| Step | Example 1 | Example 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Identify the decision to be made | I need to select a major. | My mom is sick in another country. Should I leave school to take care of her, or should I continue my studies? |
| Know yourself | I love history, art, music, and literature, but I’m not an artist or a musician. I enjoy interacting with people. I value family, so I don’t want to work sixty hours a week. I may want to work in an art museum or possibly in arts management. | I value my family and my education. I’m the oldest of three, so my mom relies on me a lot. I’m also the first in my family to go to college, which is a point of pride for my loved ones. I’m torn between these responsibilities. |
| Identify your options | I’m considering a major in art history, finance, business, or psychology. Taking various electives is also an option. | I called my brother back home and discussed options: Take a year off from school to help Mom; stay in school and my brother will care for Mom; move Mom to a medical facility near home; or hire a visiting nurse to care for Mom twice a day. |
| Gather information about each option | I’ll learn more by meeting with my academic adviser, visiting the career center library, and interviewing recent graduates who are working in museums and the entertainment industry. | I’ll research the answers to some key questions: If I take time off from school, when do I have to come back? Could I keep all my credits? How much would care in a medical facility cost? |
| Evaluate your options | The information I gathered suggests that art history and business could prepare me for jobs in the arts. But with both majors, I’ll have to study aspects of art that don’t interest me and take two accounting courses. | Taking a year off from school would make things tough for me. My brother works full-time to support our family, so it will be hard for him to care for Mom. Mom loves her home, so it would be difficult for her to move to a medical facility. Hiring a visiting nurse would let me stay in school and ensure regular care for Mom. It’s pricey, though, and two visits a day may not be enough. |
| Select the best option | I’ll major in art history but take electives in business and management. | Balancing all these factors, we’ll have a nurse visit Mom twice a day. |
| Develop and implement an action plan | I’ll declare my major and meet with my new art history academic adviser to create a course plan. | My brother lives near Mom, so he’ll interview nurse candidates. My brother and I will split the costs. We’ll both ask several of Mom’s friends to check in on her at least once a day. |
| Evaluate the outcomes of your decision | I’ve taken courses in my major for one term and I like them, but my gut tells me that declaring a business major will give me the most options after graduation. I’ll need to do more career research before I’m comfortable with my decision. | This arrangement has worked out well. Mom’s nurse and friends check in on her during the day, and my brother comes by after work whenever he can. I’m doing well in school, but I really miss Mom — I can’t wait to visit her during the next school break. |