It was a rather mundane Wednesday morning when I picked up the phone. After the typical greeting to a potential client, the voice assertively explained to me that he was “Mr. Highly Selective University Alum” and was looking for someone to help his daughter, a rising senior, get into his alma mater. I listened attentively, asked many questions, and explained that I work with students very closely to ultimately create a diversified targeted college list, which benefits the students, as it provides them with options characterized by various degrees of selectivity.

I have been blessed with many rewarding academic advising and teaching experiences since coming to the US. Although I only officially learned about “shopping week” during my time as Associate Dean of Academic Advising at Harvard, I embraced this concept on my own as an undergraduate student with tremendous success. During the “shopping” window, students can sample various courses for one or two weeks at the very beginning of each term (depending on the institution’s drop/add period) to determine which courses best fit with their academic interests and learning styles. Furthermore, students can determine how the work for each course can be managed to achieve a balanced life.

I have spent a great deal of my summer advising high school and graduate students, former students of mine, and friends on their decision making. While I enjoy helping others think of the impact a given choice could have in their lives, both short and possibly long term, I have been struck by how difficult it seems to trust oneself and ultimately life (or a higher power) with the notion that things will work out. Thus, I cannot help but wonder, is it so difficult to decide because there are too many options in front of us? Are people too afraid? Or is it simply that all of us have turned into control freaks? Because, for the most part, many of us are going to be presented with alternatives in everyday life, one of the biggest skills we can pass on to future generations is the ability to make decisions.

You had been checking your email messages non-stop for the past two weeks, hoping to get the news you had been waiting for since submitting your application: getting into your dream college or program.  Your heart was pumping when you received the email or text, and suddenly, you realized that instead of an acceptance, you have been offered a spot on the wait list.  Disappointment filters through the air, you are mad and frustrated.  After all that work, and you still might have to wait some more?  What can you do? 

It is that time of the year when we are ready for a break after the first half of the term is underway.  Some will head to sunny destinations, others will spend time with family and friends, and others will go on service trips.  Regardless of what you do during your time off, it is important to spend some time taking stock of what has worked well during the first seven weeks of your term and what hasn’t.