Did you know that 62.7% of high school graduates immediately attend college? While this is a magical time in many peoples’ lives, it’s also an undeniably stressful one.
A lot of this stress revolves around the countless university degrees that are available. Because of this wide selection, choosing the right one can feel like an impossible task.
Not only do you need to predict your future career interests, but you also need to weigh the pros and cons when it comes to things like salary, job outlook, and daily satisfaction.
So, how do you decide on a university degree that’s right for you? Simple: by reading this article! While we can’t promise that you’ll have a major at the end of it, we assure you that it will put you on the path to making a final decision.
What Do You Like? (And Dislike?)
The first question you should ask yourself when choosing a university degree is the simplest: What kind of things interest me? We recommend making a list of ten things that you love.
Don’t feel pressure to include things that are confined to the classroom. Once you have a list of ten things, look for any areas that might overlap. For example, let’s say you have technology and art on the same list.
If that’s the case, then a degree in graphic arts might be perfect for you. It’s important to also remember what you dislike. This can narrow down the list of acceptable degrees.
For example, if you’re an introvert, then you probably want to avoid degrees that lead to professions with a lot of socialization.
Business degrees typically lead to jobs that require a lot of talking and presenting. As such, this wouldn’t be the best option for you.
Do You Have Any Career Goals?
Some people enter university knowing exactly what type of dream job that they want to pursue. If you fall in this category, then you’re lucky.
Finding out which degree is right for you is just a matter of doing a little research.
Simply look up the job that you want and find out the educational requirements that are typically asked for. Then, choose the degree that best corresponds to that specific job.
What Are the Different Types of University Degrees?
It’s important to think about how far you’ll go in your educational career. If the job you want requires a graduate degree, then you will need to be prepared to be in school for a long time.
At this stage, it’s helpful to be familiar with all of the different types of degrees that you can get. They include:
- Associate’s degree – a two-year degree that results in either an associate of arts (AA) or associate of science (AS)
- Bachelor’s degree – the standard four to the five-year degree that results in a bachelor of arts (BA) or a bachelor of science degree (BS)
- Graduate degree – an advanced degree that you pursue after your bachelor’s. Results in a master of arts (MA) or master of science (MS).
- Doctoral degree – a Ph.D. that requires four more years of studying
Do You Prefer Job Satisfaction? Or the Highest Paying Job?
It’s now time to start thinking deeply about what’s more important to you: being happy at your job or being well paid at your job. For some lucky people, their dream job is also one that pays the most handsomely.
However, the reality is that the majority of people aren’t that lucky. At some point in your university career, you’re likely going to have to decide whether to pursue a degree because it interests you, or whether to pursue it because it leads to jobs in a high-paying field.
For example, if money and a high-paying job are important to you, then a STEM-related degree is your best bet. However, more and more students are starting to care more about the work that’s important to them than the money they make through it.
As such, they pursue careers in visual arts, dance, and education. Not because it will land them a high-paying job. But rather, because it makes them feel alive, happy, and fulfilled.
Even the university curriculum is shifting away from this money-oriented system. These days, the majority of universities stress the importance of the liberal arts degree. Liberal arts represents a wide umbrella of different disciplines.
And, while the liberal arts degree might dictate the lens of how you study, this education model focuses on the ‘how’ rather than the ‘what’. Liberal art degrees teach you how to be more curious about the world around you.
In this way, they set you up for lifelong education. Make sure to check out this resource if you want these Liberal Arts Degrees.
Speak to Your Advisor or Parents
Selecting a university degree isn’t something that should be taken lightly. As such, it’s helpful to get as much input as you possibly can. We recommend discussing it with your academic advisor.
They can likely walk you through some good options for degrees depending on where you’re at.
Also, discuss the issue with your parents. It’s important to listen to their advice, especially if they’re paying for your college tuition.
Decide on Your Degree Today
We hope this article helped you decide which one of the numerous university degrees is right for you. When picking a degree it’s easy to feel pressure from external sources.
After all, you want to please your parents or pick a career that feels safe and secure. However, at the end of the day, we recommend following your gut. The last thing you want is to feel stuck in a career that you hate just to satisfy your family or friends.
So, take a chance and study something that you know will interest you. That way, you are passionate about whatever you decide to pursue.
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