Hi, Reader!

Not that I'm trying to take all of my life advice from TikTok, but I watched a video last week about trying to find at least one good thing about each day. It doesn't have to be deep. It doesn't have to be life-changing. It just has to be good. I'm trying to do that for myself this year. Heck, it feels like we could all use something like that right now, right?

My good thing for today? I was going through a bag of old 8mm family movies I want to have converted, and I came across some pictures of my dad in his 20s that neither my sister nor I had ever seen. Some were super-silly, and while I was wistful that I can’t ask him about who he was with and what he was doing (both of my parents have passed away), they brought a smile to my face and remind me that they, too, were young once.

That moment today reminded me how much perspective matters. If I may wax poetic for a moment: Good moments don't erase the hard parts, by any stretch. But they can make space for clarity and reflection — especially during this stressful season as colleges release decisions. So I challenge you, too, to find those good things in the everyday, even when it seems hard.

Now, let's pivot to the good this week! While we talked the other week about deferrals and how to write a strong letter of continued interest, I wanted to talk about something a little more positive this week: Choosing between college acceptances (for those of you who will need to make this big decision). Yes, this can also feel a little overwhelming (especially when you're spoiled for choice among a few great options), but a strategic approach can help transform this high-stakes decision into a thoughtful, values-based process.

Here's how I might suggest you approach this decision:

• Start by revisiting your original priorities in a school. What were you most drawn to? Academic programs, location, size, campus culture, post-graduate outcomes, research opportunities? You can now also view your list with the added dimension of financial aid packages and any outside scholarships received.
• Consider creating a concrete comparison tool (a simple spreadsheet works well) that lists key factors for each school, including both objective measures (net cost, travel expenses) and subjective impressions (nice dorms, on-campus Chick-fil-A).
• If possible, attend admitted student events (virtual or in-person) to experience each campus through the lens of a "future student" rather than as a "hopeful applicant." These visits often clarify preferences dramatically. Include your gut feelings as you do this — emotional connection to a campus community matters for thriving in college.
• Parents, your role is to provide guidance on financial realities (although I hope your initial list took this into account) and ask thoughtful questions while respecting that this ultimately must be your student's decision. If they're genuinely torn between options, consider practical tie-breakers: strength in their likely major, career services resources, or geographic preferences.
• Embrace feeling all of the emotions. This isn't always an easy decision, but we hope you can make it a smart one.

Remember that there's rarely one "perfect" choice — students can often thrive at any college where they actively engage with available opportunities. (And while I don't want to put the cart before the horse here, if it turns out not to be their right-fit school, there are options for transferring.) The goal here isn't finding the abstractly "best" college; instead, it's about finding the environment where you're most likely to grow and succeed!

As you start to get knee-deep in decision-making, I'd love to hear from you: What are your top considerations when narrowing down acceptances?

Happy Writing!

Julia

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