614: 13 Mistakes High School Students Make When Creating Their College List

In this episode of the podcast, Ethan Sawyer interviews Harlan Cohen, New York Times bestselling author, about the common mistakes students make when creating their college lists. Harlan emphasizes the importance of focusing on what students want rather than solely trying to be wanted by colleges, and he discusses the pitfalls of prioritizing rankings and letting scarcity and fear drive decision-making. He suggests viewing the first year of college as an experiment and encourages students to develop a plan based on social, emotional, physical, financial, and academic factors. Harlan also advises students to talk to current college students, seek merit and financial aid, and do future math to understand the long-term costs of their education.