Answer to your COLLEGE DiLLEMA

One of the greatest dilemmas of a senior high school student is choosing the right course and school that fits their lifestyle and standards. Nowadays, many are still confused about this issue and some even considers it as a major crisis. But because of the modern technology, it is now easier for people to communicate. That is our main objective to give advices to our fellow students who are still uncertain in selecting their profession. Here are some guidelines that will help you:

♠ choosing the right course

Choosing the right course is an essential step in ensuring that your university years are memorable, but making that decision isn't easy. So before you fill in your application form, ask yourself a few questions

· What should I study?
Research shows that if you pick a course you're really interested in, you're more likely to get good results. Remember also that by studying for a degree you are increasing your employment and salary prospects as employers value the skills and experience that graduates gain.
Make sure you pick a course because you are interested in the subject, not because someone else thinks it’s a good idea.

· Where do I start?
If you know what career you want to follow, talk to careers advisors, professional organizations and people you know who are already working in that field. If you’re not sure what you want to do when you leave university don't worry, you’re not alone.
Look for a course that offers real workplace experience, or has professional accreditation or exemptions from professional examinations. Check also what options your course allows for changing direction if you change your mind.

· How do I get on a course?
Read brochures, go to fairs, request further information, speak to admissions tutors and attend open days. It’s vital that you find out as much as possible about the course you want to study and the place you're thinking of studying at.
Check the entry requirements for each course to make sure you have studied the right subjects and are likely to get the right grades.


Tips:

· Choose the career where you think you could excel most in the field you are good at. Remember that it’s best to work in a certain career that you really like because if you dislike what you have chosen, it will need three times of the effort: First, you will exert effort to resist the work, second, you will do the work and lastly, you will push yourself to work.

· You should carefully consider anything that someone else tells you. Not everyone is interested in the same material as you and not everyone likes the same professors as you. You will never know what a class is like until you take it but you must be a bit skeptical about what other people tell you.

· No matter what major, minor, or certificate you are working towards you are going to have required courses. Most programs have courses set in a particular order that you can’t really stray from but there are usually a few choices that you can make. No one wants their last semester of senior year to be the toughest. Do the things you have to do as soon as possible. This will allow you to do the things you want to later on.

· Make The Best Of What You Have. No matter what you do you will probably end up with a professor or class that you don’t really enjoy. If you get upset about it and spend all your time complaining you will be miserable, you won’t learn anything, and you’ll probably get a bad grade. Some times you just have to buckle down and work your way through a tough course. If you try to have a positive attitude about things they will be easier to get though. It may be tough but learning isn’t meant to come easy.

♠ choosing the right school

So you've finally chosen the career path to take, and in turn, the technologies you need to learn. Now comes the unenviable task of choosing the right educational style for you. There is no school out there that's right for everyone, so you must consider many factors with regards to your own lifestyle as well as what you want out of your education.

When it is time to start selecting your college or university sit down and make a list of criteria. That will make selecting the perfect school easier. This list should include things like the type of degrees offered, location, and size, public versus private cost, financial aid packages, graduation rates, employment rate, resources, social life, housing options, entry expectations, and staff.

Bear in mind that this is the place you will be spending the next four years your life. Make sure you are comfortable. Make the most of your time on the campus. Before you even arrive at the campus read all the literature that you have been sent, learn as much as for possible from the literature and write down any questions you might have before stepping foot on the college grounds. By the time you arrive on the campus know what you are looking for, know exactly what you can and cannot live with before visiting.

Take the standard campus tour but also make time to form your own opinions, talk to current students, try to meet some of the professors you may have at your first year. Are these people you can spend the next four years of your life with? Try to locate a current copy of the campus newspaper. This newspaper will help give you an idea of the culture of the campus. How consistent is everybody? Do the student’s opinions seem to match the faculty's? When you go to visit a college, ask if it might be possible to audit a class in progress.

For students who simply don't have the time or the money to make the trip, most colleges and universities now offer a virtual tour of their campus. While these in no way replace the benefits of visiting the college in person, they will at least give the student an idea of the campus layout.

Keep a journal so you can record all of your impressions of each school.