Shaping your future path through your choice of major

Choosing the right major and university to secure future employment is a major concern for many students and parents as they prepare for the 2025 college admissions season. According to education experts, this is a crucial time for millions of students nationwide as they prepare for the high school graduation exam and university/college entrance exams.

A student asks questions about choosing a suitable major and career at a college admissions counseling program. Photo: NHU THANH

Should you study a "hot" major or one that matches your abilities?

As of now, with just over two months remaining until the 2025 High School Graduation Exam, many universities have announced their admission plans and quotas, including newly opened and "hot" majors that attract student interest such as: Artificial Intelligence; Electronic and Telecommunications Engineering; Semiconductors and Integrated Circuits; Automotive and Mechanical Engineering; Communication and Marketing… Besides focusing on studying and consolidating knowledge, many students are quite hesitant and worried about whether to choose a major based on their interests or current trends, and how to choose a suitable major.

This is also the sentiment of Le Do Kieu Thanh, a student at Vo Thi Sau High School (Tuy An district), who is still undecided about her major for the upcoming university entrance exam. Thanh said: "The job market is changing very rapidly, with many new fields emerging. I quite like studying Literature Education, but I worry about not having job opportunities later. However, I also don't know which major to choose that will truly give me a future."

As for Nguyen Thi Tuong Vy, a student at Nguyen Hue High School (Tuy Hoa City), she is torn between choosing a major based on her passion or one with good job prospects. “My family wants me to choose an economics-related field, but I want to pursue my interest in communication. I feel that my abilities don’t match my family’s wishes,” Vy shared.

Choosing a major and a university to apply to is also a concern for many parents. Ms. Dang Thi Thu from Dong Hoa town, a parent with a child in 12th grade, confided: "I want my child to choose a stable major with potential for development, such as information technology or engineering. But my child likes art and media, and I don't know if it's suitable for their future. My child and I are still having quite a heated debate about this."

Necessary guidelines

Technological changes have a profound impact on the job market. Choosing a suitable career path is a crucial stepping stone for young people's future development. Education experts advise against allowing subjective information to have too much influence on one's career.

According to Dr. Pham Tan Ha, Vice Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, many students only realize the difference between their initial feelings about their chosen field of study when they enter university and the reality. At this point, choosing whether to continue or stop becomes extremely difficult, not only because they are behind their peers but also because they have to consider finances, time, and whether their next steps are truly the right choice or not yet the right path. Candidates should choose a field they truly love and that suits them, rather than choosing based on friends, the majority, or their parents' preferences. To do this, they need to thoroughly research different professions and may need to take career aptitude tests.

Regardless of the chosen career path, good knowledge, attitude, and skills remain key to success. With passion and qualifications, students will have many job opportunities, and even the ability to switch jobs across various related industries and fields.

Dr. Pham Tan Ha, Vice Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities

- Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City

Offering advice to students and parents on choosing majors for university admissions, Associate Professor Dr. Do Van Dung, former Rector of Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education, stated: "We cannot deny the value of identifying personal interests. However, candidates should not rush into any major just because it's currently 'hot.' A major may be 'hot,' but whether you yourself are 'hot' and capable of studying it well is what truly matters. Before choosing a major, you need to answer these questions: Do I like that major? Do I have the abilities suitable for it? Is the tuition fee suitable for my family's financial situation? Is the admission score appropriate for me?... Candidates should research thoroughly to make the right choice from the start."

Source: https://baophuyen.vn/giao-duc/202504/dinh-hinh-con-duong-tuong-lai-tu-lua-chon-nganh-hoc-7901e42/