Be a satisficer, not a maximizer

The Paradox of Choice by Barry Schwartz argues that in many arenas, greater choice leads, ironically, to greater unhappiness. For a helpful summary of his ideas, check out this post from Gretchen Rubin's fabulous Happiness Project blog. As she writes, "Satisficers are those who make a decision or take action once their criteria are met. That doesn’t mean they’ll settle for mediocrity; their criteria can be very high; but as soon as they find the car, the hotel, or the pasta sauce that has the qualities they want, they’re satisfied. Maximizers want to make the optimal decision. So even if they see a bicycle or a photographer that would seem to meet their requirements, they can’t make a decision until after they’ve examined every option, so they know they’re making the best possible choice."

One can imagine all the painful experiences being a maximizer might bring in the college process. To think in positive terms, however, how might one be a satisficer when seeking out the right college? Some ideas:

1. Allow yourself to make the initial choices (big/small, rural/suburban/urban, etc.) with a moderate amount of evidence.
2. Embrace the idea that there is not just one perfect college for you.
3. Only complete as many applications as you can without sacrificing their quality or the quality of your life.
4. Find the positive in all the colleges to which you apply, whether it is harder or easier to gain admission to them.
5. When not actively taking tests, researching colleges, or applying, spend time thinking about all the other fun and rewarding parts of your life.
6. Recognize what an incredible privilege college attendance is.