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Hey, it's Mariel.

When you say the names of big brands, like Coca-Cola, Apple, McDonald's, Disney, people immediately know what you're talking about,

and they generally have some emotional response because that brand is everywhere,

and they've been served a million ads about it.

Well-known colleges and universities are big brands too, just like this.

And teenagers who are deciding where to apply to

school, they have been served up images of on-campus bliss at some of these schools their whole

lives, whether it's Harvard, Yale, MIT, Howard, Wharton, Brown, Notre Dame, University of Texas,

your favorite TV show and film characters went to these schools.

So did a lot of your government leaders.

Maybe your favorite college athletes or even your own family members.

These places become aspirational.

And you start to think, I have to go to one of these schools.

And if I don't get in or I can't afford it, my life is ruined.

Prestige is not worth it at any cost.

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