Some of you may find the above assessment process too quantitative for what you perceive to be a qualitative situation. Well, we have another approach for you. Create the list of criteria that are relevant to you, and assign pros and cons to each element, as shown in Table 2C. Then make a qualitative judgment for your decision.
Table 2C. An Illustrative Example for Qualitative Assessment for Whether You Should Study in America or Canada
|
Decision Criteria Element
|
Pros
|
Cons
|
|
Cost of Education
|
High but low to none if I secure full financial assistance
|
Unacceptable without full financial assistance
|
|
Financial Benefits
|
Extremely high if I stay in America or Canada, and
high if I return to India
|
|
|
Quality of Education
|
Universally well regarded
|
|
|
Fit with Goals, Ambitions and Interests
|
Very high because I really want to go to America or Canada
|
May not be able to attend the best school possible, because of the need for financial assistance
|
|
Potential risks
|
Low even if I return to India
|
No risk if I get to live in America or Canada
|
|
Personal Enrichment
|
Exciting and fulfilling
|
|
|
Leaving Family
|
|
Painful, especially because I won’t be able to see them for a couple of years
|
|
Love of Motherland
|
|
Feels like I am turning my back to the country I truly love
|
|
Additional Responsibilities of Cooking, Cleaning, Laundry, and so on
|
|
Who needs this? This will be a pain
|
|
Net
|
Extremely desirable
|
I can deal with these
|
As you can see, you can make a systematic decision using objective criteria, regardless of whether the assessment is quantitative or qualitative. We recognize that most of you would not bother with such detailed analysis, and would instead instinctively decide that you should go. The power of the myth – the riches to be acquired by studying in America or Canada – is very strong. We hope that the preceding discussion at least helps you either confirm or deny your belief in the myth.
