Tertiary Education: How To, What To? Help!

Leatia Stemmet is a Johannesburg based Counselling Psychologist (BA, UNISA; BA. Honours in Psychology, University of Johannesburg; Masters in Psychology, University of Pretoria, 2008), working with JMD Psychological Consulting.

Take a look at the company website at www.jmdpsych.com and feel free to email Ms Stemmet at leatia@jmdpsych.com

When choosing what to study at university/technikon etc, how do the subjects we’ve chosen for matric influence our decision?

Your subject choices in Grade 10-12 are considered to be very important for various reasons as it relates to future careers. For some courses certain subjects are necessary in order to apply, whereas for others the focus is more on the level at which you passed the subject. Thus, your percentages influence your Admission Point Score (APS), which determine whether or not you will be able to apply for a particular course.

Is it necessary to know what career field we want to go into when we start our tertiary education?

It is imperative to know which career field you want to pursue when you start your tertiary education, in order to avoid wasting time and financial resources. You might have an idea as to which career you think you would like to pursue, though might be somewhat unsure as to the specifics of the career itself. For example, you might know that you would like to work with numbers, but might not be aware of the many possible careers within this field. It would then be considered important to explore these different options by means of becoming familiar with the details, as well as how you as an individual would fit with these.

I’m a grade 11 student and I want to go to university, but I have no idea what to study. How can I find out what different study areas are out there?

Here I was thinking along the lines of looking online at various varsities / some universities have centres where students can ask about different study fields, subjects and can research various careers / look online to give you an idea in terms of ‘what’s out there’.

What do you think?

I’m in the process of looking into different tertiary education options. I believe it is important to study further after matric, but have no idea how to go about choosing what to study. What do I do?

When you have absolutely no idea as to what you would like to study, it is recommended that you undergo a thorough career assessment in order to assist your decision. These assessments entail several tests that provide an integrated profile of you as an individual, and generally include a personality test, an aptitude test, an interest questionnaire, and a value scale. The results subsequently enable a more informed decision about prospective careers.

As soon as you have more information regarding what is out there and which of these might fit with you as a person, you can start exploring the different options. It is considered beneficial to then speak to people in the fields that you are considering, as well as to do some research regarding the possible careers.

I’m a matric guy in the process of registering for tertiary education. I want to select subjects that ensure I will be able to find a job at the end of my degree. How do I do this?

When you enroll at a tertiary institution, the course that you register for should have set subjects that you can choose from. These have been selected in order to aid your studies, and are subsequently considered applicable within your chosen field. As your studies progress, you might be expected to specify a particular field of interest, though when this time comes you are generally more aware of exactly what it is that interests you. It is suggested that you consult with a lecturer on campus when you are uncertain, as they are experts in the field that you have selected, and have sufficient knowledge.

I’m 17 years old and want to be a singer. I could go to university and study singing. My parents think I should rather do a BCom, as they believe this will increase my chances of getting a good job. What should I think about as I try to make this decision?

Most parents are concerned about their children’s financial security and might be cautious to take risks with a career that they are either unfamiliar with or might view as too uncertain. Even though their intentions might be good, you might feel somewhat forced to now study something that you are not comfortable with. If they feel strongly about you having to study what they consider a more predictable career, then perhaps you need to negotiate and agree on a career path that you are more comfortable with. Thus, try to find a middle ground, and look into a course within the humanities or arts faculty, for example. However, this does not mean that you have to give up on your dream at all, and you should still explore different options that will enable you to move closer to your ideal end goal. Ideally your chosen course of study should be related to the career that you are ultimately striving for.

Can you suggest some basic steps we should follow in choosing what to study and a career field?

The first step is to have self-knowledge and know what it is that you like in general. For example, do I want to work with numbers, people, or animals? Do I want to work inside an office, or outside in nature? Do I want to travel for work? The list is endless, and it can seem rather daunting at times, and you might need some assistance in answering these questions.
Undergoing a career assessment is considered beneficial for the most part, as researched tests will help you determined some of these questions, which will then be further explored in a discussion.
As soon as you have some direction, you should spend significant time on researching prospective careers, whilst focusing on your likes and dislikes within each.
Speak to individuals who work within your field of interest in order to gain more insight.
Determine the exact course of study that you want to enroll for.
Set up appointments at the different tertiary institutions in order to determine which one fits the best with you.