A lot of parents suffer through the college process, anxious about whether or not their kids will gain acceptance to a prestigious college. But it doesn't have to be that way. Parents (and kids) can eliminate a lot of the anxiety associated with college admissions by just focusing on what's really important.
Imagine making the trip to college with your daughter (or son) and helping her move into her new dorm room. Imagine welcoming her home at Thanksgiving and hearing her talk over turkey about how much she loves college, and then rolling out the family red carpet again a few weeks later when your college student is finally home for the holidays.
Imagine visiting her at "Family Weekend" and meeting all her new friends while you buy a sweatshirt that proudly identifies you as the parent of a college student. Imagine receiving her phone calls and emails when she tells you how much she's learning, how much fun she's having, and how happy she is at college.
Imagine following her progress during college, seeing for yourself how much she's maturing, watching her discover her passions and talents that will help her choose which path to take as a college graduate.
Imagine that day four years later when you are in the audience watching her walk across the stage at graduation, the day she becomes a college graduate (and you become the parent of one).
Now, when you were imagining those things, did it matter whether or not the college was a famous one?
What happens in college is a lot more important than the name of the school where it happens.