Being swayed by popular opinion

[mc719]

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OK, so I keep finding myself pouring over these forums and being swayed back and forth between different deciding factors regarding my dental education. Then, I go and speak with my friends, family and dental mentors, and by the time I'm don't my head is spinning. It is too easy to be swayed by popular ideas like the whole "cheapest=best no matter what" idea that I brought up in a previous thread. I'm starting to think it is best just to step back from everything for a few days while making this decision. Most of the bad decisions I have made have been based on bad advice that I was 100% convinced of. It is easy to be 100% persuaded to one side of another of an issue without even knowing that I've been persuaded. I personally only want to be influenced by myself when it comes time to truly make this decision. Everyone has ulterior motives, your parents want you to stay close to home or not go into the military, other sdn'rs want you to give up seats at their top choice schools, grandparents want to have bragging rights, and mentors have a certain school pride bias. If there is a time to be selfish, this is it.
Anyone else see themselves being completely swayed from one side of an issue to another just because it is the "popular" idea on SDN?

 

[Awhy]

Don't let a bunch of anonymous posts sway what you want to do. You could be taking advice from someone who wants your spot, at your number 1 school, and be persuaded to go somewhere else. + most people on here are even in d school yet..............

 

[ViviPreDent]

OK, so I keep finding myself pouring over these forums and being swayed back and forth between different deciding factors regarding my dental education. Then, I go and speak with my friends, family and dental mentors, and by the time I'm don't my head is spinning. It is too easy to be swayed by popular ideas like the whole "cheapest=best no matter what" idea that I brought up in a previous thread. I'm starting to think it is best just to step back from everything for a few days while making this decision. Most of the bad decisions I have made have been based on bad advice that I was 100% convinced of. It is easy to be 100% persuaded to one side of another of an issue without even knowing that I've been persuaded. I personally only want to be influenced by myself when it comes time to truly make this decision. Everyone has ulterior motives, your parents want you to stay close to home or not go into the military, other sdn'rs want you to give up seats at their top choice schools, grandparents want to have bragging rights, and mentors have a certain school pride bias. If there is a time to be selfish, this is it.
Anyone else see themselves being completely swayed from one side of an issue to another just because it is the "popular" idea on SDN?

nope. you gotta do you bud. at the end of the day you won't be answering to anyone on this forum, your parents, mentors or grandparents. (but esp anyone on this forum). do what feels right for you.

 

[futuredoc1004]

You alone live with and are responsible/accountable to yourself for each decision. Make your own autonomous decisions. Every decision I made with respect to my academics was my own.

 

[LaFleur]

You alone live with and are responsible/accountable to yourself for each decision. Make your own autonomous decisions. Every decision I made with respect to my academics was my own.

Exactly.

I don't understand why you'd let other people influence your decisions. Especially people who don't have an impact on your life at all.

I'm sure most people who actually post regularly on this forum have honorable intentions, and there's nothing wrong with listening to their opinions, but at the end of the day it boils down to what you want to do and the decisions that you want to make for yourself. No one else can tell you what's best for you. Simple as that.