By Kaya 959 Lifestyle
An education specialist is sharing expert tips for matriculants who are not sure what they want to study.
The class of 2020 received their National Senior Certificate exam results this week.
Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga revealed that a pass rate of 76.2% was achieved.
Gauteng is the second-best performing province in the country with a pass rate of 83.8%.
There are hundreds of courses available at many tertiary institutions and choosing the right one can be challenging.
Choosing the right course
Educational Psychologist Stacey Cohen from Budding Minds reveals how matriculants can go about choosing their courses.
“It is important to consider various factors when choosing a degree or course. Many students enter courses or degrees not knowing enough about it,” says Stacey.
She adds that “it is important to do your research about what the course or degree entails”.
“Consider the length of the course as well as the financial expectations of the courses and if there are bursary or scholarship options available.”
Learners also need to ensure they pick the right institution.
For instance, the same course might have different modules and differ in duration depending on whether you are studying at a University or University of Technology or TVET.
So, it’s important to consider which institution is best in line with the vision you have for your career.
‘Nick Inspires SA’ also shared some interesting tips on YouTube.
Consider your passion and personality
Stacey warns against choosing a course “because a parent has suggested, or a friend is doing that course.”
It is also not advisable to base your decision purely on the salary you could earn.
Even though earning a high salary is good, being stuck in a career you hate for the rest of your life is not advisable. You can still make money by following your passion and climbing the corporate ladder.
“It is important to pursue a course or degree in which one finds passion, excitement and joy as that will ensure a better chance at success,” says Stacey.
Your personality also plays a huge role in the type of career you want to pursue.
For instance, if you are passionate about fixing things, you might want to follow a career in mechanical engineering rather than medicine.
“If a student is still unsure of which path to choose, they can go for a career assessment with an educational psychologist or at various tertiary institutions.
“This may help them choose the right course or degree for them,” says Stacey.
There are also plenty of online career aptitude tests you can take to help you determine which course is best suited for you, or you can also contact Stacey on [email protected].
