LinkedIn Presents.

I'm Maura Aaron's Mealy, and this is the Anxious Achiever, the show that looks at the intersection of mental health and work and how we can all do both better.

Hi, everyone. I'm so excited to tell you that my book, the Anxious Achiever, in large part inspired by the

conversations I have on this show, is available for pre-order. The book comes out next spring,

but I would be so grateful if you pre-ordered a copy today. Pre-orders are vital to the success of the book. Now, on to the show.

You know, I've wanted to do an episode on college admissions and the high stakes of success for a long

time. I can't think of a more potent example of how the pressure to achieve, social comparison,

financial means, and willpower combined to create a bubbling cauldron of anxiety for students and their parents.

Right now is the time of year when many people are thinking about getting into university, and who better, to examine this anxiety with me, than Ron Lieber, author of the Your Money

column for The New York Times, and author of the books The Price You Pay for College and

the opposite of spoiled.

And today I wanted to talk about how high-achieving parents can do the right thing without

putting a huge emotional burden on their young adults.

I also want to address young adults who may be

struggling with how to define their own success and achievement.

I'm on with you right now and usually, and I don't feel anxious. Like usually, um, with guests that I

don't know, I get very like, oh my God, are they going to, you know, is this going to be a waste of their time?

Is it going to be? But with you, it's honestly, it's so funny because I think I've been reading you and valuing your advice for so long. I'm like, hey, it's Ron.

Your sort of personal, familial circumstances.

Like, I don't know if you're a parent or if you've dealt with kids professionally or just so I know that kind of where we are.

Oh, have I dealt with kids?

Your processing experience.

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