Decision time: How to Ace University Course Choice for Application in 2024
Where to start for University applications?
University is an opportunity to engage with one subject in a sustained and in-depth way. Often, studying a subject at university can change your ideas about it entirely; you’ll question how the subject is defined and what its principles are, and you’ll ask yourself its relevance to the world and to your own life. Since you’ll be so absorbed within one area of study at university, it is crucial that you choose a subject which you’ll be motivated to explore throughout the duration of your course. Often a good place to start when making this decision is identifying which subject you don’t feel finished with; what are you itching to explore more? What are you most curious about? Intellectual curiosity is the driving force behind the process of completing any university degree, so choose the subject that you are most interested in. Beyond this, there are three questions to ask yourself when choosing which subject to pursue beyond school and answering them may reveal or consolidate your choice of degree.
What am I good at?
The first question to ask yourself when considering what to study at university is where your strengths lie. It’s important to be honest with yourself about this; the workload at top-tier universities is large, and it’s therefore crucial that you apply for a subject in which you are confident that you’ll be able to keep up without undue strain. You’ll be introduced to new concepts and content each week and will often be expected to reach an understanding of this material independently, so the greatest advantage you can give yourself is to choose a subject that you’re good at. However, being ‘good’ at something doesn’t mean innate talent; it means being able to apply yourself consistently to the subject, giving it your best effort and focus, and getting decent results as a consequence of your hard work. If you find a subject ‘difficult’, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s the ‘wrong’ subject to choose; Einstein said to a high-school student in 1943, ‘do not worry about your difficulties in mathematics. I can assure you that mine are still greater’, illustrating how finding something difficult can be a natural consequence of reaching a high level. However, ask yourself how you might deal with difficulty in your chosen subject: would you freeze? Or would you be motivated to wrestle with the problem until you could come up with an answer? If the latter is the case, then that subject might be the one for you.
What do I most enjoy?
Connected to the question of what you are best at is the question of what you most enjoy. Often areas of strength will coincide with areas which you are most enthusiastic and curious about. Is there a subject where you really look forward to lessons and assignments? Passion for your subject is one of the key things that university interviewers look for in prospective students, and it can be demonstrated through evidence of having gone beyond your A-Level syllabus. So, not only will the enjoyment of your subject make your time at university better, it will actually significantly increase your chances of being accepted by your chosen university. Therefore, whilst advice from parents and teachers is invaluable in many ways when applying to university, when actually choosing your subject, pay attention to your own voice first. Passion for your subject can’t be faked, so it’s important that you pursue the area which excites you most.
What do I want to do after university?
A key question which arises in relation to choosing what to study at university is what kind of career you might like to do after completing higher education. Whilst it isn’t necessarily the case that you’ll face a choice between a better-paid option and a more enjoyable option, it is true that certain career paths are significantly more lucrative than others, and it’s worth bearing in mind how important this is to you when choosing which subject to study at university. Also, the nature of the British university system means that you’ll be studying one (or possibly two) subject(s) in a highly specialised way from the start, so when deciding which subject to apply for, do lots of research about what kinds of jobs most people tend to go on to do with different degrees. For example, vocational subjects such as Engineering, Law and Medicine will guide you directly to specific jobs, whereas subjects such as History, Maths or Foreign Languages leave various pathways open. If you aren’t yet sure what you want to do after university, such courses will leave you with a wide range of options.
How can I go about answering these questions?
When asking yourself these questions, it can be helpful to write down the subjects you are considering studying and to research what the courses for these subjects involve at the universities you are applying to. Choose the course before the university, because subjects can vary hugely between different institutions; for example, the Oxford English course involves studying Old English in the original language, something which is not compulsory at any other university at undergraduate level. In this way, different courses change what your subject will involve, so prioritise this when deciding where to apply.
In addition, write down the pros and cons of studying each of the subjects you are considering. This will help you to clarify your options. Also, remember that there are many courses at universities, such as Biomedicine, which don’t correspond exactly to A Level courses, so look into these too.
Finally, talk to people who have studied the subjects you’re interested in, and discuss with them their experience of the transition from school to university. This will help you to decide whether the subject at degree level is right for you. But above all, this is your decision! Don’t rush it, and don’t let anyone else tell you what to study.
By Sarah (English Language and Literature, Oxford - U2 Tutor)
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