How to decide on your future

• Your final years at school ?
• Where do I start?
• What subjects should I choose?

Your Final Years at school

This is an exciting time. It’s time to start thinking about life after school – your future career, where you want to go, what you want to be and whether or not you will go to university. You’ll probably change your mind many times over, and it helps to choose HSC subjects that will keep your future study and career options open. This will depend on:

• your interests
• your ability
• the subjects offered at your school

Where do I start?

A good starting point is to think about jobs or careers that interest you. Start to investigate the required qualifications for the field you’re interested in. Check out which universities offer relevant degrees and find out what subjects are recommended for study in Years 11 and 12.

We advise you to do as much background research as you can:

• If possible, speak to someone who specialises in an area of study that interests you and ask them about their job. Visit them in their workplace or arrange work experience. See if you can picture yourself in that field of expertise.
• Similarly, if you know someone who has studied or is studying an interesting program at uni, chat to them about their experience.
• Read as much as you can about the careers and areas of study you are considering.
• Talk to your Careers Advisor or teachers.
• Ask your family and friends for their opinions and ideas.
• A lot of helpful information is located on the University of Wollongong website. It contains details about the University, the faculties, courses and subject descriptions. Just log on to: www.uow.edu.au/prospective
• Think realistically about your academic skills and interests. What subjects are you good at? What do you like to study?
• Speak to friends and family about the courses and jobs they have done since Year 12.
• Refer to careers resources at your school, in libraries and on the Internet. Get information about courses at tertiary institutions.
• Attend university campus tours. The best way to get a feel for an institution and what it might be like to study there is to actually look around the place and speak to teaching staff and students. The University of Wollongong runs campus tours Monday to Friday, all year round. Call 1300 367 869 to book a tour.
• Familiarise yourself with the ‘assumed knowledge’ and ‘recommended knowledge’ of the courses you may wish to study at university.

What subjects should I choose?

It is advisable not to base your subject choices on the following:

• Friends: Your friends often have different abilities, interests and motivations from yours.
• Teachers: Don’t select a subject because your favourite teacher may be teaching it. Teachers are often given other classes or change schools. Choose for yourself!
• Excursions: Many subjects have interesting excursions. Don’t endure two years of misery for one particular excursion if you are not suited to that subject.
• Rumours: It is pointless to study a subject you are not interested in, or not good at, because of rumours about jobs or marks or UAI weightings.
• ‘Easy Subjects’: None of the subjects you will be able to select from are ‘easy’ subjects. Your success in any subject depends on your commitment and enthusiasm.
• Boys’ subjects or Girls’ subjects: There are no separate subjects for boys or girls. If you are good at or interested in a subject then it is for you.

To help you choose your subjects, go to our Download Brochures page and get the Future Finder.

For information on scaling and subject selection check out UAI & Scaling.

*Adapted from information provided by the NSW Department of Education and Training. For more information go to: www.schools.nsw.edu.au/gotoschool/highschool/startingyear11.php

Last reviewed: 3 January, 2007