University Admissions 2025: Students should prioritize choosing majors based on their interests and strengths

After the results of the high school graduation exam are announced, from July 16th to 28th, candidates register their university admission preferences through all methods on the common system of the Ministry of Education and Training .

Candidates can register for an unlimited number of preferences and have the right to adjust their preferences if they feel they are not suitable during this period. Choosing which major to pursue and how to arrange preferences is a concern for many candidates and parents.

Preparing for university entrance exams, Quang Hao (Gia Dinh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City) has researched many fields, from marketing communications, economics , engineering to psychology. Hao hopes to work in an environment that involves frequent interaction with people or community support, but he is still unsure which major to choose. Because he hasn't had any practical experience in these fields, he can't assess the suitability of each major or the job opportunities available. He is also worried about choosing the wrong major, which might prevent him from completing his four years of university.

With a score of 24.25 in the D01 subject combination, Ý Nhi (Bến Thành Ward, Ho Chi Minh City) plans to apply to the International Relations major at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City. She has researched and learned that this major offers a wide range of programs, so she is concerned about job opportunities after graduation.

Passionate about the field of semiconductor microchips, candidate Gia Bao (Xuan Hoa Ward, Ho Chi Minh City) plans to put the University of Technology, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, as his first choice. With a score of 27.25 in the A01 subject combination, Gia Bao said he is not yet confident about his first choice and is researching other universities that offer semiconductor microchip programs to add to his application.

At this time, it's difficult to say what score range is safe, so during the counseling process, admissions experts always emphasize that the top priority when choosing a major is based on personal interests and strengths. Students should choose their favorite major first, and then choose a school.

After researching information about the field of study (training program, job opportunities, admission scores from previous years, etc.), candidates need to allocate their preferences into groups, from dream preferences, manageable preferences to safe preferences. The dream preference group includes the first 2-3 choices for majors and schools that the student truly loves, even if their exam score might be lower than the previous year's admission score for those majors and schools; the manageable preference group includes majors and schools with previous year's admission scores equivalent to their exam score; and the safe preference group includes majors and schools with previous year's admission scores lower than the candidate's exam score.

Along with their preferred fields of study, candidates should also research other fields that are closely related to their chosen major.

Dr. Nguyen Trung Nhan, Head of Training Department at Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry, believes that this year's admission scores are difficult to predict, so if applicants only choose their preferences based on personal preferences without considering their abilities, they are very likely to fail.

If a candidate scores around 21-22 points on the exam, but registers for all their preferences in majors with previous year's cutoff scores of 27-28, their chances of being admitted are low.

Besides their dream group of choices, candidates should also consider adding options with cutoff scores from years close to their exam scores.

Current academic trends show a high degree of interdisciplinary collaboration. If candidates haven't clearly defined their field of study, they can choose a broad, general field first, then select a specialization, switch majors, or pursue a double degree. Upon graduation, they can find many jobs in related fields. "Candidates should register around 10 preferences. They shouldn't list too few, as this reduces their chances of admission, but they also shouldn't list too many, making it difficult to organize. Some candidates list 60-70 preferences, which is very difficult to manage and organize because they can't determine which majors they prefer. Inappropriate order of preferences can lead to being admitted to a major they don't truly desire," Dr. Nguyen Trung Nhan noted.

Mr. Cu Xuan Tien, Head of Admissions and Student Affairs Department, University of Economics and Law (Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City), shared the same opinion that this year's cut-off scores are unpredictable, but based on the distribution of high school graduation exam scores, the cut-off scores tend to decrease.

Candidates need to carefully research and choose a major that relates to their future career, not just one with a suitable admission score or one influenced by "hot" industry trends.

Studying a major you love is the most important thing, so when there are few opportunities to get into top universities, candidates should choose that major but at a mid-tier or lower-tier university.

When students study a field they love, they can fully utilize their abilities both during their studies and in their work after graduation.

Source: VNP

Source: https://phunuvietnam.vn/tuyen-sinh-dai-hoc-2025-hoc-sinh-nen-uu-tien-chon-nganh-theo-so-thich-the-manh-20250721145014285.htm