“Education is not the filling of a bucket, but the
lighting of a fire.” W.B. Yeats
This guide is all about passion. Your passion for
your course, and for your future career. Because the secret to happiness is
being able to love whatever it is you do in life.
And what does this all have to do with choosing the
right course for you? It all starts here. Find the right course, at the right
university or college, and you will be inspired to succeed.
So how do you make the right choice? Check
our Top 10 tips on choosing your course for the lowdown on getting
where you want to be – faster.
Tips No.1 What are you really interested in?
This is not necessarily what are you good at, but
what do you love doing? You might be great at maths, but you spend your
weekends fixing up bits of old computers. So don’t study maths, focus on IT or
computer engineering instead. Specialise in your passion, and learn more about
it from the world’s best teachers.
Tips No.2 Why?
It’s really important to think about why you are
interested in this subject. Is it because you can see your exciting, glittering
career ahead? Or is it because it’s what your parents want? By questioning
yourself now, you can work out the exact path you want your choice to take you
on.
Tips No.3 Where would you like to study?
There are really two parts to this. Where is the
best country to specialise in this subject area? Maybe it’s a country with
plenty of internship and graduate work opportunities in that industry, or a
city that has access to specific resources. If you’re interested in marine
biology, why not head straight to the world’s largest coral reef in Australia
and learn right at the source?
It’s also a good idea to ask yourself: where in the
world would you love to live for a few years? This is an opportunity to learn a
new language or adopt a new culture, make amazing friends, and experience a
very different way of life. And if you’re happy in your life, you’ll be happy
in your study.
Tips No.4 Take a reality check
Now that you have found your dream, let’s just stop
a minute and make sure it’s realistic. Can you afford the flights, tuition and
cost of living? Do you need to have certain qualifications first – English
language proficiency, GMAT scores? Don’t get discouraged – a pathway program
may be all you need to cross those hurdles. And if this really is your passion,
then prove it in your scholarship application and you may get some financial
help.
Tips No.5 Do your homework
You need to narrow down all your options to about
five real, practical choices. That takes a lot of research. This
website is a good place to start, then go online and ask questions in
student discussion groups or register for online chats. Read student blogs
to see what it’s really like. Glossy prospectuses don’t always tell you the
full story, so talk to people you know who have studied in that country or city
about what it’s really like.
Tips No.6 What’s important to you?
While you are researching, you’ll come up with all
kinds of different criteria to judge a university or course by. So make a
shortlist of the top three features you’re looking for. These could be school
ranking or prestige, research facilities, practical experience and internships,
cost of tuition, student support services, safety, social life, chance to
travel… there are so many variables, and what’s right for you may be completely
wrong for someone else.
Tips No.7 How do you like to study?
Hopefully you have some idea by now of how you
prefer to study. And hopefully the answer is not ‘by sleeping’ or ‘by crossing
my fingers as I walk into the exam hall.’ Some people prefer final exams,
others like regular assignments to keep them busy throughout the year. Some
like theory, others like practical hands-on application. Some like to work in
groups, others like to work individually. Some like to present their assignment
verbally, others prefer to create written reports. Choose a course that suits
your study style, and you will be more confident in your success. Or, if you
want to challenge yourself, choose a course that will take you out of your
comfort zone!
Tips No.8 Look at your career prospects
Studying overseas can be expensive, so think of it
as an investment in your future. And that means your career and your salary.
Find out where other international students at that university have worked
after graduation, and if there’s an active alumni network, or the opportunity
to meet industry leaders during your course.
Tips No.9 Focus on the detail
Every subject has so many different options, so it’s
good to know the most specific interest you have. Engineering students could
study anything from bio-medical engineering to civil engineering. So if you’d
rather build bridges than human body parts, understand that before you sign up.
Tips No.10 You can always change your mind
Yes, this is an important decision. But if you get
there and you realise you’ve made a terrible mistake, it’s not too late. Talk
to the student counsellor on campus, and see if there are better options for
you there. Don’t spend the next five years of your life staring at textbooks
you have no interest in whatsoever. Remember, it’s all about your passion –
keep the excitement alive, and you will succeed!
