Don’t Know What To Study? Here’s How To Get The Info You Need!
Are you having trouble deciding on what to study? Choosing a course to study is a big decision, so gaining as much information as possible is imperative. Here we show you how to make the most of the resources around you to explore your options.
One of the best ways to learn more about a course of interest is by conducting an informational interview. An informational interview is a meeting between an individual who wants to learn about a specific career and one who has first-hand knowledge about it. You will gain the most comprehensive picture if you are able to interview both students studying the course and people currently working in the field. Don’t be afraid to contact people within the industry you are interested in, many are willing to share their experiences.
This gives you the opportunity to directly gain knowledge about the field. You can ask questions that you might not be able to find on the internet and receive answers that are honest and unfiltered. They can provide you sage advice about getting into the field, the typical work or study day, their satisfaction and many more. Informational interviews are also a great way to build a network of contacts.
Be sure to use the resources already provided to you, many high schools have counselors or advisers available whose job is to help students determine their path or advise them on getting into college. Career counselors utilize assessment tools and techniques like motivational interviewing to identify a students skills and interest and hence generate a list of suitable occupations. It can help greatly to have an experienced expert guide you through the process. These professionals can also inform you on upcoming educational fairs, open days or events to help you explore your interest further.
Which brings us to our next point, attending career or education fairs are also an effective way to gain more information. A long line of university representatives will be there to answer your question and inform you on the merits of their programmes and institutions. You can directly compare various institutions and courses right there. Sometimes the booths will even have interactive presentations to give you some insight into the fields. Some students representative will also be there to share advice and experience. We’ve already prepared a page where you can find the latest education events here.
And of course, if you have the time and energy available, the best way to find out if a particular course is suited for you is to experience it yourself. Of course, organizations aren’t going to hire someone without the skills and education needed but there are plenty of volunteer positions available. These might not be directly related to your course but they still might get you some exposure.
For example, if you are interested in psychology, try getting involved in a suicide crisis hotline. They will provide you the training and you can get a taste of what it feels like to counsel mentally ill individuals. This can be simpler position like being an editor in your school paper to test if you are suited to Journalism or Marketing. The main thing is to try and accumulate as much as experience as possible. Possessing these knowledge and skills will also put you a cut above your fellow students.
Hopefully, by following these steps you will gain the information you need to decide which course of study is best for you. But also remember to assess and examine yourself to find the course most suited to you. You can find out more on how to do this here.
