How to choose the right course and university to study

Do not misquote the post title, for there is no such thing as the wrong course. if something is not right doesn’t mean it is wrong. Every year, students are faced with making a decision on which course to study in a higher institution. In fact, you make hundreds, if not thousands of decisions, each day. These decisions range from what to eat for breakfast to what to wear today.

Other decisions require more thought, for example, which school to attend, and the required qualification. One important thing to keep in mind with making career choices (such as choosing a qualification) is that you will ask others for information about your decision, but in the end, the responsibility is yours to evaluate the information you have and to make the final decision.

It would also be important for you to be able to distinguish between facts and opinions. People have different ways of making decisions – through conscious effort or overtime influence. Conscious effort simply means understanding the self and thorough examination of one’s abilities, and environs without eternal influence.

A conscious effort can be aided through guidance and counseling (preferably by external personnel). But some prefer to gather a lot of information and then weigh all the options in terms of positives and negatives; others solve problems by eliciting opinions from others.

There are two primary agents that influence your decision when choosing a course to study.
1. Peer group.
2. Family. (It can be a direct or indirect influence)

Direct means can be by telling you to study a particular course because I blah blah blah and blah. Go study this study because my friend is the CEO of blah blah. Am not against this as some parents may have good intentions.
Indirect means could be through observation and direct (though not important) engagement.

For example, an Artist whose child also helps out in daily activities may end up pursuing an artistic course/career. A Pharmacist whose child helps out in dispensing drugs over the counter may end up pursuing a course related to Medicine.

How then can I choose the right course to study

There is no definite answer because we humans are different and complicated. I am not going to direct you on how or what to do, I will only provide guidance and the decision will be yours. Many students look to the future when choosing a course to study, where they will work and how much they can earn. Am not faulting that thought yet let me remind you that the future is slippery.

Don’t choose a course because you want to use the degree to earn a living by working in oil companies, telecommunication industries etc… wake up… that’s is not the right way to make a decision on career choice. Earning a living with your degree doesn’t guarantee you the happiness you desire. If you examine yourself well, you may be someone like me who doesn’t like to be bossed around.

I will advise you again to choose a course that is somewhat related to what you love doing. You should also learn a trade. A trade serves as a backup to your degree. When your degree certificate fails to get you a job, you can easily fall back on your trade. You should ask yourself, what do I really love doing? Do I love singing, and selling, do I love to talk? There must be a thing which is of interest to you and there is a related course for such.

Now that we have established how to choose a course to study, another important thing to consider is the High Institution of study…

If your desire is to become an educationist, your best is to follow the path of College of Education. There exist Faculty of education in Universities, but they cannot be compared to the College of Education because it is a specialized institution focusing on education only. Before you choose where to study, you must consider the following

• The Fees
• The Distance
• The Environment
• Vulnerability to Strike
• Type of Degree
• Academic Calendar
• Acceptable O/A Level result

Fee
90% of drop-out occurred due to the inability to pay tuition fees. Most students don’t prepare a budget or understand the place of a budget when choosing a higher institution to study. There are no universally acceptable fees or fixed. Some Universities increase fees yearly. Do your homework before you make a decision.

The Distance:
Some students like it far others prefer the nearest location. Your health should be a major determiner of location. If you are your parent’s parent – You should take distance at hand.

School Environment:
The cost of living, traditions, culture and the weather should be on the desk of the decision. If you’re allergic to dust like me, some Northern part is a no-go area. The cost of living is crucial. What you would buy in the North for 100Naira, you may buy in the south for 1100Naira.

Vulnerability to Strike:
Do your research well… Some schools bend quickly to the call of ASUU. You don’t want to spend 7 years in place instead of 4 years. Think twice before leaping.

Academic Calendar-
Some private and federal institutions can finish a 4 years course within a space of 3 years. Some can linger on for 5 years. You should consider this also.

Acceptable O/A level result-
Some University doesn’t accept two sittings. In fact, some will indicate the type of grade required in specific secondary school subjects for a course. And for those driving through the route of Advanced Level (A/level) ensure you also find out which Nigerian Universities do accept IJBM, JUPEB, Cambridge, etc, and the conditions attached.