Learn—Maximum Time: 45 Minutes

Read:During the past week, you should have researched more about your training options and spoken with potential education or training providers. In this chapter, you will take the following steps to review what you learned and decide which training option is the best for you.

1. Consider the quality of the school or training program.

2. Consider your ability to get accepted and finish.

3. Consider the cost and value.

4. Choose a school or training program.

5. Update your self-reliance plan.

Discuss:As you have gathered information about your training options, what have you found that matters most to you?

Read:As you consider what school or training program you will pursue, remember the counsel of Elder Dallin H. Oaks about good, better, or best.

Watch:“Good, Better, Best,” available at srs.lds.org/videos. (No video? Read page 93.)

Good, Better, Best

1. Consider the Quality of the School or Training Program

Read:“The Lord wants you to educate your minds and hands, whatever your chosen field. Whether it be repairing refrigerators, or the work of a skilled surgeon, you must train yourselves. Seek for the best schooling available. Become a [worker] of integrity in the world that lies ahead of you” (Gordon B. Hinckley, “A Prophet’s Counsel and Prayer for Youth,” Ensign, Jan. 2001, 7).

One of the most important indicators of the quality of a school or training program is how successful its graduates are at getting their desired jobs.

Juan gathered some helpful information about job placement rates of the certificate programs he is considering. He then made a choice of “good, better, or best.”

Discuss:What do you think of Juan’s ranking?

Activity (5 minutes)

Step 1: Fill in the following table with the information you gathered during the week.

Step 2: Make a choice of good, better, or best.

	option 1	option 2	option 3
How many students were in the program last year?
How many got jobs?
Percent who got jobs
Good, better, or best

2. Consider Your Ability to Get Accepted and Finish

Read:A school may be a good fit for you, but are you a good fit for the school? Schools set standards of who qualifies to enter the program.

Some people get into a school but then drop out. They may drop out because the program is weak or not what they were expecting. They may drop out because it is too difficult. Compare schools to better understand how likely you are to get in and to finish.

Juan used the following information to compare training programs and the likelihood of getting accepted and finishing.

Discuss:What do you think of Juan’s ranking?

Activity (5 minutes)

Step 1: Fill in the following table with the information you gathered during the week.

Step 2: Make a choice of good, better, or best.

	option 1	option 2	option 3
How many people applied to get in?
Percent accepted
How many dropped out?
Percent who dropped out
Good, better, or best

3. Consider the Cost and Value

Read:Different education and training programs have different costs. You will need to determine if you think the cost of the education or training justifies the kind of job you are likely to get. You wouldn’t want to go through an expensive education or training program that won’t likely lead to a good job. You should look for an option that provides you the best value.

Juan used the following information to compare the cost and value of the training options he was considering.

Discuss:What do you think of Juan’s ranking?

Activity (5 minutes)

Step 1: Fill in the following table with the information you gathered during the week.

Step 2: Make a choice of good, better, or best.

	option 1	option 2	option 3
Job placement rate
Average starting wage
Total cost including tuition, books, fees, transportation, and added living expenses
Good, better, or best

Discuss:What are some other things to consider when choosing a school or training program?

4. Choose a School or Training Program

Read:Now that you have evaluated several things, you need to decide which school or training program you think is best for you.

For example, after weighing all of the options and considerations, Juan decided to pursue the welding certificate at the Vocational Institute.

Activity (5 minutes)

Step 1: Consider your rankings of your education or training options on pages 84, 86, and 88.

Step 2: Now choose your overall best option that you will pursue by ranking them “good, better, or best.”

	option 1	option 2	option 3
Good, better, or best

Read:Congratulations! You have chosen the best training for you to become self-reliant. You can now move forward with confidence.

5. Update Your Self-Reliance Plan

Activity (5 minutes)

Update your self-reliance plan as needed and complete the “My Education Plan” section.

My Self-Reliance Goal (chapter 1)

I will

so that I can .

Continued on next page.

My Job Plan (chapters 2 and 3)

I compared these three jobs:

The job I chose for me is because of the following things I learned from employers and others about the job realities in my area:

.

My Education Plan (chapters 4 and 5)

I compared three training options:

The training option I chose is because of cost, quality, placement rate, and other things that are important to me (write the reasons below):

.

It will take (days, weeks, months, years) to complete this training.

Discuss:What are the most important things you learned in today’s group meeting?