Trust Your Instinct: How to Find the Perfect College Course
A true romantic would compare the choosing of a college course to choosing a life partner. It wouldn't be hard to see the similarities, as it should involve hard work. It could be a part of a wonderful future if things go right. Agree or disagree?
Finding the perfect (degree) course should take some time. You've been reading for hours, and your parents notice it. You want to pursue writing after reading "Animal Farm". The political themes didn't intrigue you, not also prompt you to look at the other works of Orson Welles. It was rather Benjamin Renner's "The Big Bad Fox and Other Tales...", and how one subplot would remind you of the Marx Brothers. You may be a huge fan of those old, black-and-white films, but this won't be good enough. The decider would be your recent holiday in Edinburgh, where your grandparents live. You're fascinated at cemeteries especially tombstones and structures as old and mysterious as Waterloo Place. You wonder about the obelisk, also the National Monument of Scotland. You've been thinking about studying History as well, but you're having second thoughts about a dual degree. Are you up to it?
You're thinking about studying literature, and you're assessing the merits of studying literature and history. The next section should help you in making an important decision.
Looking at the Sheer Volume of Information and Studying It
What will be the coursework like? The answer to the question could intimidate you, as there's a sheer volume of information out there. Everyone claims to be an expert, yet you wonder whose advice you would take heed. If you're aspiring for a Literature degree, ask your admissions tutor about the modules. You may have the option to study genres that you like, but think about the few years of hard labor. Will your enthusiasm be good enough? The same thing applies to history. (It’s the same thing with science, and so on.) If you're shopping for a university, make a mental note. Compare and contrast your short list later. The outcome wouldn't be enough.
Ask questions, but don't discount your instinct. You'll be pressed with more questions, which has nothing to do with the coursework. You must be able to get a sense of the place, which should help you decide if you fit in this college or not. Be warned about the eye-catching images that you see in the websites and the glossy prospectus you look through. It may be too good to be true, so it should be better to visit it. If your (choice of) course requires you to use equipment, there won't be any harm in asking older students about it. Assumption would be a mistake, and regret could be costly. A campus visit may take time, even cause a bit of discomfort. It would help you steer clear of the mistakes that other students who didn't do their homework thoroughly.
Do you see yourself as a happy student? You can answer this question after checking out the night life. You don't want to think long and hard about it after inquiring about gym membership. And you're relieved about your parents not meddling in your decision. All of these could be factors that influence your state of mental health, yet there are other things to consider. The cost of accommodation, which should make you decide in choosing home or the dorm. It could be the clubs and societies or the lack of. It could be the other students you meet, where one could be your friend. It would motivate you whenever the going gets tough. It might sound melodramatic, but there would be days when you wonder if you're willing to give it all. You could do more than you are required, but adulthood isn't all play. You should figure it out during your first year. This applies to introvert teenagers and those between introvert and extrovert.
Looking at Optional Extras on Offer
You must be smart at this very young age, aware that a college degree would be insufficient. If one of your preferred universities has an internship program, don’t be hesitant to proceed slowly to this option. The other colleges have internship programs as well, yet a careful investigation leaves you unsatisfied. You can’t pinpoint a particular aspect, but you can’t shake off that gut feeling. It doesn’t end here, though.
Your tutor would be the first person to approach after you become aware of your struggles. In this regard, it’s important to check out the tutor system. Is your (assigned) tutor available all the time? The answer to this question would include another aspect of your relationship with your tutor. You become personal at one point, and your tutor has other things to think about. Make it clear from the very beginning.
You must never take your mental health for granted, as the little things would determine if you’re truly happy or not. It doesn’t mean that you won’t forego your spoiled upbringing. This is your chance to show that you can do it on your own, even make decisions that adult do. You have a support system, even bigger than you suspect. Reach out to them, and strive to be happy.
