It's not easy to decide what degree to study or what professional career to pursue

At NoSeQueEstudiar we share some simple points and recommendations that can help you on the path of learning and self-discovery, as a starting point we invite you to try our Guidance Test.

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Maybe you have known since you were a child that you want to be a doctor or visual artist and you know exactly what you have to learn to reach your own goals or develop your career. But it's not that easy for everyone. The global educational offering provides endless possibilities for developing skills.

Many people ask themselves “What am I going to study?” “What am I going to learn?” and the answer will depend on many personal factors and interests, such as the time of life you're in, your opportunities, your environment, your family, etc.

Don't force yourself to choose the same as your parents

Although career development today is very different from what our parents experienced, owning your career and finding opportunities for continuous growth will lay the foundation for continued success, no matter what path your career takes.

Today progress in a career is rarely linear. Young people change jobs several times in the first decade after graduating from university and companies as employers already expect their employees to stay for less than two years.

A person can chart a course from science to finance and to technology, and at each step increase their learning capacity, for example they can start their career working in a role as a data scientist for a pharmaceutical company and after working for a season decide to prepare to make a change in their career, then take part in different leadership programs to reach the expected role, later this person may become interested in starting their own company and leave the corporate world for that of an entrepreneur.

What do you like to do?

This should always be the number 1 factor to consider when you decide what to study or learn. What do you consider important in a career? Are you looking for something very theoretical, more practical, do you have time for five years of learning or are you looking for something short that will quickly prepare you to work in a particular field?

What are your favorite subjects in school and which subjects are you good at?

Because of course, you might love math, but if you struggle to get good grades in this subject, maybe a degree dedicated to math may not be a realistic option.

Do I want to earn a lot of money or do what I love?

Of course we all want to do what we love and also earn well. But it is not always possible and a good degree choice is closely related to your chances of earning an above-average salary. Not interested in earning a lot? That's okay too! Then choose the career of your dreams.

Talk to different people about their career

It's hard to decide what to study, or even harder, what to work in, if you still don't know what activities and responsibilities are linked to the different careers. Especially if you don't have much work experience yet, we recommend talking to the people around you about their work.

What do you have to be good at to do that job?

What do they like about it and what is the most attractive aspect of their work? If you love being in lively environments and meeting new people, a job in a laboratory possibly wouldn't make you happy.

Look for new points of view, sometimes we see ourselves differently from how others see us. It's worth asking the people you know if they think the chosen career or degree seems suitable for you.

Success can mean many things, it's up to you as an individual to choose which aspects are most important. But even with a vision, it can be difficult to see which path represents the best way to achieve it.

Nowadays, it's necessary to be proactive when setting a direction, You don't need to wait for a great opportunity or a life-changing moment.

To be proactive in your career you can:

Take stock of what you have learned. All achievements are built on the basis of what you have learned. keep a record of how you have grown weekly and monthly, including formal and informal learning opportunities. Know exactly what skills you have added to your leadership ability.
Meet someone new. Meeting new people, whether peers, potential mentors or experts in areas you want to learn more about, will increase your exposure to new perspectives and provide insight into your own development.
Set a new goal. After looking back to see what you have learned, it is equally important to focus on future progress by specifying one thing you want to achieve. Like any good goal, your professional goal should be clear and measurable and, to create momentum, should lead naturally to the next goal on your list.

Visit formal and informal events, academies, universities, Institutes, schools and educational centers

It is impossible to make a good decision about where and what to study without having visited different options. Especially if you are going to spend years of your life in an institution, you will want to know what the atmosphere is like, whether teachers are accessible and what students are like.

Most institutions will give you the opportunity to visit them and experience it firsthand. If you plan to pursue a university or technical degree or a practical course, you will want to see what the laboratories, materials and tools you will work with are like. You will notice that each institution has its own “vibe” and that you will soon realize where you will feel most comfortable.

Of course, you cannot be guided by the vibe of a place alone. Ask questions. You will want to know:

What is this degree good for?
Is this a Virtual degree?
Is this degree accredited?
How many students are there per classroom during the course?
Is there a lot of teamwork involved?
Which subjects are part of the program?
What percentage of students finish the degree/the course?
How are exams carried out?

Keep the budget in mind

To be able to select an institution and a degree or a course, budget can be a limiting factor. Learning costs in any country can vary greatly from one institution to another. The cost of your education will also depend on the degree you choose, there are degrees where you will have to buy many books or tools.

For a degree in dentistry for example, you will have to make a significant investment in equipment, and for a Latin American literature course you will have to acquire many books.

In the case of universities, ask for complete information about tuition costs and other expenses related to a degree or a course before enrolling. However, the budget issue cannot be decisive in the process of making a decision about what you want for your future.

If you are sure about what you want to learn, you will find a way, perhaps through scholarships, credit or student loans.

Nowadays, success can mean getting to do what you are most passionate about or creating positive change in the world. It can mean taking your talents to the limit or being able to adapt to whatever comes your way.