Question

List as many of the costs and benefits of each decision below as you can. It's natural for some decisions to have more costs or benefits than others, so don't worry about having equal-sized lists. As you answer these questions, keep in mind that cost includes many factors such as money, time, effort, and sacrifices. Also remember that both costs and benefits are subjective, so a cost to you might actually be a benefit to someone else and vice versa.1. Completing these questions instead of doing something else2. Getting a job after high school instead of going to college3. Going straight from high school into college

Answer 1

1. Completing these questions instead of doing something else

Benefits:

Getting a good grade.

Getting a dopamine rush from completing a task.

Learning a few more things about the topic.

Learning a few more things about yourself.

Costs:

Time spent doing the task.

Brainpower (calories) used to complete the task.

Not doing something else, either more enjoyable for you, or more productive (opportunity cost).

2. Getting a job after high school instead of going to college

Benefits:

obtaning income immediately after graduating

Perhaps being able to become independent from your parents

getting work experience

Perhaps starting a career in some industry

Costs:

The average college-graduate earns more than the non-college graduate, so getting a job instead of going to college may represent a huge opportunity cost in terms of income later on

Losing the opportunity of engaging in academic life

Losting the opportunity of getting high skilled jobs in the future (most of them require college degrees).

3. Going straight from high school into college

Beneftis

Engaging in academic and social life in a new setting

Learning many new things that perhaps otherwise would not be learnt

Having the opportunity to meet good professors and classmates

Costs

You will likely be unable to hold a full time job

Giving up on the opportunity to earn an income, get job experience

Probably going into debt