a good way to determine who is teaching your kids?

Read responses -- and submit your own -- in this Admissions 101 discussion.

(Editor's note: This post has been corrected with updated infomration about Lamont's book.)