It’s finally come time for you to have a say in your own education – to choose which subjects you will carry through with you to matric, and which you’ll say a cheery “Hasta la vista, baby” to. But before you make the final call, are you sure you’ve considered all the angles? Or will a coin flip define what you do with the rest of your life? These five tips will help you ensure you’re making the right decisions for the right reasons.
- Don’t take the path of least resistance
High school has so much to offer, from socialising with friends to endless sporting pursuits, and it’s understandable that many students see this upcoming decision as an opportunity to spend less time on homework and more time doing the things they enjoy. However, the subjects you choose could open or close doors when it comes to choosing your career at a later stage. That’s why the compatibility and practical applications of your final choices are worth putting a little thought into.
- Forget about what you’re good at
It might seem counter intuitive to trade Accounting for Art, especially if you’re getting a distinction for the first and scraping a B for the second. But for many people, the greater challenge is often the more appealing option. What you’re good at means nothing if it doesn’t align with what you like and what you want for your future.
- Figure out what you like and how you can use it
Which classes do you look forward to? What are your interests? How do they manifest in the real world? Use questions like this to determine one or a few career options that appeal to you. This will give you a clearer idea of which subjects you are most attracted to, and will eventually make your final decision simpler.
- Do your research
Once you have a better idea of what career path you want to follow, you just need to find out what it takes to get you there. Read up on the relevant qualifications, investigate which universities offer them and what the admission requirements are to be accepted. Then fine tune the list you have already compiled.
- Maths and Science – take one or both
These two subjects tend to be the most daunting, but they are also the most frequently non-negotiable. Medicine, Forensics, Architecture, Finance, Engineering… there’s a plethora of fields that you are barred from without one or both subjects. Your safest bet is to take them both and broach any challenges that come with them, through convenient and effective personalised education, like the kind Top Dog offers.
