Don’t Know What to Study? 4 Steps to Guide You


Friday, September 17, 2021

Choosing what to study is one of the most important decisions of our lives. As such, we cannot take it lightly. If you are undecided about what you want to study and do for the rest of your life, here is a step-by-step guide that will help you make a conscious decision.



When we are 16 or 17 and start considering what to expect our future to look like, we are not even ready for that big a decision to make. 

The uncertainty of the future is a factor that causes us to have plenty of doubts and questions. From the right university and the location, to the career path you will have with each degree you are interested in, there are so many aspects to consider that it can be an overwhelming process.

“What should I study?”, “What career path should I pursue?”. These are some of the most recurrent questions among students. It can be really hard to make a decision that may affect the course of your future. But, the following are some steps you can take to ease your decision-making process and make sure you choose a career that suits your interests, passions, and expectations. 

4 Steps to find out what you should Study


1. First of all, think about your Career Goals

Career search is a process of self-recognition. You need to ask yourself some questions to recognize what it is that you like, what you would like to do in the future and what your expectations are.

If you still haven’t made up your mind about which field you want to pursue, you should focus on your skills, hobbies and interests. Discovering what you like and what you are good at will help you choose a degree that suits you. If you like helping people, maybe you should consider Psychology, Medicine, Nursing, or Social Work. Are you into writing, traveling or math? Find a way to take your passions and turn them into your career path. 

2. Identify your Options

Whether you’ve just graduated from high school or you are considering postgraduate studies, you need to understand what options you have. Taking the previous step into account would be a great way to start considering your options. Once you know what you are into you can move forward and choose a specialization. 

Considering business, humanities, engineering or any other broad subject? You need to consider that there are many areas within these fields and you should choose a more specific area.

3. Narrow down your options

If you have a long and varied list of degrees to consider, you now need to start narrowing them down. You need to consider the focus you would like your degree to have. Would you like it to be oriented towards industry experience or theory and research? Is there a course lower on your list that could provide a valuable back-up pathway into your desired profession? Is there any degree you can delete from your list?

Choosing a degree taking into account your career aspirations is the best way to approach your decision-making process. Are you choosing this degree only because the field pays well? Are you passionate about this type of work? These are aspects you should bear in mind. 

4. Make your final decision

Now that you have already studied all your options deeply and considered each one’s outcome, it is time you make the decision. If you are still undecided, you should remember that support is always available. You can read through the helpful articles on this website, visit a career adviser or get in touch with support and administrative staff at institutions of interest. 

Making this decision requires deep thought and these steps may not work for everyone. They are just a kind of guide for those who are undecided and may need a little help. 

Of course, you can change your mind and nothing will happen. You need to believe in your decision and make it happen, but if you realize the career path you chose is not the one you expected or you change your mind, you can always go back to the first step, no matter how much time has passed.




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