How to Choose the Right University Degree

 Choosing what you want to study at university is a big step, a pivotal choice for when you make later decisions about what jobs you want to apply for. Thankfully, the range of university degrees available for you to study is vast — much larger than the range of subjects available at A-level or IB, so you have loads to choose from.

Which Subject to Study? 

 Some people have a clear linear path in mind from the offset, but not many people are that sure of themselves during their formative time at school. For those that don’t have a clear path, often the first thing is think about the subjects you like or are good at. This is always really helpful, because it gives a strong indication of how much you’ll like further study and how you’ll fare going forward, if you take it on.

Which Kind of Discipline? 

Think about what the courses will have you doing, and if that’s what might suit you:

• · Are you a good essay writer?
• · Can you memorise lots of facts?
• · Can you read for hours?
• · Do you like analysing literature, lab work, field work or course work?
• · Do you want time out of the lecture hall doing something else?

Alternative Degrees

 You may look at the subjects that you’re good at and those that you like, and yet it’s still not feeling right. In this case, you may find what you’re looking for if you dig a little deeper through alternative courses that are more left field. Courses such as agriculture, horology, psychology, classics, ethical hacking etc. don’t show up as often on university websites, but that’s just because they’re less popular. There are lots of hidden gems that could be a missed opportunity.

 A good place to start is to look at specialist courses related to your preferred subjects, such as accounting if you do economics, or astronomy for physics. Following that, you can look for more general courses that don’t have subject requirements.

How to Know if It’s the Right Course? 

 You'll have a lot of options, and it may be overwhelming at times but, while you’re researching, it can be helpful to ask yourself some questions about each course, to try and narrow down your search:

• · Can I get the requirements to apply?
• · Will I engage with and enjoy the lectures?
• · What opportunities will this course provide?
• · Will this subject play to my strengths?
• · Can I put in extra work to overcome any weaknesses?

 Once you’ve done your research about course options, the course content is a really good place to get a good handle on what you’ll actually be getting yourself into. Don’t be afraid to jump onto the internet to research obscure topics when considering courses. Your first impression of a subject could be way off.

Tough Decisions

 You’ll inevitably have to make tough decisions when you do choose your first and second choices. Feel free to talk to friends and family about it, but you don’t have to agree with their advice, as it’s your life and your decision. Also, bear in mind that you can choose two different courses, if you're totally split on the decision. If you don't feel you're currently quite up to the requirements, there's no need to give up on the course. Some work with a private tutor could make the difference, so register with TutorExtra to find the right tutor to help you get onto the right university degree course.