Episode
724. HOW DATA IS TRANSFORMING THE WAY STUDENTS NAVIGATE COLLEGE DECISIONS
- Published
- Apr 28, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 1739
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Summary
How often does a thorough college search process involving hours of research and weeks of onsite college visits take an unexpected last minute twist because of fuzzy criteria and gut feelings? Shouldn't certain statistics inform better choices? Amy and Mike invited ed tech entrepreneurs Braden and Cooper Weissman to explore how data is transforming the way students navigate college decisions. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Why does the college admissions process feel more complicated today? How can counselors help students think about choosing a college beyond rankings and prestige? What are the risks of relying on guesswork or outdated information during the admissions process? Where do students tend to struggle most when applying to colleges and making school decisions, and how can counselors help address those gaps? How might data and technology improve the college search process? MEET OUR GUEST Braden Weissman is the co-founder and Co-CEO of Nerd Apply. A competitive athlete and team builder at heart, Braden brings a performance-driven mindset to everything he works on. He was named Arizona's Student and Athlete of the Year in 2021 and carried that same discipline and leadership to the University of Michigan, where he co-founded multiple ventures alongside his brother, including Dorm Doctor AI, Dynamic Purchasing Solutions, and WEIDEV. Braden was later accepted into the University of Miami's four-year MD/MBA program, but chose to defer to fully commit to building Nerd Apply. He is passionate about creating tools that reward collaboration, integrity, and real-world outcomes. Braden lives in New York City, where he enjoys staying active and spending time with close friends. Cooper Weissman is the co-founder and Co-CEO of Nerd Apply. A lifelong b…