If the title of this article resonates with you like a resounding gong, then you are at the right place. Choosing what to study is not as simple as it sounds, especially when it will dictate a huge part of your life’s direction. With so many different courses to choose from, here are 8 simple, yet thought-provoking, questions in hopes that it will bring some clarity to one of life’s biggest quandary!
The easiest way to start is to ask yourself what are the subjects or modules you have completed in your previous education. Focusing on subjects you have learnt previously sets a starting point in which potential choices follow. For example, if you studied sciences, perhaps a course in a similar field would be more suited for you. From there, take it a little further and specify exactly which of the sciences did you study? Biology, Chemistry and Physics are three main components of science that branch out to significantly different industries. So, before you choose a specific course, identify what you know first.
Out of all the subjects that you have learnt, is there one that you are good at? Identifying your strengths put you in a better position to choose the right course for yourself. Keep in mind that the course you are about to take will probably steer your career path and will be the training ground for what you are about to do for the rest of your life. Having a foundation in specific subjects will give you a good head start in excelling the chosen course.
What’s more, if you are good at the subject, it is more likely that you are able to get a letter of recommendation from the teacher who taught you- which will then increase your chances of being enrolled into the desired programme.
One quick trick in making decisions, especially important ones, is by the elimination method. Do you know what is the subject you absolutely detest? If so, take that out of the picture even though you may have studied it before.
The rationale behind this is so that you do not waste time pondering over a subject that you know you will not like, especially when there is, in most cases, a positive correlation between likeability and excellence. This means that if you enjoy a particular craft, you are more likely to be good at it because you are willing to put in the time and effort to practise it and vice versa. Based on your past education experience, if you found that a subject did not interest you or was frustrating and painful to study, then you should uncheck that box and focus on the others. After elimination, you are now left with a handful of subjects that will not make you want to bang your head against the wall when you look at them.
There are many things we feel neutral about- those that sit between our feelings of utter dread and pure enjoyment. After eliminating the dreaded one(s), start thinking of the subject that really brings joy to you when you are studying, learning, or doing it. You may have studied science in the past, but you find that you really love art; or you may have studied mathematics, but writing is something you are passionate about. Conversely, you may find that you love animals or are passionate about the environment. By combining this passion with the subjects you have learnt, what are the possible outcomes for you? These attitudes can really shed light to what you want to do in the future and allow you to carve out the path accordingly.
Stress is unavoidable when it comes to studies. When it gets hard and you feel like giving up, it is usually interest in the topic that will motivate you to keep going and do your best. Hence this is something you should also take into account when you choose your course. Ideally, your choice should boil down to something you enjoy and are not terrible at.
Familiarity is often something that we look for when approaching a new phase of life. If the subject you are passionate about is completely new, do you think you have the motivation and potential to step into it, learn from the beginning, and do well? If you are a total novice in this area, then are you willing to put in the time and effort to make sure you excel in this new venture? At this stage of life, stepping into a completely new field may pose a little risky unless you are willing to put in the hard work and effort to catch up with others who already have a head start.
Now that you have a subject in focus, it is time to research on the areas of study you can branch out into. Using our example of science, we see that there are three major components: Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, and each of them have their own related fields. Biology can be a foundation for bio-medical engineering, marine biology, and zoology; Chemistry a foundation for chemical engineering, pharmaceutical, biochemistry; and Physics will be a base for courses like aerospace engineering, astronomy and computer science. If the subject is visual arts, then graphic design and media courses could be your go to. If you enjoy writing and journalism, mass communication would be ideal. If you like all things fashion and drawing is your strong suit, then maybe fashion and apparel design could be an option.
After you have found some courses, check if you meet the requirements for them. Engineering courses usually require you to be competent in math and physics, while media and communication courses would require you to be proficient in language and meet the language requirements of that specific area of study. For instance, if you are studying mass communication in China, then you should have a strong command of Mandarin. Arts courses such as graphic design, photography, videography or even fashion design will usually require you to submit a portfolio during the application process.
If you do not meet the requirements, find out if there is anything you can do to be eligible for enrolment. If you do not already have a portfolio, do you have any past work and experiences that will allow you to create one? If you miss the academic requirements by an inch, are you able to request a letter of recommendation by a relevant party to help in your application? Besides academic performance, some schools or programmes rely on portfolios, leadership skills, or certain talents such as sports to consider someone eligible.
When it comes to education, the main goal is to be able to secure a decent job in the future with the qualifications achieved. So, the final question of the day would be whether the course you chose is directly related to what you wish to pursue as a career. Not forgetting that unlike a hobby where one participates in leisurely, a job requires hard work, competency and commitment. Is this something you foresee doing for the most part of your life? Will it allow you to put food on the table and shelter above your head? Will it allow you to provide for your family and loved ones in the future? These are very practical and realistic questions that one should be willing to discuss about because ultimately, you will be sacrificing precious years and resources studying the course.
With all these laid out, you have to decide what is the weightage you place for each criterion. Perhaps crafting a pros-and-cons list might help map out your thought process clearly. Different individuals consider these aspects with different levels of importance. Someone who is more career-minded may see that a career prospect is crucial when making a decision, while someone who values passion more than finances will think otherwise. At the end of the day, assess each point based on your unique priorities so you are certain that you made the right decision for yourself. If you are looking for a study destination, check out our curated list of top 10 study cities here!
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