Summer is a very important and delicate moment in the life of the students who finished high school because they have to choose if to continue their studies, and then choose the right university, or to approach the world of work. To choose if you want to study or to work, or to choose the best degree course for you is an important decision that will affect your future career, a decision that requires maturity and awareness of your objectives and your skills. A decision that can not be accidental, but well thought out and structured.
The degree is not always the best solution, it is sometimes more appropriate to choose the right job or even to invent a new job outside of the paths that studies offer.
In this article we give you some advice, suggestions and tools to help you make the right decisions or at least the best. We don’t say that it is easy, but we hope that you can avoid the most possible disappointments and failures.
Happy reading!
The month of August is the period in which to recuperate energy and serenity after the exams in high school: you have to decide your future.
You have the opportunity to continue studies, choosing between university or training in art and music, or you can choose to go straight to work.
The first question you’re probably asking is whether to choose according to the passion or according to markets and employment opportunities that will arise or that the course will offer.
Okay choose with your heart but use also your head.
Deciding to continue studies at all costs in order to delay the entry into the world of work, aware that studying for you it is a big stretch, it could be a big mistake.
Just as it is very risky stubbornly opt for a faculty that will not offer employment opportunities.
It is not easy to find a course of study that meets your attitude and your passions and that proposes interesting job opportunities, but our objective with this article is to provide a method and some criteria to make better decisions, and, why not, also to give you some tips that can be always useful.
Our aim is to provide you with some ideas, advice and considerations to start building your best future.
Finally, we propose a synthesis of the various training areas, which you can examine in depth on other sites.
We are sure we can help you understand how to get the best opportunities for your growth, following, first of all, your personal attitudes, but even relying on your sense of responsibility.
First of all, you have to be very careful not to make the common mistakes.
The first mistake that you should not commit is to choose with improvisation, without a careful consideration and analysis, perhaps following the choices of your friends to stay with them or following the traditions of your family or pandering to the wishes of your parents.
The second mistake to avoid is letting the others to choose about your future, you have to use your head and uptake the opinions of others as advice on which to think, as ideas to be explored.
A third very common mistake is to choose for convenience, thinking of making the less difficult and challenging educational path.
Remember that you’re deciding for your future, and you are going to put into play your satisfaction, your enthusiasm and your life for the next 5 years at least.
Choosing to work so you can afford the car, the independence of your own apartment or the evenings with your friends are stakes too small compared to the satisfaction of your life.
It would be unforgivable continuing the studies started in high school, even if you do not like it, just because it will be easier (you already know a lot of things and you have to apply yourself less).
In addition, it is very important that you are aware of the physical, psychological, and economical effort that the university and in particular certain faculties require. The course you choose should be within your reach.
For example, if you choose a degree in literature, the natural outcome is the teaching, that, at least in Italy, is experiencing a strong unemployment.
If you think you choose medicine you should know that the simple degree is just one stage study path, then there are specialization and refresher courses.
If you are thinking about engineering, mathematics and physics do not have to be hostile.
You shouldn’t underestimate the effort required by the search for accommodation, for board and lodging if you live far from the university.
At the base of each of your reasoning you should be aware that if you choose to continue studying for the next 3 – 5 years you will spend your life by studying and spending time on the topics that you have chosen.
If we told you what you must not do, now we want to say that the main correct move is comparison. Self-comparison, comparison with others, with universities, with other students, with who already does the job you want to do as an adult, with teachers at school, with friends.
Do not underestimate the importance of sharing with others the information and talking about your concerns and your doubts.
To make the best choice for you, these are the three elements that should guide you:
- know your inclinations, your desires, your ambitions for the future. Figure out what you like to study or which work you like to do, but also be honest with yourself about what you dislike. Reflect on what basic training you have, on the skills you have in response to the difficulties the course of study will entail, how much will and determination you have to face the difficulties and disappointments
- inform you about the various faculties, courses of studies and universities. Do the test, personally visit the University and take part in information days, meet other students. The relation with those who have already carried out (or is carrying out) the course of study you wish to crew is always very useful
- think about the job opportunities that the labor market has to offer. Learn about the world of work and the required professionals, talk to those who are already doing the work you want to do.
If you have already decided to pursue further studies, we recommend this simple method to choose the best university:
- 1 – know yourself
The first thing you need to do is figure out exactly what you want. You must define your goals, reflect on your desires and know what you want to do in the future. If you think that you don’t have any particular interest, you can go back down memory lane and think about the aspirations and dreams that you had when you were little. Think about the topics that you read with more passion, about what has impressed or intrigued you. Compare your attitudes, your training and your inclinations with the various training opportunities available. You must understand and know what skills you have, which are your passions, in which areas you are strong and in which you are less. Of course it is not enough that you like the course of study, but it should be passable by you. You can ask for help to those who know you well and confront yourself with him/her. Your teachers spent some years next to you so they know you, your strengths and weaknesses. Even your parents and your best friends know you. We recommend you to have a chat with them, comparing your ambitions and your dreams. This will surely help to clarify; the different points of view and the disagreements always provide much food for thought and let you discover things that you never considered. But do not make the mistake of letting others to decide and choose for you. - 2 – be informed and prepared
Finished the rest and summer holidays, it is important to research and analyze the proposals of the various degree programs, taking advantage of the service of guidance provided by the various universities, and be as prepared as possible. If you make a well informed choice probably you will be able to make the best choice. You have to understand if the various exams are the ones you like, if they coincide with your strengths, if they are close to your passions. You have to compare the offers of various universities and to know what and where you go to study. You should see first-hand to truly understand well what it is. Nowadays almost all universities offer days for the orientation during which they propose different degree programs, meetings with teachers and other students. Some faculties offer the simulation tests, guided tours of the campus, etc.. On the net are also available several tests that give you a score for different areas of interest, highlighting your main affinity. Of course tests are a process of reflection and should be considered as a starting point. Do not delegate your choice to a test, “don’t let the others to decide.” - 3 – think also about your future
The period of study is a temporary and transitional one, a kind of launching pad for the world of work. It is necessary to evaluate career and job opportunities that a degree program offers you. Which are the professionals required by the labor market and in which area. Certainly the world evolves and things change, but a useful advice that we can give you is to talk to those already working in your field of interest to get a better idea of the work you are thinking to choice. If you think that you’ll work in another country, evaluate how spendable is the qualification you intend to get.
Another piece of advice that we want to give you, is to choose, if you have the financial means, a university far from where you live, that requires your transfer.
The university is not only a course of study but also (and especially) a life experience, based on sharing and comparing with other people.
Learning to live with others, to share space, activities, problems, opportunities, satisfactions and joys, friendships, time, prepares you for the world of work and for life in general more than a lot of exams.
Well, now you have many elements to make a careful deliberation.
We offer a summary of the main areas and training opportunities, that may help you:
- Health Area
- medicine,
- dentistry,
- veterinary medicine,
- pharmaceutical sciences and technologies,
- nursing and midwifery,
- rehabilitation,
- technical professions for heath
- Humanistic Area
- literature,
- philosophy,
- modern languages and cultures,
- geographical sciences,
- historical sciences,
- cultural heritage,
- science and technology of music, for entertainment and fashion
- academy of fine arts,
- communication sciences.
- Legal Area
- science of legal services,
- political science and international relations,
- juridical sciences,
- science of defense and security.
- Educational and psychological Area
- Sociology
- education and training sciences,
- psychological sciences,
- social services,
- social sciences for cooperation, development and peace,
- tourism sciences.
- Economic Area
- economics,
- administration sciences,
- business management.
- Technical area
- mathematics,
- physical science and technology,
- biological sciences,
- agricultural science
- agroindustrial science
- forestry science,
- chemical science,
- zootechnical science,
- environment and nature science,
- science of physical activities and sports,
- computer science,
- statistical sciences,
- architectural science,
- urban and environmental planning sciences,
- engineering
Now we just have to wish you a sincere and big good luck!
If you need a comparison, an opinion or some advice based on our experience, you can contact us and we will be glad and happy to help you. Bye!
Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net
1 comment
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