The biggest worry of any student is choosing the right college major. The constant stress can drain the student from excitement, developing a fear of moving forward.
We have listed a few steps you can take for a relatively less stressed year ahead to sort this issue.
Evaluate your interests: As always said, it is essential to figure out yourself before you figure the world out. You should be aware of areas of your interest before picking the right college course for yourself. Take time to discover the fields of study that intrigues you, the social causes you are drawn towards, and what you aim to do in your life. After self-inspection, you will be able to clear the clouds of doubts and settle with 2-3 options you want to pursue, on which you can dig in deeper. You will only excel in a course if you are genuinely interested in it. The correct one will make things easy in college. So sit down and process your likes, dislikes and careers you might consider.
Decide upon your end goals, career prospects and type of college degree you want: In this step, you ask yourself all the critical questions that will build you a roadmap to achieve your future goals. Is this your first and the only degree? Do you wish to study more after completion of the course? Do you want to enter the workforce right after this, or do you want to explore further? Is there any role you wish to work in the future? What is the pre-requisite or academic eligibility of that job role? After answering endless rounds of such questions, you will be able to figure out your long term goals. It will help you kick start your career. It is the most crucial segment of selecting the right course.
Quality Research: Once you decide upon the career you want to pursue, it’s advised that you begin researching it. Check the job roles, leading employers, experience or education requirements of your desired future position. Be practical. Look for the industry insights, connect with people already in the sector, talk to them about the challenges, the salary and everything. It would help if you have a brief picture of the career and life you envision to have.
Assess your eligibility: Once you are sure about the career path and the subject matter, you should sit down and list the courses offered by different universities you wish to apply to. Check the official websites or college-finding portals. Make a list of all the classes which attract you. Then follow the list and check whether you are eligible for the shortlisted courses. You can do so by going through their websites or sending them a mail. Once you bring the list down to the one where you make the cut, you can prioritize colleges and programs.
Select locations: This might not be mandatory, but you should consider this factor too. Do you wish to study somewhere near or does a different country work for you? Are you comfortable living in a suburban area, or do you want to enjoy a city space instead? Deciding upon a location will help you choose the right college and consequently make you pick the most appropriate course.
Shortlist the colleges you are eligible in: If you are still deciding which course you want to enroll in, you can start by selecting a college/university instead. The campus life, industry exposure, college rankings, extra-curricular activities offered, and reputation of your faculty and course structure also matters. Compare financial aids and scholarships, if any. Look into all these aspects. This might help you weigh the scales to one side. Pick the one with the best prospects for your future interests.
Examine the course curriculum: You should know this before starting your classes. Additionally, it also works as the deciding factor of your selection. Check the mode of study and how the curriculum is delivered in the school/college you are looking in. Some provide content on a project basis, while others do it via theoretical knowledge. If you work better in a group setting, pick where projects and assignments are in the system. If you prefer the final, annual basis of examination, go for that one. Other things to critically asses will be the language of the course, the industry/ work experience (Internships) or research-projects are included in the syllabus. It will influence your choice depending on which fits better in your study domain.
Talk: Don’t try to make the decision all by yourself. Advice from elders, professionals, and experienced experts will surely help you make up your mind. Listen to what works with your parents. Contact people in the same industry. Talk to the students, seniors and alumni of the institutions. Join internet forums, discussion rooms or other trusted websites like Quora or Reddit. You can engage with the professionals via a professional website like LinkedIn. Join college finding portals and continue interacting with fellow student counsellors. But remember not to let too much noise of these interactions hold you back. Be practical, but also listen to your gut.
Even after thorough research and relentless search, you cannot decide the best option; you can connect with us. Our experts will guide you through the entire process of shortlisting colleges submitting your applications.
Contact us to know more about our services.
Written by Shahrish Khan
We know and understand the application process can be overwhelming, but you don’t need to worry. The study experts at Hello Study Global are with you for your every step of the way. From the beginning to the end, we will guide you to success.
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