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How to Choose the Right University Degree for You

BY READERS DIGEST

15th Oct 2020 Life

How to Choose the Right University Degree for You

Choosing the right university degree is perhaps one of the biggest decisions that you’ll make in your life. After all, your choice of degree will shape your career, friendships, outlook on life, finances, and perhaps even some of your hobbies, interests, and passions. Since most people choose a university degree at a very young age, it isn’t always easy to be sure of what we want to do - after all, it’s rare to find somebody in their teens who has a solid career plan for the future. If you are in the process of applying to university and aren’t sure which degree to opt for, here are some things you can do to help you make the right choice.

Consider What You’re Good At

So far, what have you excelled at the most? Which subjects are you consistently getting high grades for in school or college? Unless you are determined to improve your knowledge and get better at a certain subject, there might be no point in opting to study a subject that you don’t tend to do well at. This will only make things more difficult for you and you are less likely to have the motivation to stick at your degree and work hard.

Think About What You Like

Perhaps more important than what you are good at, what do you actually like? Many teens who are in the process of applying to university end up being pressured by parents or other family members to apply to study subjects that they are good at but don’t really enjoy. Try not to let this pressure get to you. Of course, your relatives want you to succeed - but more importantly, you should be happy with what you do. Remember, it’s always easier to improve your knowledge and skills around a certain subject if you are truly passionate about it.

Consider the University You Want to Attend

Do you have a specific university that you want to attend in mind? If you don’t, then it’s worth taking a look at sites like University Compare, a comparison site where you can learn more about some of the top universities in the UK like Durham University. If you want to start your education at Durham, then you’ll need to browse through the courses that they have on offer and make sure that they have a degree course that is suitable for you. It might also be worth talking to careers advisors from the university - their job is to help you pick a course and career path that’s right for you.

Get Some Work Experience

There’s nothing like actually experiencing something to help you determine what you might want to do - and what you definitely don’t want to do. Although you might not be able to get hands-on work experience of careers that you will need a degree for, you may be able to spend a day in the office or workplace shadowing people who work in those careers and asking them questions. You may also want to find a part-time job; working in customer service or hospitality while you are at college can help you learn a lot about yourself at work and what you do and don’t enjoy doing.

Think About Your Future Goals

When you think about your future goals, don’t just think about the work that you want to be doing - consider the other goals that you have for your life as well. Do you want to travel a lot? If so, a career as an English teacher or a translator might be the perfect option for you. Perhaps you want a job where you can help others every day; medicine, nursing or counselling could be an ideal choice. Or, maybe you want to make lots and lots of money and be wildly successful - if that’s the case, you might want to consider a degree in business or finance. Maybe you’re a very creative person and want to spend your life creating things - degrees in film, art, and architecture are great choices.

Talk to People You Trust

There’s nothing wrong with talking to people about your career aspirations and goals to help you get a better idea of which degree course might be the best option for you - but the key is to not let yourself get pressured by anybody into choosing a degree that they would like you to do. Only you can decide that, but there’s nothing wrong with getting feedback from your teachers, career advisors, parents, other relatives, and even your peers. Somebody in your life may know of a degree course or a career idea that you have never heard of and is perfect for you, and this gives you a chance to do your own research and explore more ideas.

Choosing the right degree course for you can be a daunting process that impacts the rest of your adult life. Take it slow, and start early so that you’ve got plenty of time to figure out what you want. 

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