Choosing the right College Course

My younger sister will soon be graduating from High School. She is a typical senior unsure of what college course to take. She is at another crossroad and must decide where to go. The decision she is about to undertake will greatly influence what she will be several years from now…..

As an older sister, I feel responsible in leading her to the right track. I’ve been in the same situation years back. We will have our heart to heart talk this weekend and I took down some notes for her. Read on & you might get something useful out of it:

Evaluate yourself. Take into consideration the answer to these questions: What are my interests? What kind of job appeals to me? What are my skills and abilities? What are my best and worst subjects? What are my views on different jobs? Can I commit on time requires to finish the course I intend to take? What are my priorities- do I want a job that is high-paying, do I want a job that is in demand abroad or do I want a job that is professionally rewarding?

Go to your prospective universities and grab one of those course catalogues. Base on your self-assessment, which courses match? List it all down.

Evaluate your resources. Be aware of the tuition fee rates and know if you can afford the courses. Don’t be discouraged if you can’t. If you are really committed, there are many options such student loans and scholarships.

Talk to people who can guide you in decision-making. Your favorite teacher may have valuable tips to impart. Your guidance counselor may even have tools to help your evaluate your options. Talk to your parents, older siblings or uncles & aunts. You can also exchange ideas with your classmates. Take note of their tips.

Be aware of the demands of labor market in the future. You might want to consider getting into a course that will land you in a job with a very high demand & of course with a good income generation.

Books and some internet links can be useful. They often give handy tips and practical information on choosing the course that is right for you.

Narrow down your list after taking into consideration the result of your self-assessment, financial evaluation and learning the tips from successful resources.

If possible, get a volunteer job that may be related to the courses in your list. If your list includes nursing, try volunteering in hospitals and nursing facilities. On the other hand, if your choice includes being on the academe, try volunteering in your local schools or in a nearby childcare facility. These will give you a preview of your future career. This will help you validate your passion & interest and will considerably help you in your decision-making process.


Don’t just settle for any course without carefully considering the above mentioned factors.

Don’t choose a course because of other people. A classic example is, your dad is a doctor so you would automatically take a medical course even if your interest is journalism. Another example is influenced by peer pressure. “All my friends will take a course on accountancy, so I will too”.

It is important to prepare in advance. Plan ahead. It’s never too early to do self-assessment, read helpful books and ask tips around. The more time you have, the higher your chances are in making the right choice.