Information

In this step you search for more information about the alternatives you are considering. You find new information you can add to your "Decision Balance Sheets" -- new facts that support or change the pros and cons you wrote down.

To illustrate with a career-college major decision, one of Lisa's options was school librarian, and she was leaning toward it as her choice. She had read about it in two books and thought she knew quite a bit about it. Even though she felt awkward asking for an interview, she decided to make the extra effort to talk to two school librarians. She was glad she did because she learned a great deal. For example, she discovered that their jobs were far more stressful than she had imagined, like managing the behavior of a class of 25 students in the library. And, at the elementary school level, librarians were expected to teach and supervise classes of students for most periods of the day.

Lisa's experience shows how important it is to actively search for new information, especially for those career or college major options you favor.