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In this episode, Alyssa McNamara Reed interviews Stacy Havens, an independent college counselor from Student Pathways, to discuss the complexities of higher education planning. They emphasize that the application timeline has shifted earlier, suggesting that students begin exploring interests as soon as freshman or sophomore year to reduce senior-year pressure. The conversation covers the financial realities of college, including how institutional "yield rates," FAFSA requirements, and merit-based aid influence the final cost. Havens argues that finding a "right fit" involves balancing academic rigor with social comfort rather than focusing solely on prestige. Finally, they touch on evolving career trends, noting a renewed value in the trades and humanities alongside high-demand fields like healthcare and technology. Alyssa McNamara Reed, CFP®is a financial planner with passion for the intersection of taxes and investing.  Alyssa works with motivated savers, beneficiaries of estates, business owners, divorce