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How Do You Know Which Degree Is Right for You?

Posted on September 22, 2020 by Allen Brown

Going to a university or college is a rite of passage for many people as it marks the moment that they leave school and are finally left to their own devices in the big wide world. For most people, it is the first time that they will live away from their families and have to fend for themselves, so it can be a daunting yet exciting period of their lives. However, aside from growing up and having fun, there is a serious side to university and that is to study so that you can earn a degree. 

This will impact the rest of your life so it is imperative that you study a subject that you are going to be interested in studying for three long years. Some students have a clear idea from a young age that they want to become a lawyer or a doctor but for others, it is more difficult and they need guidance to help them on their way. Here we are going to take a look at how to know what is the right degree for you.

What Do You Enjoy Studying?

The first question to ask yourself, is what you have actually enjoyed studying at school? Some people may answer flippantly and say that they enjoyed nothing, and if so, this needs flipping on its head and you need to ask yourself what you enjoy doing? Everybody has an interest or two in life, whether it could be classified more as a hobby is irrelevant, because, for example, you could be a keen BMX bike rider, so a related subject like design or engineering could work for you. Everybody studies harder at something that they actually enjoy doing, so this stage is crucial when it comes to finding the right degree for you. A good option is to complete a free enneagram test. It’s fairly quick and you’ll get to know yourself better, your personality type, traits and flaws. Talk to your friends and family as they will have an insight into your personality too, and may be able to offer some valuable advice that is staring you in the face.

How To Choose a University?

Once you have decided about the subject that you would like to study for your degree you need to start choosing universities to apply for. There are so many variables here that you need to list your priorities in order. For some people, the quality of the teaching is the most important thing, whereas for others it may be the level of the facilities or how life is viewed on campus. It is not always necessary to visit all these universities in person as you will be able to find prospectuses online and there are also valuable online tools that allow you to compare universities whereby you can enter the details that are important to you and they will give you recommendations in return. Remember, some courses will require certain school qualifications so you may have to dampen your expectations of attending Oxbridge or an Ivy League university if you didn’t work hard enough at school, but don’t fret as there is a degree course for everyone out there if you do enough research. 

What Are Your Job Prospects?

One of the most important questions that you should be asking yourself is what are my job prospects based on my chosen degree and university? You can easily find information about this on university websites where alumnus will post details about their experiences, and there are also national listings where there are tables showing the likelihood of you getting a job in the first year after graduation. 

Look for universities that actively help place students in jobs upon graduation and that have partnerships with businesses, as this can help you to get into the workplace quicker than applying for countless jobs. Some courses will require further study after an undergraduate degree before you are ready to enter the workplace, and this is especially true in the medical or engineering worlds. All these things need to be considered especially if funds are tight and you need to support yourself as soon as you finish studying.

Can I Afford It?

Sadly, the cost does come into play when deciding what degree is right for you. Some of the more prestigious universities can cost an arm and a leg to study at, but these costs need to be weighed up against your earning potential later in life. It is not just your tuition fees that need to be taken into account. Some halls of residence can cost almost as much as renting a small flat, so for the majority of people, it is going to be necessary to supplement their income with a part-time job to make ends meet. What about travel costs? If you want to study at the other side of the country, or even in a different part of the world then you need to factor in travel costs to get you to and from your chosen place of study, as these will quickly rack up over the course of a 3-year degree. 

As we have learned there are many things to consider before choosing your degree, and as this is such a major step in your life it really does need to be given considerable thought. The most important thing is choosing wisely the subject that you want to study, as it must be something that you are interested in and that you can see yourself following a career in for the next 40 years. You then need to consider what university you would like to study at and there are all sorts of factors here such as whether you have the right grades, the level of teaching, or what campus life is like at the university. Be careful not to make short term decisions that could hamper your long term goals. Your job prospects after graduation should play a big part in your decision because many students leave education without a penny to their name so earning an income quickly is paramount. Once you have weighed up all these considerations you should have a shortlist of subjects to study and universities that you like, and then it is a case of plumping for the one that works best and enjoying your time studying. Good luck!

 




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