Chapter 4 Making Good Decisions: A Focus on Academic, Financial, Career and Stress Management Decisions

Questions to Consider What are the steps involved in effective decision making? How can you practice good decision making with your study choices? Is it important to study in a quiet environment? Does working while attending college positively or negatively impact school performance? How does it impact your family and involvement in clubs?

Questions to Consider How can financial decisions you make today affect you later? Is it important to decide on a major during your first year of college? Why or why not? How can you decide on a career path? Will your Facebook account impact your career opportunities? If so, how? What stress management techniques really work?

Research Question: Does employment affect student success? Kulm and Cramer (2006) Research Question: Does employment affect student success? iQoncept/Shutterstock.com

The Study 500 college students completed survey on: Employment Related factors (social interactions, family relationships) Study time, GPA, Attendance, Socializing, Family

The Findings Working many hours was connected to less study time and lower GPA Working many hours was connected to less campus activity involvement and socializing Working did not seem to impact attendance or family relationships

The So What Factor Working too much can negatively impact academic performance Working too much can also negatively impact your social and campus life Look at how many hours you REALLY need to work and whether working will help you achieve your goals

The Decision Making Process See Figure 4.1 in Chapter 4 of Student Success in College: Doing What Works!

Step 1: Keep your goal visible What do you want? How will this decision impact the likelihood of achieving your goal? iQoncept/Shutterstock.com

Step 2: Gather relevant information See Gathering Information: What to Consider in Chapter 4 of Student Success in College: Doing What Works!

Step 3: Creatively identify and explore lots of possible options Be open and flexible Avoid judging options at this step Consider seeking ideas from others

Step 4: Evaluate options Keep goal visible Pros and cons Consider future consequences and impact on others Seek input from others iQoncept/Shutterstock.com

Step 5: Decide and take action Trust the process and act on your decision

Step 6: Assess whether your choice supported your goal and was effective Did your choice move you closer to or farther from your goal? Set a date to assess your choice

The Impact of Your Decisions on Others Some cultures place greater value on group versus individual (collectivist) Your decisions can have a personal impact on others Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock.com

Study choices: What decisions do you have to make? Studying in an environment with distracters (music, TV, friends) connected to lower grades (Gurung, 2005) Diego Cervo/Shutterstock.com

Work and Money Management Some research shows connection between work and poorer academic performance (Lammers et al., 2001) Some research shows that students working 10-19 hours per week performed the best (Dundes & Marx, 2006) Solvod/Shutterstock.com

Money Management Making impulsive financial decisions can be problematic because of the emotion-logic connection See Figure 4.2 in Chapter 4 of Student Success in College: Doing What Works!

Credit cards See Table 4.3 in Chapter 4 of Student Success in College: Doing What Works!

Loans Subsidized Unsubsidized Do not accrue interest while you are a student The amount you borrowed is the amount you owe at the time you have to start re-paying the loan Unsubsidized Starts to accrue interest as soon as you take out the loan The amount you owe will be more than the amount you borrowed at the time you have to start re-paying the loan

Career Decision Making: Knowing Yourself Interests Abilities Values

Saving for the future Saving now will pay off later $10 a month for 40 years at average return rate of 5% can result in $15,000! Dave Allen Photography

Values- What Matters to You? Flexible hours Salary Structured environment 9-5 Schedule

Holland’s Career Theory Focused on interests Person-environment fit See Figure 4.3 in Chapter 4 of Student Success in College: Doing What Works!

Finding Career Information Websites Occupational Outlook Handbook Career One Stop O-NET Ferguson’s Career Guidance Center Information Interviews Interview someone in the field Great for rich information Be careful about relying on information from only one person Great for networking!

Krumboltz: Taking Action Many enter careers because of “happenstance”- it was not planned Take Action Steps Talk to others about careers Take different courses Seek out internship opportunities

Your Actions Today and How They May Impact You Later Make good impressions and decisions today Information posted electronically is never completely deleted 1000 Words/Shutterstock.com

Bohnert & Ross (2010) The influence of social networking web sites on the evaluation of job candidates.

Perceptions, Offer interview, Salary The Study 148 undergraduate students made hiring decisions about hypothetical job candidates Alcohol emphasis Family focus Professional focus No Facebook page Perceptions, Offer interview, Salary

The Findings Applicants with higher qualifications perceived more positively. Applicants with professional focus were more likely to be perceived as more conscientious, be offered an interview, and have higher starting salary than those with alcohol focus.

The So What Factor! Your actions today may matter tomorrow Professional image is linked to more positive outcomes Be careful what you post on the internet

Stress Management Techniques Eat healthy Exercise Get enough sleep AP Photo/Bradley C Bower

Stress Management Techniques Relaxation techniques Deep breathing Muscle relaxation Challenge negative thinking How do you know? What evidence exists? What are the other possible outcomes? Talk with friends, family, or professionals

Avoiding Unhealthy Behaviors: Substance Abuse Addiction is a gradual process All college students do NOT drink alcohol in large amounts Alcohol use is associated with increase in: Casual sex Unprotected sex Regret about sexual activities NitroCephal/Shutterstock.com

Accessing Help for Substance Abuse See Table 4.6 in Chapter 4 of Student Success in College: Doing What Works!