But deciding on what you would like to study isn't as easy as it sounds. The wrong study decision is extremely costly – both in terms of time and money. It is therefore worth your while to spend some time considering all the options.
In the past, most schools employed a school counsellor who helped learners to make an informed decision. But unfortunately many schools don't offer school counselling anymore. Learners therefore often have to make decisions regarding further study on their own.
Don't play guessing games
“Many potential students simply play guessing games when it comes to career and study choices,” says Lunga Jacobs, student advisor at the University of Stellenbosch.
“Matriculants often don't have the support systems and information required to make an informed decision. As school counselling is something of the past, many matriculants have to source the necessary information on their own.”
According to Jacobs, there are several private options available but these are costly and most matriculants are unable to afford it.
Without proper guidance, matriculants often make poor decisions or may decide to study for all the wrong reasons.
Pitfalls
Jacobs lists some of the most common pitfalls:
- Matriculants may decide on a potential career for the wrong reasons, such as that the career sounds glamorous or is lucrative. The danger is that they may not have the ability to cope with course work. The most difficult course to study is one that you don't enjoy. Students often lose interest and therefore don't study and cannot pass exams.
- Sometimes learners know what they would like to study, meet the admission criteria and have the ability to complete the course, but rather opt for another institution or course because they want to be with their friends.
- They may buckle under the pressure from parents or teachers and would be forced to study what others would like them to study. Many students are forced to live out their parents' dreams.
- It is often difficult for learners to know beforehand whether a course is really interesting enough. They might find after three months, that they don't enjoy what they are doing and would prefer to study something else. Many students don't realise that they have the option to change their minds in the first few months and to switch to another course. Many institutions offer psychometric testing free of charge to enrolled students. In this way, students will be assisted in making these crucial decisions.
- All institutions offer services to students who struggle with course work. These include tutorials, appointments with lecturers and additional courses. But students often unfortunately don't make use of these services because they don't want to admit that they are not coping and fear that fellow students may regard them as being “uncool”.
How to make the best possible decision
Jacobs advises learners to make use of student guidance services if they exist. If teachers or parents are not informed enough to offer guidance, learners could consult psychologists for advice. Psychologists who specialise in career guidance and psychometric testing are able to test learners to get an idea of aptitude, intelligence and interests. They will then be able to suggest career options. These private sessions are unfortunately very costly. Fortunately similar tests can now be done via the internet.
Jacobs also strongly advises potential students to gather as much information about the course beforehand. Learners can obtain the information via the institution that offers the course and via the internet.
“Ultimately, it is up to the learner to make the final decision. It is your future and your decision. Don't be forced into doing something for the sake of someone else,” says Jacobs.
Written for Careers24 by Ilse Pauw
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