8 STEPS BEFORE COLLEGE
Often many students come to a crossroad after they have completed their Matriculation or Grade 10 studies from a school. As Frost says,
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both.
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Decision-making, is, therefore, not eating a piece of cake. It involves a number of factors to be considered before we come to a conclusion. And so is the case for many school graduates as to what stream and faculty of studies they should opt for a prospective career not merely after 5 years but in the next 2 decades. Hence the selection of the right stream plays an instrumental role in fulfilling the aspirations of the students as professionals. But the most decisive task that defines a student's future or career goal demands how s/he choose the stream (Science and Technology, Management or, Humanities and Social Sciences in Indian subcontinent) or Science or Non-Science pertaining to GCSE AS/A Levels). Today most city students visit professional career counselors to exactly know their potentials and niche to not regret later. However, the majority of our students do not have easy access to these counselors for several reasons.
But don't you worry! I have some 8 steps before college tips for all of you as to what you should consider before opting for the right stream that befits your potential strength. Let's see the flowchart below and have some idea on each of the elements of this chart.
1. Your Interest and Aptitude
The first and foremost factor you need to consider is your interest and aptitude. By now you must have identified as a 10th graduate what subject of studies you most enjoyed at least in the past two years like since Grade-8. Just recollect what you did the best and how you met the deadlines of the assignments handed. If you remember you enjoyed and did the best in Mathematics, Computer Science, General Sciences and English, your college course niche is the Stream of Science and Technology. Join a good nearby college without a second thought. But if you enjoyed and did better in Languages and Social studies, you may think of Humanities and Social Sciences where you can opt a great combination of subjects like Economics, History, Culture, Literature, Mass Communication, and even Mathematics, besides many other choices. Your aptitude (natural ability) together with your joy in studies plays a decisive role.
2. Check Career Prospects
This is by far the fundamental aspect of preparing and performing the best in our studies in K-12 education. Traditionally speaking, most parents already have a goal set for their children and put similar efforts and even 'pressure' on them en route to that goal like a medical doctor, an engineer, a pilot, in the first priority. Similarly, a banker, a business entrepreneur, a government service person on the second list, and a teacher, a politician, or a social worker on the last list- all depending on the basis of the income and nobility. However, the situation is a lot different these days. There are many other career paths and prospects which can even surpass the traditional choices both in income and nobility. So, if you are planning to be one of the first priority scopes, you may not rethink more but join the stream of Science and Technology under any board curricula like NEB (Nepal Board) CBSE, ICSE, (Indian Central Boards, GCSE, (UK Board/Cambridge University) IPDP (International Baccalaureate Diploma Program), HSD (High School Degree/Diploma, HSE (High School Education) in the US. In other cases, you have extensive flexibility of subject choices in the courses of most boards except the IBDP. The courses are designed to cater to the requirements of the forthcoming economic society that remain pertinent to the next 30-40 years and more.
3. Talk to Parents
If there is anyone who unconditionally thinks for the betterment of children they are either parents or teachers. Our parents, however traditional or conservative they might appear, love their children more than themselves. Ask it not to test it. It's immeasurable. Why you need to talk to your parents is because they are the financers and sponsors of your studies. The course amount differs from one board to the other and you can not go beyond the size of your parents' pocket. Besides, they have seen the ups and downs in their own careers over time. Hence if your interests match-no conflict in the choice of your subjects towards the goal already set by your parents. Given your choice is Music, Art, or Sports and it contradicts that of your parents'-Medicine or Engineering, just stay calm and talk about the possible benefits of opting for a different course of study, but let them not feel that you were rebelling against their will. Additionally, if the situation demands, you can either visit or send for a teacher/ guidance counselor to convince your parents.
4. Don't Follow the Mass
As Plato says the majority of people can not make the right decision whereupon they are the ruled and very few become the rulers. Not everyone's mind is engineered the same way to either think or act the same ways and the same tasks. It's your life and it's your choice- do what best befits your true potential based on your interest, aptitude, and economic background of your family unless there are external sponsors. In the beginning, you are likely to be emotionally guided than your rational sense. It's not so easy either to be far and do a different course of study than your friend(s) with whom you spent a long studying and playing together. But it's the prime time of your life to think and act from a different perspective because you are going to a super responsible citizen learner who is all set to attain the goal at all costs. Fortunately, there are hundreds of areas and scopes towards shaping your career. You may listen to many but make your own decisions considering all these factors discussed here.
5. Seek a Guidance Counsellor
A guidance counselor is the right person you need to seek when you fail to make the right decision or solve a problem generally related to your plans for further studies.
You might be very fortunate to have a guidance counselor at your school and therefore not required to visit a separate educational consultant stationed in downtown areas. Spare no chance and attend his seminars or visit edufairs independently organized by the US/UK/Australian/Indian/Chinese/German/Swedish Embassies at different intervals of the year. The guidance counselor at your school is a highly trained mentor who has been observing and closely monitoring your performance in all the spheres of school curricula thereby enabling him to provide you with the best advice; even better than most parents can. So do not undermine their roles and ignore their precious deliberations.
6. Scan Nearby Colleges
Having thoroughly gone through the factors discussed above, it's time for you to start scanning the nearby colleges as time matters a lot in a student's life.
Lucky enough! If you are a city dweller, you have a number of high schools that provide competitive classes at competitive costs. Before you get admitted, you need to make a checklist of the faculty along with their level of satisfaction, the management/administration, the co and extra-curricular programs, time flexibility, distance, on-campus study, and a huge study resource in an ambiance that not only inspires but also motivates you to increasingly make progress in your scope of studies. However, the students who belong to the suburbs and the country may have to seek hostel facilities. In such a scenario, look for the on-campus hostel as far as possible in another case rent the places nearest the college.
7. Think of Abroad Studies Too
Having an international academic degree is by far building a most prospective career for a student especially in many developing countries in Asia and Africa (just get an I-20 from a reputed school and work for the visa). They prepare the future human resource in the most rigorous and uncompromising furnaces that they can stand the test of all times. When your interest and your parents' pocket match, what should stop you from applying for an undergrad course in the American and European Universities and complete all your studies there? Needless to say, what makes these nations far developed and different than the rest-obviously the education! This gives you an exotic opportunity to learn and share your learning with a huge number of international students, besides learning about their cultures. This broadens the horizon of your world view too.
8. Work Hard
The only unflinching and ultimate promise to anyone's success in any endeavor is hard work. If coupled with perseverance, hard work never lets you down in any of your missions.
Having all the state of the art and hi-tech resources ornamented with a veteran faculty and equally supportive management and parents cannot guarantee a student's progress in his or her course of studies and other programs in a college as long as the student is not motivated and put corresponding effort to achieve the desired goal. S/he has to have the fire burning inside and not let the student rest before s/he gets the best fruit of the efforts put in due course. Hard work is, therefore, both timeless and spaceless, it makes no difference or mistakes in rewarding the aspirants as per their portion of participation and performance.
Conclusion
Choosing the right course of study or the most suitable stream has been a tough task for many. It is mostly because our children are uncared for and untrained in this area. Teaching young students some of the leadership skills like decision making, team building, problem-solving, communicating, and meeting deadlines undoubtedly help them overcome a number of simple to complex life riddles (real-life problems). Schools have very big roles in fostering the towards becoming good decision-makers later. Making good decisions about choosing the right career path involves as many major and minor steps as discussed above, 8 steps before college, and hopefully, your long queued queries are satiated hereby towards achieving your aspirations without looking back at any point in this journey.
The End
