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The One Admissions Strategy Families Often Forget: Gratitude
Thanksgiving is a season that invites families to pause, share a meal, and reflect on what matters most. Yet for many parents of high school juniors and seniors, it arrives in the middle of application deadlines and college list debates. Stress and uncertainty often crowd out the spirit of the holiday. That is why this is the perfect moment to remember the one admissions strategy families often forget. Gratitude.
Why Gratitude Matters
Gratitude shifts the lens. Instead of focusing on rankings and admit rates, it grounds both parents and students in perspective. Fewer than half of Americans ever attend a four year college, and many who start do not finish. Simply having the chance to apply is already a privilege. Recognizing that truth lightens the weight of the process and helps families see the bigger picture.
What Gratitude Gives Teens
For students, gratitude can soften the pressure of constant comparison. Instead of asking where their classmates are applying, they can take stock of who has walked beside them—teachers who sparked their curiosity, coaches who believed in them, mentors who offered encouragement, and friends who helped them laugh through the hard days. That kind of reflection reminds teens that their worth is not tied to an admissions decision but to the relationships and experiences that have shaped them.
The Role Parents Can Play
Parents cannot control which colleges send an acceptance, but they can create the atmosphere at home. The tone parents set often matters more than they realize. When the message is that worth is tied to rankings or admit rates, stress multiplies. When the message is that growth, kindness, and gratitude matter most, teens feel steadier and more supported.
Thanksgiving offers a natural opportunity to reinforce this healthier message. Families gathered around the table can use the moment to pause and reflect together. A simple question can shift the energy in the room. Try asking:
- Who made a difference for you this semester?
- What experience are you most thankful for right now?
- How can we express gratitude to the people who have supported us?
- What have you learned recently that you feel grateful for?
- What small win deserves to be celebrated this week?
These conversations may sound simple, but they carry weight. They remind teens that the process is not only about where they may end up, but about the people and experiences shaping them along the way. For parents, it is a chance to step back from competition and instead highlight connection, values, and perspective. Gratitude creates an atmosphere where teens know they are loved for who they are, not for the outcome of an admissions decision.