Build a university decision matrix for a daughter choosing between four schools, using Grok for data

Posted

Mar 6, 2025 by Mark Zolna (LinkedIn)

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Last checked

Oct 17, 2026

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Method:

How we verify

Evidence: Described by posterThe person describes what happened in words, without screenshots or video.

Outcome

A parent built a one-page decision matrix to help his daughter choose between the four universities that accepted her, using Grok as the data source and factoring in Florida's Bright Futures scholarships. He shared it so she could adjust the scoring and add criteria herself.

Agent

Grok

The source didn't share its exact prompt, so we wrote this from what it describes.

Let's work this out together. I'll tell you what I know, you suggest options and ask what you need, and we'll narrow it down step by step. Nothing gets booked, bought or sent until I say so.

Goal: Let's build a one-page decision matrix to compare the schools my child got into.

What I'll share as we go:
- The schools
- What matters to my child (cost, programs, location, size, etc.)
- Scholarships or aid offered

Rules:
- Gather data for each school from official sources and cite them.
- Use clear weights my child can change.
- Show net cost after scholarships separately from rankings.
- Keep it to one page.
- If a site asks for a login, a CAPTCHA or payment details, stop and hand control back to me.
- Ask for my OK before you pay, book, send, submit or cancel anything.
- Check facts that can change (prices, opening hours, dates, availability, rules) against the official source, and tell me anything you couldn't verify.

Output: A weighted comparison table with sources and an editable scoring column.

You'll know it worked when: my child can change the weights and see which school comes out ahead.

Let's work this out together. I'll tell you what I know, you suggest options and ask what you need, and we'll narrow it down step by step. Nothing gets booked, bought or sent until I say so.

Goal: Let's build a one-page decision matrix to compare the schools my child got into.

What I'll share as we go:
- The schools
- What matters to my child (cost, programs, location, size, etc.)
- Scholarships or aid offered

Rules:
- Gather data for each school from official sources and cite them.
- Use clear weights my child can change.
- Show net cost after scholarships separately from rankings.
- Keep it to one page.
- If a site asks for a login, a CAPTCHA or payment details, stop and hand control back to me.
- Ask for my OK before you pay, book, send, submit or cancel anything.
- Check facts that can change (prices, opening hours, dates, availability, rules) against the official source, and tell me anything you couldn't verify.
- Confirm aid and scholarship amounts with each school's financial aid office.

Output: A weighted comparison table with sources and an editable scoring column.

You'll know it worked when: my child can change the weights and see which school comes out ahead.

Before you finish: re-read my goal and constraints, check your answer against each one, and list anything you assumed or couldn't confirm.

Source

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/markzolna_my-daughters-university-choice-decision-activity-7303423775834845184-3x7x