Austin or Boston?

I have had to make many difficult decisions in my life, including deciding where to go to college. This decision-making process involved cognitive dissonance, or the idea that when our behaviors and our beliefs are inconsistent, we feel uncomfortable and are driven to reduce the dissonance, usually by changing our beliefs (Festinger, 1957). This theory applies to making decisions because people try to reduce any dissonance they feel about the choice they made, especially when the alternatives were equally attractive. That is, they tend to overemphasize the positives about their choice and the negatives about their non-choice in order to reduce any tension or anxiety they feel about their decision. People want to make themselves feel confident that their choice was the right one and eliminate any dissonance between their choice and their feelings about it (Brehm, 1956).

This cognitive dissonance that leads people to justify difficult decisions definitely applies to my college decision-making process. My first choice was Dartmouth, because it was such a great school and I could have played on their golf team. The golf coach pretty much told me that he could get me in, but apparently he didn't pull the right strings and I got rejected. However, I realized afterward that I didn't like the school itself any more than any other school--it was just because it was Dartmouth, such a prestigious school, that I decided I wanted to go there. I actually convinced myself afterward that I wouldn't have liked it anyway because it is out in the middle of nowhere in New Hampshire, and I would be bored and freezing the whole time.

After my rejection to Dartmouth, I was deciding between Southwestern and Boston University. I went to visit BU and I looooved the city. I love being in cities in general, and Boston was an especially great one. On the other hand, Southwestern was such a great choice because it was closer to home, smaller, and liberal arts--a great fit for me. I had such a hard time deciding--both choices had such great things about them that attracted me. I thought about it until I absolutely had to decide. I ultimately chose Southwestern (obviously) because I thought it was the safe choice--close to home and small, which was perfect for my first time away from home. When I think back on it, I think I made the right choice. I think about the positives of Southwestern--I have made great friends here and am involved in great organizations that I couldn't have otherwise been a part of, and I love the small school atmosphere. On the other hand, if I had chosen BU, I wouldn't have been able to go home as often and it would have been hard to move my stuff back and forth. And I can always move to the city after graduation!


Brehm, J.W. (1956). Post-decision changes in desirability of alternatives. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 52, 384-389.

Festinger, L. (1957). A theory of cognitive dissonance. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.