to help us avoid making those mistakes, we're joined by melissa cohen. she's an author and an expert on education. welcome. >> hi. it's a pleasure to be here. >> choosing a college seems pretty scary for most of us. >> of course. it's one of the biggest decisions you'll make as a be the hardest. >> you have a list of the top five mistakes teens make. so let's start with number five. you say that it's not smart to pick a school simply because someone we know went there. >> yes. parents, relatives, and friends often encourage us to go to the schools that they went to, 'cause they had a great time. just because they had a wonderful experience doesn't mean that you will, too. what's a good fit for one person isn't necessarily a good fit for another. >> doesn't being a legacy help you to get in? >> no. being a legacy is just a factor on your application. it does not guarantee admission. >> okay. so, what's the next thing to avoid basing your school decisions on? >> the social life. just because a school has great parties, beaches, or skiing does not mean it's