What Should I Study at University? Tools, not Theory
It all starts with a question: "What do you want to contribute to in the world, what makes my heart sing?". Get the tools you need to make it a reality.
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Picking a field of study, and the university that most caters to your needs, is a nerve-wrecking and difficult affair for most. Either fresh out of high-school with limited experience, or during a career shift. We have limited bearings as to where the exciting and wild journey that is our career should take us, and we all do the one thing we can, the one thing we are constantly told to do: study the topic we are passionate about. In choosing our degrees, we are often times failing to ask ourselves the crucial questions:
What is it that we want to have an impact on?
How do we like to work?
Am I a steady character with a clear interest profile, or am I more flexible and my motivations and interests change over time?
Say you are interested in protecting marine habitats against environmental degradation and become a steward of the oceans. Do you need university to teach you about ocean currents, weather systems, reproductive rates and changing climate conditions impeding reproductive rates of fish? Or could you simply read about these for a fraction of the price by simply buying the book the university teaches?
What your choice of university and degree should teach you are the practical tools you need to work on marine conservation in a way that floats your boat (pun intended).
Do you like deep-thinking, analysis, working on data and modelling, tinkering away on your own? Consider a career in research and make sure your degree gives you the practical skills required (hint: statistics and software).
Are you a people person, someone who thrives on interaction with others and feels energized in complex social settings? Consider a career in politics or public affairs and make sure your degree focuses on psychology, group dynamics and negotiation tactics.
Are you a person who loves flexible career paths and the ability to make change through capital and large-scale transformation projects? Consider a career in the private sector, and ensure that your degree teaches you how businesses operate, what they are motivated by, and possibly add a smidge of international law for leverage.
The bottom line is this: we can attain theoretical expertise on our own in most cases (we are excluding fields such as medicine, law etc.). The degree you choose should be focused on giving you the tools, credibility and access for the work environment in which you can unfold your natural talents the best.
Many roads lead to Rome, and even university is no longer a pre-requisite for achieving your life-goals. Introspect, figure out what makes you come alive beyond the mere topic you're passionate about, and go for the how of coming alive at work.
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Nikki and Tom