Don’t have a dream career or a university course to aim for? Here’s what you can do

If you’re reading this, you’re probably struggling to find the right university course or are unsure about the career path you want to take in the future. The good news is you’re not alone; having a plan and knowing exactly what to do in college doesn’t always come naturally for some.

On top of that, there are endless options of university courses and schools to choose from, making the decision-making process all the more overwhelming. Yes, university is important. But so is making the right choice with a clear head and having a game plan before taking the plunge.

Take a look at these 6 factors that can help you arrive at an informed decision when choosing the ideal university course for you.

6 Things You Must Do Before You Select Your University Course

1. Take Stock Of Your Strengths & Skills

Before diving straight into choosing the actual course and school of your choice, the first step is to always take a step back and think about your skills and strengths. This will serve as the foundation for the rest of your thought process and decision-making.

Begin by focusing on your current skills and experience, and the prospective careers or opportunities you’d like to have post-university. From there, think about a course that would match all three of these factors.

2. Understand Your Interests

With a clearer understanding of what you’re good at, it’s time to understand what interests you and narrow down your options even more.

For those interested in entering the healthcare industry, think about whether you want to become a specialist doctor, a licensed practical nurse, or part of the administrative side of things.

Perhaps you’re an effective communicator and think a Communications course would suit your interests. Your career options would boil down to marketing, public relations, journalism, or production—among many other things.

By matching what interests you and what you’re passionate about, you have the perfect recipe for the ideal university course.

3. Map Out Your Immediate & Long-Term Goals

It’s not enough to think just about your immediate interests and skills. You also need to look at the bigger picture and assess what your long-term goals are.

Here are a few questions you should ask yourself during this step:

● Will my course of study be aligned with where I want to be in the future?

● Will the course curriculum be useful in my chosen career post-university?

● Will there be fierce competition for the jobs I want after I’ve graduated from university?

● Are there opportunities for career progression in the line of work I want to pursue?

When you lay out your long-term goals, you essentially get a clearer overview of what you really want and can then take the next steps to make it happen for yourself.

4. Research A List Of Universities, Courses & Post Graduation Career Opportunities

Now that you have a better understanding of your interests, skills, and goals, here’s where the heavy lifting comes in with research. Create a shortlist of the various schools or study destinations, as well as the different courses you’re keen to explore.

From there, you can find all the necessary information online through university websites and online portals to check your eligibility and application requirements.

To take it a step further, consider asking around your friends and family or attending open days to gain information that you wouldn’t normally find online.

5. Head For Summer Internships

Typically, students can only apply for summer internships if they are enrolled in an undergraduate university program. But today, more companies are looking for interns even without this qualification simply to give them the experience they need to help them make the right career decision.

Summer internships allow students to get a taste of working life and change their perspective of the world, both personally and professionally. This would either reaffirm your choice of a particular course or convince you that this line of work may not be for you.

Either way, applying for an internship is effective in helping you explore your career path, and develop or refine skills you never knew you had.

6. Consult With A Career Advisor or IDP Counsellors

Sometimes, the best option is to seek help from a professional on what you should do. While it’s not impossible to make a decision entirely on your own, having expert advice and guidance wouldn’t be so bad either.

Having help from a career advisor can open students up to a world of resources on career information as well as the best practices for the application process. This would help you understand yourself a lot better and find the course that matches your needs and future career goals.

Don’t know where to start? Look no further than our IDP counsellors.

Gain clarity on your career with the help of our IDP counsellors!

It’s okay to still be unsure of what you want to pursue in university. That’s exactly why we’re here to help.

With tailored guidance from our team of career counsellors, you’ll finally be able to find the best university course that aligns with your career goals.

On top of course advice, we also assist students with their application needs and settling down in their study destination once decided.

All you have to do is book your free virtual consultation with us and we’ll take care of the rest.