When I’m exploring options for higher education, help me to access college comparison tools or attend virtual campus tours, so that I can make an informed decision about the best-fit college for my goals.
Liam, a curious and motivated 16-year-old, spent his evenings researching colleges online. He explored websites, read articles, and watched videos about different universities, hoping to find the perfect fit for his higher education. However, as he delved deeper into his research, he began feeling overwhelmed by the multitude of options available—leaving him in a state of confusion. His friends all had decided on the schools they would apply to. Liam considered himself organized and able to complete the tasks. However, he was now doubting himself and each day getting progressively more stressed.
In this moment of uncertainty, Liam’s brain activity surged, particularly in areas linked to decision-making. He was used to using his habitual activities to complete tasks. But he had never chosen schools to apply to before. He also realized that there was so many things to consider that it was becoming overwhelming. The areas of his brain that responded to this complexity brought to awareness he needed to get help.
Sensing his struggle, Liam’s older sibling, who had gone through a similar experience, stepped in to provide guidance.
Liam’s sibling initiated Step 1 of the Pathway, encouraging Liam to consider what truly mattered to him when it came to his college education. Liam began asking himself questions—What are my long-term goals? What kind of campus environment do I thrive in?—bringing clarity to his motivations and priorities.
Liam proceeded to Step 2, researching college comparison tools and attending virtual campus tours. Upon recognizing the need to streamline his search, he sought out firsthand experiences, linking his outcome to the rewards of finding a college that aligned with his aspirations. He realized that selecting the right school would be critical to his long term goals of going to med school. He knew he could count on his brother to help along the way.
But he and his brother were very different. In Step 3 involved developing outcome statements that reflected what progress meant to him. Liam determined to create a shortlist of colleges within the next two months—a feasible and focused approach considering the available resources, setting a time frame for decision-making.
But in Step 4, where Liam needed to select what mattered most, he found himself conflicted. The array of factors to consider made it challenging to prioritize. Sensing his distress, his sibling helped him navigate through the trade-offs. They discussed Liam’s interests, career aspirations, and the opportunities each college presented.
With a clearer understanding, Liam moved forward to Step 5—committing to his shortlisted colleges. He organized campus visit schedules, virtual interviews, and application deadlines in a calendar—Step 6—mapping out his plan systematically.
Taking action in Step 7, Liam attended virtual tours and interviews, absorbing the atmosphere and culture of each college. Step 8 brought him to evaluate the impact—revisiting his outcome statement, he analyzed how each college measured against his original criteria.
Here, Liam felt stuck, unsure if he should modify his selection criteria or if his priorities had shifted. His sibling gently reminded him of the initial goals—Step 9—helping Liam recalibrate his approach.
Eventually, Liam arrived at his optimal outcome—a selection of colleges that matched his aspirations. He shared his journey with friends and younger peers, advocating for the importance of a thoughtful decision-making process when exploring higher education options—Step 10.
Liam’s final choice of college became a benchmark, measured against the initial confusion and uncertainty he experienced when navigating the vast landscape of higher education options.