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The following check points could be useful in the decision making process -
- What change are you contemplating?
- List the reasons
- Identify possible options (including the option of not making a change)
- Research the options and list the positive and negative consequence of each
- Evaluate the options
- Discuss your tentative thoughts with significant people
- Make a decision
- Take the appropriate action
- Review your choice after some time
These checkpoints can be visited in any order and at any time in the process of thinking about a possible change. Below are some examples for you to work through.
- What change are you contemplating?
- withdrawing from the course
- changing majors
- changing from Teaching to.......
- What are the reasons
- It's not what I thought it was
- I am finding it too stressful
- I would now like to be a ….
- What are the possible options
- stay
- change now
- delay the change
- What are the positive and negative consequences for each option?
Option 1 |
Positive |
Negative |
Stay where I am
|
Could pass some units and cross credit them (maybe as electives) in a different course |
Will fail some units |
Option 2 |
Positive |
Negative |
Withdraw by 31 March
|
Can recoup HECs |
Too late to start a new course |
Option 3 |
Positive |
Negative |
Delay decision until 5 May
|
Can still withdraw without academic penalty |
HECs is already paid |
- OR Example: Changing Jobs
Option 1 |
Positive |
Negative |
Stay where I am |
The job is OK |
It's too stressful |
Option 2 |
Positive |
Negative |
Change jobs
|
It would provide a new and exciting challenge |
It may take some time to look |
Option 3 |
Positive |
Negative |
Do further study in another area |
I would develop different skills |
It will take more time and money |
- Consider the information and evaluate it
- which is the most important reason(s) to you
- what is your gut reaction to the statements
- I can afford to pay HECS for one semester so …
- my lifestyle balance is important to me so…
- Discuss these thoughts and feelings with
- your lecturer/tutor
- friends
- parents
- career counsellor
- Make a decision
- I will stay in the course for at least 5 more weeks
- I will leave at the end of the semester
- I will resign
- I will stay and get some help
- Plan out a course of action
- go to the Student Centre to find the exact date for withdrawal without penalty
- get help with a study plan
- get my resume up to date
- Review the decision and progress
- one week before the next major date
- in one month's time
- at the end of the semester/year
Now you have seen this example you could work through one of your own.
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