Education and career go hand in hand, more often than not what you study in college determines your career path in the future. Deciding what stream to choose for higher education can be a very stressful task because it is a decision that will stay with you for the rest of your life. Rather than dreading this phase and making a rash, wrong decision, treat it as an opportunity to pave your path to a successful life. Weigh all your options and think about where you want to see yourself in the future and make a well informed solid decision that you will cherish forever.
So, what all goes in deciding the stream for higher education? The answer is simple – Ask yourself the big questions, be honest with the answer, and don’t be shy to take any outside help.
Some of the things that you should consider before making the decision are:
- Interest and Aptitude: Probably the most important aspects to consider while choosing the stream for your higher education are your interests, passion, abilities, and aptitude. Find out what you are genuinely good at and passionate about. There may be things that you are interested in but are not good at, this is where your aptitude comes into play. The best thing to do here is to list out all the subjects that you are good at and are also moderately interested in. Now, find a stream that fits most of these subjects that you are interested in.
- Long Term and Short Term Goals: You must never base your decision to pursue a stream for higher education on your short term goals. Pan out what you aim to achieve in the long run. You may be a brilliant painter and want to continue painting even after school. Ask yourself if painting is what you want to make your career in, if not, you may want to check out other options like creative designing or advertising/digital marketing, which are better job prospects and also let you nurture your creative side.
- Priorities and Career Choice:Deciding on your priorities can help you get a direction. For example, choosing between what you are most passionate about even if it doesn’t pay much, and something that you are less interested in but ensures financial stability. There is no right or wrong answer, it’s only a matter of priorities, be honest to yourself about what you want from your life. Your career aspirations will play a very important role in deciding what you want to/have to study. Most career options don’t have any specific educational requirements. For example, you have to pursue LLB if you wish to take on the profession of a lawyer, however, if you want to make a career in advertising, it will be ideal if you choose mass communication as the subject of choice in college but this is definitely not a necessity. Hence, deciding on a choice of career beforehand can help a lot in guiding the decision of choosing a stream for higher education.
- Market Trends:Pursuing higher education must ideally improve one’s job prospects. It thus becomes imperative to understand the market first, what job options are viable, and which jobs are becoming obsolete. Change is the only constant in time. You must avoid any stream that narrows down your career prospects to a very niche domain. Try to keep your options as open and wide as possible.
- Earning Potential: Even though you must not base your decision solely on this aspect, it is worth keeping in mind. It is important to know what average salary package is offered to those who pursue a particular stream in higher education. Your decision has to be a well-informed one and earning potential is one of the most important aspects that must be considered while making it. Strike a balance between your interest and a stream with a potential for high pay package. If you are good in the subjects you choose, even if the earning potential of the stream is not the highest, you will eventually excel by showcasing exceptional skills and talent, whereas if you solely base your decision on the pay package offered to a graduate from a particular stream and are unable to perform well in that stream, it will be very difficult for you to succeed in your career in the future.
- Experience: Internships can be a great way to know whether you are actually interested in pursuing a stream or not. Intern at a couple of places to get a better idea about the career options you are interested in. If you feel you might be interested in taking up a particular stream for higher studies, have a look at the study material to get a better perspective. Talk to others who have pursued that stream or are pursuing it. They might be able to share some insights and shed light on aspects you were not aware of before.
- Ask for help: Seeking advice from a professional or academic counselor might be of great help. They are better aware of the opportunities that each course has to offer. They may conduct an aptitude test and a series of interviews and will aptly guide you through your decision making process.
Remember, throughout the process, stay honest with yourself, be as objective as possible, and gather as much information about different courses as you can. Your interests, passion, aptitude, and abilities should have the highest weightage while making the big decision but other aspects must also be looked upon to make a well rounded and informed decision.
Once you decide on the stream for higher education, choosing the right educational institution to pursue the same is also equally important. You must opt for an institute that has a good reputation, has excellent placement record, has well equipped laboratories and library, and offers all the necessary facilities for the students. We, at Lingaya’s University, have been ranked number 1 in Haryana for our robust curriculum, eminent faculty, and all other support and facilities that we provide to our students to enable them excel in academics as well as in their professional life ahead.We take special care to keep our curriculum up-to-date with industry standards and trends, and encourage practical and project based learning in all the courses we offer. The learning at Lingaya’s extend beyond the course curriculum and embraces inculcating good communication skills and professional attributes in the students so that they are ready to be absorbed in their respective industries right after completion of their courses.