10 steps to choosing a course you are truly interested in
Choosing a university course is a big decision. Although some people seem confident they know what they want to do, it's okay to be unsure about what your chosen career path will be. With a little research and introspection you can choose a course that will make you happy. Decide what interests you.
List the fields of study that interest you, and come up with a list of courses you would consider studying based on these interests. Add the topics that you were most interested in during school as well as jobs that you envied others for. Do your research.
Because the secret to happiness is being able to love whatever it is you do in life. And what does this all have to do with choosing the right course for you? It all starts here. Find the right course, at the right university or college, and you will be inspired to succeed. So how do you make the right choice?
Top 7 Tips to Help You Choose Your Field 1 Eliminate options slowly. ... 2 Cross out options. ... 3 Find the right academic adviser. ... 4 Ask for advice. ... 5 Gain experience in different fields. ... 6 Find creative ways of learning about different majors/paths. ... 7 Consider your emotions throughout the process. ...
You are going to have to study it for three to four years so if the idea of learning about marine biology doesn’t sound too appealing now, chances are it won’t be too fun three years down the line either.
It is possible you have never studied the subject before – you might not have even heard of it until recently – but that doesn’t mean it is off limits to you by any means.
There are over 20,000 courses at over 400 universities, hence choosing a course of study can be a challenge! So that you know what to look out for, we will provide you with information on how to choose a course of study with the 5-steps plan.
The rough roadmap for choosing a degree consists of five steps. These need to be carefully considered, after all, you are deciding for the next few years. It is best to start a year in advance of your studies and proceed systematically:
What are you particularly good at, what do you like less? For example, you can use this test to determine your strengths. The answers to the following questions can provide further clues:
The next step is to choose a course of study. To do this, first, compare the results from your strengths and weaknesses analysis with the fields of study. This is roughly the area you want to get into. Which fields of study are there? Some of the popular courses of study fall under the following categories:
For yourself, you need to clarify the following points about content, requirements, and framework conditions:
You have now done the lion’s share of the work. Now it is a matter of deciding with the information obtained. To do this, you should consider possible alternatives and compare study locations with one another.
Once you have made your choice, of course, you need to apply for a place. Application and enrolment at the university depend on the field of study. Subjects with restricted admission have a different application deadline than those that are not restricted.
Bachelor degrees usually last either three or four years if studied full-time (although some courses are longer). You can concentrate on a single subject, combine two subjects in a single course (often called dual or joint honours courses), or choose several subjects (combined honours).
Blended learning combines face-to-face sessions with online learning, giving a good mix of learning from the experts and teaching yourself, with course materials available online.
UK degree courses tend to be very specialised from day one, allowing students to focus on their chosen subject. However, there are others that allow you more flexibility in what you study. Make sure you read the course descriptions carefully, and click through to university websites for further information.
Foundation degrees are usually two-year courses (longer if part-time), that are equivalent to the first two years of an undergraduate degree. They are not the same as a foundation year. These can be a good destination for school leavers at 18, as they offer a qualification that can help gain degree entry.
You will find some distance and blended courses advertised in the UCAS search tool and some on university or college websites. UCAS does not provide a central admissions service for distance or blended learning – you will need to apply directly to the university or college to be considered for the programme.
Those on the medical side can expect to take classes in topics such as human physiology, pharmacology, biology and anatomy, while those in the administrative side take classes such as medical terminology, ethics of health care and understanding the billing procedure with insurance companies.
Carroll: Many people are very content in careers that have indirect ties to their actual college majors, because many employers look for soft skills like creativity, excellent communication, and leadership qualities, and not specific college majors. You learn something from every experience you have, and if the profession you are in is not fulfilling, there are always skills you can transfer to another career path. Also, there is always the option of returning to school to earn a certificate in another field, or taking prerequisite courses to enter graduate school for a different profession.
Psychology: Bachelor’s programs in psychology provide degree seekers with an overarching understanding of the many different branches and subdisciplines of the field. While programs at this level do not typically allow for specialization, students get a good sense of different methodologies and frameworks.
Roles for graduates of bachelor’s programs include computer network architects, computer programmers, computer systems analysts, database administrators, information security analysts and software developers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, all of these positions are set to grow in the coming years.
To practice psychology, individuals must at minimum possess master’s degrees, although most call for a doctoral diploma. Individuals who want to use their four-year degrees typically find roles as researchers, case managers, sales directors, training managers, psychiatric technicians or school counselors.
Visual and performing arts degree classes tend to offer little overlap outside of general education requirements. Upon completing their degrees, graduates go on to work as artists, business owners, traveling performers, musicians, educators and technicians.
According to a study by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, only 27 percent of college graduates work in fields related to their majors. With so many bachelor’s degrees available to students, finding the perfect fit can feel extremely overwhelming — especially if you don’t already possess a clear idea of what you want to do professionally.