Sample TOEFL Imaginary Situation Essay – Making Decisions Alone

The Question:

Imagine that you must make an important decision that will have a major impact on the rest of your life. You could make the decision entirely on your own, or ask someone to help you make it.  Which would you choose? Use specific reasons and examples to support your choice.

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The Sample TOEFL Essay:

          ​The choices we make today can have a profound impact on our lives. Personally, if I had to make an important decision about my future I would ask someone for assistance. I feel this way for two reasons, which I will explore in the following essay.

          ​First of all, there is always someone close to us that has been in a related situation. By consulting someone who has made a similar decision in the past, we can more carefully weigh our options. My personal experience is a compelling example of this. When I graduated from high school five years ago I was forced to choose between enrolling in either a trade school or a university. I knew that a trade school would lead to more reliable employment in the future, but I also knew that a university would provide a more stimulating intellectual environment. I did not think that my old-fashioned and practical-minded parents had struggled with the same dilemma in their youth, but when I talked it out with my father I found out that despite his conservative nature he had considered studying the liberal arts. As we talked about his motivations, and some of the regrets associated with his ultimate choice, I was able to more fully consider all of my own options.  

          ​Secondly, when we make decisions alone, we are more likely to make rash and impulsive moves. Talking about a problem with another person takes time, and thus our decision making process is slowed down. For example, when I decided to buy a new car last year I made purchase the very same day that the idea popped into my head. It seemed like a wonderful idea at the time because gas prices were low and there was plenty of parking available on campus. However, when I told one of my classmates about my purchase she reminded me that gas prices always shoot up when we least expect them to, and that parking was only easy to find at that time because it was summer vacation and many students were away. Had I talked about these issues before buying the car, I might have reconsidered whether or not it was a wise idea.

          ​In conclusion, I strongly believe that it is never a smart idea to make decisions without first talking to someone about them. This is because there is always someone in our life who has had to deal with a similar scenario, and because talking about issues prevents us from acting impulsively. 

Note

This sample essay follows our TOEFL writing templates for independent essays.  If you find it useful, please remember that we have many more sample essays for you to read!