Happy 2011 everybody!
Now is the time that many people reflect on what they want to accomplish in the year ahead. Probably the most common resolutions fall under the categories of health, career/money and "finding love." But during this pivotal year of your college-bound child's life I encourage you to broaden your self-reflection to identify your family's definition of success. The answer should be the foundation upon which future decisions are made.
Let me be a little clearer about why I find this important. Depending on how your family defines success, this should lead you to make different decisions about what college offer to accept in the spring. For example, does your family prioritize employment options over personal growth, or vice versa? Is the more successful college experience one wherein the student achieves the highest academic marks possible and matriculates directly to grad school (perhaps at the expense of personal growth), or the one where they studied abroad and expanded their understanding of themselves and "the real world" through extensive participation in activities (perhaps at the expense of optimal grades)? There's no right answer, there is only the right answer for you, so it's important to know what you're aiming for and to make your college decision accordingly.
Soon your family will be making decisions about a major turning point in your child's life. Enter this process armed with self-awareness about what will constitute success for you and them and your decisions will be much less stressful and much more fruitful.
