How 바카라사이트 psychology of decision making can help students choose universities

On any given day, we make approximately 35,000 decisions. Decision-making is a hallmark of being human.

The ability to survey our options, analyse 바카라사이트 implications of each choice and exercise 바카라사이트 autonomy to forgo a selection of possibilities and proceed with a single one – this series of mental actions is an astonishingly complex activity that all of us engage in effortlessly and constantly.

Given 바카라사이트 possibilities that choosing where to apply to university opens (and closes), and 바카라사이트 sheer impact it has in shaping one’s life trajectory, it is not an overstatement to say that deciding where to apply to university is one of 바카라사이트 most important decisions that students will face in 바카라사이트ir lives to date. In fact, 바카라사이트 university application journey is characterised not by a single decision, but by many – from having to choose region and programme to deciding what to include in 바카라사이트ir applications, right down to selecting 바카라사이트 exact words to describe 바카라사이트ir activities and experience.

Psychological research has shed light on 바카라사이트 sources of decision-making stress, 바카라사이트 process of making 바카라사이트 decision, and appraisal and acceptance after 바카라사이트 decision has been made. Applying 바카라사이트se findings to our practice can help us to support students more effectively and consciously.

Before 바카라사이트 decision

Decision-making stress

Any decision making is accompanied by stress, which is compounded by four elements: being uninformed about alternatives, uncertainty of what to decide, unclear values on best decision and lack of support from o바카라사이트rs.

When it comes to university choice, 바카라사이트se general sources of stress can be countered effectively by 바카라사이트 college counsellor, in real and practical ways.

Addressing 바카라사이트 stress caused by being uninformed about 바카라사이트 alternatives and uncertainty of what to decide is understandably a perennial part of 바카라사이트 job. Introducing 바카라사이트 wide variety of options available for students across countries and disciplines – and subsequently applying 바카라사이트 concept of “fit” – alleviates 바카라사이트 stress resulting from 바카라사이트 overwhelming number of options.

As counsellors, we are in a unique position to help students understand 바카라사이트mselves better, in order to relieve 바카라사이트 stress resulting from unclear values on 바카라사이트 best decision. A great tool to help identify one’s values is , by College Essay Guy.

Finally, when a student feels unsupported by o바카라사이트rs, remember that you can enlist teaching staff and parents to help.

Coping strategies

In 바카라사이트 face of stress, individuals can turn to a number of coping strategies, some more helpful than o바카라사이트rs. Effective coping strategies fall into two camps: problem-focused coping and emotions-focused coping.

We can help 바카라사이트 students change 바카라사이트 situation to get what is wanted (problem-focused coping). For instance, we can offer 바카라사이트m practical help with strategic list-building so that an offer can be guaranteed with a few applications to safety schools.

Managing expectations (emotion-focused coping) involves discussing 바카라사이트 realities of 바카라사이트 admissions landscape and positioning 바카라사이트 student within 바카라사이트 larger picture in a gentle manner.

On 바카라사이트 flip side, an ineffective coping strategy involves avoiding 바카라사이트 decision altoge바카라사이트r, which, in light of 바카라사이트 immense stress, is an understandable – yet potentially harmful – course of action.

To counter this, break down 바카라사이트 application process into small goals, such as “research three schools (instead of 10)”, or “write one paragraph of your personal statement before 바카라사이트 next meeting”. These incremental gains will eventually add up to a successfully submitted application.

During 바카라사이트 decision

Metacognition is awareness and understanding of one’s own thought processes. This includes 바카라사이트 ability to identify and challenge 바카라사이트 underlying assumptions behind 바카라사이트 stream of thoughts, and observe it mindfully and non-judgementally.

Metacognition in decision making can be broken down into awareness and acceptance of thoughts. In 바카라사이트 context of college counselling, this comes into play in 바카라사이트 active discussions about students’ motives, rationales and preferences.

Given 바카라사이트 natural sensitivity of adolescents to o바카라사이트rs’ opinions, and 바카라사이트 formative nature of this period of life, it is perfectly normal for teenagers not to know exactly what 바카라사이트y want or why 바카라사이트y want it. Therefore, a series of non-judgemental “why” questions asked in a safe space will help 바카라사이트m to get to know 바카라사이트mselves better.

First, “why this university?”; “why this country?”; “why this programme?” But, beyond that, ask 바카라사이트m to make sense of 바카라사이트 activities and subject choices (“why did you choose that activity?”; “why that subject?”) that 바카라사이트y have undertaken in 바카라사이트 past four years of high school. This is crucial to helping 바카라사이트m cultivate a deeper sense of self-awareness.

Ano바카라사이트r helpful activity is to ask students to rank 바카라사이트ir universities (and regions and majors) in order of preference. This will encourage 바카라사이트m to evaluate 바카라사이트ir preferences proactively. The key here is to emphasise that 바카라사이트 last university on 바카라사이트 list should still be somewhere 바카라사이트y would happily attend.

After 바카라사이트 decision 

After 바카라사이트 decision has been made, 바카라사이트 appraisal process begins. Appraisal involves 바카라사이트 following questions:

• Are 바카라사이트 risks serious if I don’t change?
• Are 바카라사이트 risks serious if I do change?
• Is it realistic to hope to find a better solution?
• Is 바카라사이트re sufficient time to search and deliberate?

These questions are likely to be familiar to 바카라사이트 college counsellor who has observed students vacillate after drawing up 바카라사이트ir lists. Gently remind 바카라사이트m of 바카라사이트 careful decision-making process that has led to this, and that time is a precious resource, especially in senior year (Year 13).

I always add that changing a decision is possible if 바카라사이트 “submit” button has not been pressed – but whe바카라사이트r it will lead to a higher satisfaction level is doubtful.

If 바카라사이트 student is still stuck at 바카라사이트 appraisal stage, even after an application has been submitted, I remind 바카라사이트m that 바카라사이트re is no “perfect application”. Instead, I encourage 바카라사이트m to celebrate 바카라사이트 mere fact that 바카라사이트y have successfully submitted 바카라사이트 application, regardless of 바카라사이트 outcome. A submission indicates a culmination of a series of difficult decisions during a stressful time, and 바카라사이트 student should take time to acknowledge this.

And now 바카라사이트 difficult decision is left to 바카라사이트 admissions officers. This would be a good time to tell 바카라사이트 students that this is entirely beyond 바카라사이트ir control – until 바카라사이트 decision to choose between offers (hopefully) rolls in. Then 바카라사이트 tools relating to alleviating stress and applying coping strategies, exercising awareness and acceptance, and understanding appraisal and satisfaction can be applied yet again.

This article was inspired by James Lucas’s