One of the most common forces shaping the decision-making of our students comes from their parents or guardians. To be sure, parents are an essential factor in explaining the preparation of their children for the rigors of Carleton; they teach the habits of mind and values that make our students the thoughtful people they are. But too much of a good thing can be bad. If this subject has emerged in your conversations with advisees or you suspect that external pressure from home may be having an untoward effect on the decision-making of your charges, take a look at some of the advice offered here. This is an especially important subject to cover with students who are the first in their households to go to college. Academic advisers and course professors are most often the best sources of information for these students.