How to Choose the Right Course for Me?
“I don’t even know what I want to study…”
“I’m only 18 years old. How can you expect me to know what I want to do in the future?”
Does this sound like you? If you’re currently at a crossroads where you have to decide on your course of study in Polytechnic/University, this article may help you.
Here are 4 things for you to consider when choosing your polytechnic or university course:
1. Passion vs. Practicality
“You should only be studying things that help you get a job next time so that you can earn money!” This is something we hear often living in a pragmatic Asian society. Of course, being practical in your choice of study is important – you must consider the consequences of your decisions and what this will mean for your future career options. But at the same time, we sometimes forget to consider our passions, what we truly desire to pursue. Maybe it is dancing, acting, or writing…no matter what, you should never push your passions aside because, who knows? You may have become the next top Masterchef, but instead, you wasted four years of your life studying Computer Science just because you thought it would give you a high salary.
2. Strengths vs. Weaknesses
Understand yourself before you seek to understand the world. Consider your own strengths and weaknesses before you decide what you are suited to study. For example, if you’re good with numbers, look towards courses that may require these skills, such as Accountancy or Statistical Analysis. At the same time, never let your weaknesses stop you! There are countless university courses in Singapore that are available. You can always take basic preparatory courses to help you improve on them so that you can catch up easily. Did you know that Ivy league schools provide FREE online courses? Find out more here!
3. Do your research
Make sure to find out anything you can about the university course you are interested in by researching online, attending open houses or talking to seniors. You don’t want to make a decision that you’ll eventually regret so take the initiative to learn as much as you can at this juncture! If you are having trouble finding information, don’t hesitate to contact the Education and Career Guidance (ECG) counsellor in your school. You can also take to social media to ask your questions – Reddit is a popular platform where students go to speak to each other about things like these.
4. Soft Skills
Another thing that some people may not think to consider is the soft skills required to take a certain course. For example, to take more intensive courses such as Law or Medicine, you need to have the ability to plan your time well. Other courses such as Psychology or Early Childhood Education may require you to be empathetic and have good listening skills. Take your own personality and work ethic into consideration when choosing courses that are right for you! If you would like tips on managing your commitments and schedule planning, refer to our other articles: Why living a Productive lifestyle is key in today’s Education and How to manage time? (with DERP!)
Are you still worried about your future now? If you are, don’t fret! Even if you end up choosing a university course you regret, it is not the end of the world. You will have many other opportunities to pick up new skills! That being said, your course of study is still important in determining a large part of your future, so put some effort into your decision making process.
If you’re a graduate from one of our I Am Gifted!™ school holiday programmes, we hope you remember the goal setting and time management skills we have taught you! If you’re a parent who thinks your child needs some help figuring out what they want to do with their life, don’t hesitate to check out our school holiday programmes! We can help your child learn useful tips for goal setting and self-motivation.
Wishing you all the best in this crazy journey we call Life!
“Your only limitation is your imagination!”
