How to decide what college courses to study?

College is an exciting time which many people describe as their fondest years of learning while making memories and lifelong friends. Despite this, one of the most challenging steps before getting into college is deciding what course to do! Here are some practical things to consider when making this important decision to ensure you go down the right path.

Choosing which college to go to, and most importantly what course to do, is a crucial step in your learning journey. It can be quite tricky to make the right decision.

These are the 7 best tips to choose your college course:

Firstly, you need to ask yourself the following three questions:

1. What school subjects currently interest you the most?

This may sound obvious but it is important to consider which subjects you enjoyed the most in secondary school. If you feel like you aren’t particularly passionate about any specific subject ask yourself this, ‘if I had to do homework in only one subject for the rest of my school years which one would it be?’ Doing a college course in an area broadly or distinctly similar to the school subject or subjects you are interested in will make college learning more enjoyable and therefore you will most likely perform better.

2. What hobbies do you enjoy doing the most?

School life aside, you should consider the activities you enjoy doing in your free time. This can be an indicator of the type of course and ultimately the type of job you would like in the future. For example if you adore being around animals or going on hikes in nature then something linked to veterinary medicine or life sciences such as geology might be a good fit!

Try doing some online courses to understand what you like

3. What type of person are you?

We all have different traits and personalities and this may dictate whether or not you are suited to a specific course. Ask yourself for example whether you are more introverted or extroverted, whether you enjoy having a busy week full of activities or a more relaxed week with only one or two extracurricular activities and how well you work under pressure. Since some courses may be more time consuming and demanding than others, it is important to know what environment and daily tasks you work best with and pick a course accordingly.

If you can’t understand the type of person you are, take a personality test!

After you have asked yourself these questions, take the following steps to find courses which suit you:

4. Research different college options:

This may be one of the most important steps and if done correctly will be very beneficial. Go to college open days, look up the syllabus of different courses so you know the specific subjects which will be taught and how the degree will be structured. Having an in-depth knowledge of different college courses specially ones which appear to be very similar will allow you to make a better informed decision.

5. Work experience/ask around

One of the best ways to find out about a college course is to try to get in contact with someone who is already doing the course. They are your best point of contact and will give you an insight into the daily activities and tasks they do. Make sure to ask them what the best and hardest thing about the degree and what they are planning to do in the future.

6. Think of the future career

It is important to figure out what career or further study opportunities are available if you were to complete a specific course. This can be done through online research or asking someone who studies the same degree or area broadly. Consider whether you would enjoy the career that this course might bring.

7. Don’t panic – endless opportunities!