How to choose a course of study?
Deciding on a course of study to take up proves to be a difficult decision sometimes.
Some people may have already decided on the course to take up even before the time to make that decision properly.
While others would still be in doubt till they are faced with that huge decision.
Whichever way, it is important to know that our choice of course of study has a huge influence over our role in society and also, helps in forming our lives.
Therefore, this is one of the most important life decisions and should be approached with great care while putting a lot of factors into consideration.
A lot of students end up being unhappy with their course of choice after their first year in the university.
While others may decide to push through just for the sake of continuing, others may decide to change the course after their first year.
Without much talk, let’s get over to the topic at hand.
WHAT IS A COURSE OF STUDY?
A course of study is an organized educational curriculum that contains the academic requirements to be studied each semester.
You must rigorously fulfill the requirements for a certain course in order to be able to say that you studied it.
Only then will you be able to claim graduation from that program of study?
A course of study without a direction would lead to chaos in the long run.
There are self-examining questions one needs to ask oneself before undertaking a program in a higher institution and if not held close to the heart, one will lose his way.
FACTORS TO CONSIDER BEFORE CHOOSING A COURSE OF STUDY.
PASSION.
Passion inspires and motivates you to keep going.
There is nothing as good as doing that which you love doing.
In determining your career path, you should first think of things you are passionate about.
Do you enjoy taking care of people, cooking, drawing, fixing gadgets, etc.?
It is very advisable that you choose a course in line with your passion.
This is because, when the going gets tough, the love you have for what you have chosen will keep you going.
You are likely not to get frustrated doing what you love.
You would tend to accept whatever challenges that might come from it in good fate, and there would always be this motivation to keep moving.
Imagine an individual with limited fluency in English being required to study law, or someone who is not naturally outspoken aspiring to study law in the university.
READ ALSO 11 Things You Need to Know Before Studying Law in Nigerian Universities.
BEST HIGH SCHOOL SUBJECT.
Before getting into the tertiary institution, you are expected to have known some basics.
This is also the reason you have to pass some exams before you can be given admission into the university.
Choose a course in line with the subjects you did well in secondary school.
You can’t struggle with science courses and go ahead to pick up a science course in a higher institution.
You would find it quite tricky and might be tempted to quit.
An individual who possesses lower grades in mathematics and fundamental physics might find it challenging when attempting to pursue engineering.
Opting for an alternative course of study would likely be a more suitable and beneficial choice for such an individual.
READ ALSO: 14 Important Things You Need to Know Before Studying Engineering in a Nigerian University.
TIME FRAME.
How many years are you willing to give up on your studies?
Different universities have different study durations for different courses although, some courses are studied within the same duration irrespective of which university you might choose.
Some people wouldn’t want to go for any course for more than four years while others wouldn’t mind even if it would take them seven years.
Which of these groups do you fall into and list out courses that fall within your preference.
In universities, a larger portion of students have been guided by this approach to determine their desired fields of study.
This method helps them avoid a sense of wasted time or underutilization upon entering higher educational institutions.
JOB AVAILABILITY.
Most times especially in Nigeria, we end up not practicing what we have studied.
This is because there are little to no job opportunities.
However, some course of study tends to open you up to more job opportunities.
Some courses also have a clear and well-defined career path while some do not.
Therefore, putting career availability in mind while deciding on which course of study to take up is of Paramount importance especially, if you are hoping to earn a living from what you are hoping to study.
MODE OF STUDY.
While some students might prefer to study part-time, others could prefer to do it full-time.
Additionally, some students could favor taking their classes online while others might prefer to have a physical and full-time study schedule.
It is crucial to determine the study method that is best for you and then enroll in courses that fit that style of study.
Because if it is not thoroughly considered, it will wind up in a mess,
which could result in a student dropping out and blaming the educational system when the student did not conduct careful preparation before beginning the course.
An example is medical school, where full-time study is a prerequisite.
Combining part-time study with the intention of pursuing medicine is not possible; the choice lies between committing to full-time study or exploring other courses that align well with part-time learning.
FINANCIAL AVAILABILITY.
Higher education schools have different tuition costs for each program.
Regardless of the fact that they attend the same school, some students pay more than others, although they attend the same institution of learning.
The reason why tuition costs vary is that various students have varying levels of education and take different courses.
For instance, compared to other courses, medical courses are sometimes more expensive.
Remember that you typically pay less the higher your level (regardless of your course).
With this in mind, it’s crucial that you choose a course whose cost you can manage.
This is to prevent you from being lost along the line or possibly giving up.
YOUR REASON.
While it is advised that you continue your education, you must have a good purpose for doing so.
The mere fact that everyone else is furthering their education is not sufficient motivation.
Your choice would be shaped in part by the motivation behind it.
It is advised that you select a course that would support that choice if you are looking to extend your education in order to improve a skill you currently possess.
For instance, a person who has a talent for baking would desire to continue their studies to improve their professional skills.
The individual should continue studying home economics, food science, or a related course.
However, if you want to change your career, it’s imperative to pick which one you want to take and then follow an appropriate course of study.
YOUR STRENGTH AND GOAL.
The best subject you excelled at in high school.
And how well you integrated it should be considered before you make a course decision.
For instance, if you are brilliant in math, you won’t have any trouble studying math in university.
While your goal has to do with what you hope to accomplish after your time in university, these will serve as a guide for your decision-making when it comes to choosing a course of study.
If you choose a course against your better judgment and out of loyalty to friends or family, you’ll grow weary of the outcome.
And feel less fulfilled when you eventually complete the course.
Because you didn’t perform to the best of your ability or focus on your areas of strength, your grades and interest in the subject will suffer.
STUDY LOCATION.
Your choice of study location has a significant impact on you as a student.
While some students want to attend a university that is closer to their home.
Others choose to attend one that is quite far away from it as a means of evading responsibility at home.
NO! It shouldn’t be considered before picking a course; instead, pick one that is well-received in your country and with which you can easily fit in or flow.
Consider whether there is a nation or a place that offers better employment prospects and a positive environment for students with access to certain resources.
READ ALSO: 10 ways not to sleep in night class.
SIMPLIFY YOUR CHOICES.
Now that you’ve likely accumulated a lot of information, it’s time to reduce your alternatives to, say, three or four.
Now, this is being done to make it possible to obscure some deceptive study options so that people won’t regret choosing the wrong one.
Choose the one that outweighs the others after weighing the advantages of each choice.
Leave a Reply