How to choose an area of study in university

Can you believe how time flies? Recently my husband and I were contemplating universities for our older daughter. She is trying to choose one that would be a good fit for her. There are so many unanswered questions. Did we prepare our firstborn enough to leave home? How will she adjust to living away from home, new roommates, and classes with so many students? Did we do a good job as parents?  The list goes on and on. Every parent knows that there will come a day when their kids leave home, yet when the time comes, we are unprepared.

College is an interestingly integral time for students. It allows them to develop a sense of identity and belonging while providing a cushion, as mom and dad still provide for their needs. They can “figure out” life and decide on careers and professions they want to pursue. Today we will examine college and steps to ensure our young people succeed by exploring two stories.

Sara is 19 years old, and from she was a tot, Sara knew what she wanted to be when she grew up. She wore her doctor’s uniform whenever she attended Careers Day at school. Throughout the years, her mom knew which uniform to buy for her. She is entering university to fulfill that lifelong goal of becoming the first doctor in her family. She couldn’t be prouder.

Sienna is also 19 years old and still deciding what career path to choose. She is having so much difficulty narrowing down her interests. Now she is freaking out because she needs to choose a major at university, but Sienna does not have a clear sense of direction. What are the options for Sienna, who, like hundreds of university students, need clarification about the best path they should take in their studies?

Try Open Studies

This allows you to do university courses that are transferable across programs. For instance, most universities require 6 credits of first-year English.  In most universities, a single course is usually 3 credits.  As such, 6 credits = 2 courses. Open Studies allow the pursuit of various classes, enabling you to choose an area of study.

Complete Personality Assessments

 If you need help choosing an area of study, consider completing a personality assessment test, such as Strong Inventory, which can recommend different careers based on your responses to assessment questions. This will allow you to narrow down your choices.

Complete a Career Guide

Alis.alberta.ca has a helpful career guide that can assist with narrowing down your interest and passions and how these translate into a career that you like. It looks at your strengths and weaknesses and jobs better suited to your talent.

Consult Family and Friends

Get feedback from those who know you well. Speak to family members and friends who can tell you where your strengths and skills lie. As objective bystanders, they can see where you excel, which are the things you usually take for granted.

Explore your interests and skillsets.

Review your interests to see what you like doing? Explore your hobbies for transferable skills. Explore your skillset – what do you excel at? Do you prefer working alone or within a group? Are you an introvert or an extrovert?

Get a summer or entry-level job.

Get a summer or entry-level job in the area you want to work in. For instance, if you want to be a dental hygienist or dental assistant, try to get a receptionist job in a dental office. This will allow you to gain first-hand experience with what is involved in the work of a dental hygienist.

Do Research

Do online research on different positions and what the job entails. Review job descriptions of various positions that you may be interested in to see what the job entails and if this is something you would be comfortable dedicating the next five to ten years of your life.

In addition to online research, you may attend job fairs and speak to recruiters as they can tell you what is involved in different positions.  Another way to decide on career choices is to volunteer for various places to get a feel of what is involved in a particular role.

Now that we have explored different ways of narrowing down your focus so that you can choose an area of study let’s look at some tips to select the program.

Review Program Offerings

Review the programs offered by your university/college of choice. This will allow you to narrow down your search. It will enable you to select a program in your area of interest.

Decide on an area of study.

This may be a no-brainer for some, but deciding on an area of study will determine how quickly you can complete your studies.  Suppose you keep applying to multiple programs and completing program-specific courses. In that case, you will realize you have started over numerous times. This is because the completed courses are not transferable to another program.

In addition, the area of study will determine the program’s cost. If the student is to keep changing programs, then it directly impacts the program’s cost. Especially if the student is doing courses only applicable to one program.

It is crucial to be sure, especially before taking on student loan debt. You want to spend only some of your life repaying this debt you took on as an 18- or 19-year-old.

If you are working, take advantage of employer-sponsored training. Some employers will pay for employees to attend college. In some cases, the employee needs to pay out of pocket for the course and will be given a refund upon successful completion.

This is a fascinating time to be alive with all the opportunities available.

Know that most people still need to figure out their lives, especially if they do not have any work experience. The minority may know what they want to be when they grow up, but it is a matter of trial and error for the rest of us. The career choice does not determine what you will do for your entire lifetime. Research by US Department of Labour has shown that most people will change their careers five to seven times or more throughout their lifetime.  Remember, your present career doesn’t have to be permanent.  As you mature, your interests, skills, and abilities also change.

Being a teenager or young adult is hard work. What do you want to be when you grow up? Few people ever have it all figured out. Research, explore your interests, take personality tests, and speak to family and friends who may see your skills and abilities. Usually, because it comes naturally to you, it’s no big deal, but it’s a struggle for others.  We have been gifted with different abilities which allow us to fulfill our God-given purpose. Explore these and broaden your experiences to make a more informed decision. I would love to know the steps you took in choosing your current career, please share here.