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Problem Solving in and out of Class

College will give you experience in decision making and problem solving—processes that are linked to your abilities to use logical thinking processes, to weigh evidence, and to formulate conclusions. Your success both in college and in your future life will depend on how well you make decisions and solve problems. Here are some examples of situations commonly encountered in college that will call upon these skills:

Deciding how to allocate your research and writing time when you have two papers due on the same day
Finding a way to ask your roommate to compromise on a suitable lights-out time because you’re not getting the sleep you need
Mapping out how to incorporate time for exercising into your busy schedule in order to maintain a healthy fitness level and avoid weight gain
Deciding whether to go home on the weekends or stay on campus to study and participate in campus events
Understanding the advantages and disadvantages of the variety of readily available information sources, including Facebook, Twitter feeds, CNN, USA Today, The New York Times, the Onion, and your school newspaper.

In addition to these situations, which provide opportunities for you to flex your problem-solving muscles on a more personal level, the college years also represent a time in your life when you get to know yourself. You will begin to develop your own positions on societal and political issues, learn more about what is important to you, and develop into a contributing citizen of your country and also the world.

In college, you’ll be exposed to ideas and often-conflicting opinions about contemporary issues such as same-sex marriage, U.S. military operations, global human rights, animal rights, comprehensive sex education, food safety, the state of public education in the U.S., student loan debt and loan forgiveness, and economic inequality. The list goes on and on. Before accepting any opinion on any issue as “the truth,” look for evidence that supports different positions on these debates. In fact, look for opportunities to participate in such debates. In most colleges, these opportunities abound.