Harlan Cohen

Harlan Cohen is one of the most widely read columnists among teens and young adults. His syndicated advice column, “Help Me, Harlan!” reaches millions of readers of all ages in daily and college newspapers across the United States, in Canada, and overseas.

Cohen’s writing career started at Indiana University’s school newspaper, the Indiana Daily Student. His path shifted toward advice after he interned on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in the summer of 1995.

Cohen came up with the idea to write his column after meeting a writer who had penned an advice column in college. Upon returning to IU, he immediately launched “Help Me, Harlan!” At first, he wrote questions and answers to himself, and he actually helped himself. Then real letters started rolling in. He consulted experts on and off campus to help with his replies. This balance of honest advice, helpful resources, and smart humor turned his column into an instant success on campus. In 2002, King Features Syndicate began distributing “Help Me, Harlan!”

Cohen is the author of the book, Campus Life Exposed: Advice from the Inside and a contributor to Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul III. He contributes to the Chicago Tribune, has written the "On Campus" column for The Wall Street Journal Classroom Edition, and has been featured as an expert in Seventeen magazine and Psychology Today.

When not writing advice, Cohen can be found speaking on college campuses, appearing on radio and TV, hosting online chats, writing and performing music for the guitar, and expanding his web site.

Cohen is the founder and president of Rejection Awareness Week and The International Rejection Project.