In this episode you will hear: 2:00 In this week’s news: Paul Fain of Inside Higher Ed about, Digging Deeper On Student Loan Default Rates and the alarming racial disparities that exist among borrowers 14:45 We are in Chapter 38 of 171 Answers and Mark is explaining what the National Merit Scholarship Program actually is and its various levels of recognition. 28:30 This week, it’s time for our bonus content during our question segment, and we are diving into what Mark believes are the 13 most common mistakes that students make in the college admissions process 43:05 In this episode, Mark interviews Ms. Chika Nwosu, a high school senior and they are talking about her whole college search and admissions process. Don’t forget to send your questions related to any and every facet of the college process to   Every episode of Your College-Bound Kid will align with a chapter from the book 171 Answers to the Most-Asked College Admission Questions. To get a copy visit  and if you want to see what future episodes will cover just click the red button “See exactly what 171 Answers covers.