In many social circles, pressure surrounding college admissions causes a pervasive negativity. Lamenting weaknesses rather than leveraging strengths, bemoaning the selectivity of one school instead of celebrating the accessibility of so many others, treating the journey like an escalating arms race instead of an exciting time in a student’s life—it’s no wonder so many families struggle to find the joy in what should be a joyful time.
But there are steps you can take to combat that negativity, many of which have nothing to do with college planning or improving your admissions chances. Author and wellness consultant Michelle Gielan shares some strategies here. They were intended to help professionals overcome negativity at work. But all of these recommendations are just as effective for the college-bound.