Important factors when choosing a field of study.

Choosing a suitable field of study is the aspiration of all students after completing their general education program. Especially in the 2025 admissions year, when the first cohort of students from the 2018 general education program graduate, the methods of choosing a field of study have many new aspects.

The first important factor when choosing a major was shared by representatives from universities in the online television counseling program "Choosing a Major for the Future: Important Factors in Choosing a Major". The program was produced by Thanh Nien Newspaper on the morning of December 17th and streamed online at: thanhnien.vn , Facebook Fanpage, YouTube channel, and TikTok of Thanh Nien Newspaper.

CAREER GUIDANCE RIGHT FROM THE START OF GRADE 10

According to the 2018 General Education Program, upon entering 10th grade, students must choose four elective subjects in addition to the compulsory subjects. Specifically, the compulsory subjects and educational activities are: Literature, Mathematics, Foreign Language 1, History, Physical Education, National Defense and Security Education, Experiential Activities and Career Guidance, and Local Education Content. The elective subjects include: Geography, Economics and Law Education, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Technology, Informatics, Music, and Fine Arts. The students' subject choices are geared towards career-oriented education at the high school level.

Experts participating in the counseling program at Thanh Nien Newspaper provided students with essential information when choosing a major at university.

PHOTO: DAO NGOC THACH

Given the characteristics of the 2018 General Education Program, career guidance for students after grade 12 also has some differences. Sharing his insights at a counseling program, Master Cao Quang Tu, Director of Admissions at Saigon International University, stated: "Certainly, with the 2018 General Education Program, students receive much more thorough guidance compared to previous programs through career education activities."

Regarding choosing a suitable field of study, Master Quang Tu stated: "There are many aspects to suitability, including the perception of future career paths, family circumstances, and societal development in relation to the labor market over the next four years and beyond. Importantly, after three years of high school, with parental guidance, students should have career orientations to make informed decisions about their specific field of study at university."

Regarding this issue, Ms. Truong Thi Ngoc Bich, Director of the Communication Center at the University of Economics and Finance Ho Chi Minh City, also pointed out three differences in this year's choice of majors compared to the past. These include students themselves having a clear direction in choosing subject combinations to suit their future career aspirations as early as their final year of junior high school. Parents also have to research and guide their children's career choices while they are in grades 8 and 9. Even universities have made changes in career guidance and counseling to help students choose suitable majors in the context of many changes. Consequently, university admissions processes have also changed, including the selection of subject combinations for admission.

Choose the subject in which you have the greatest strength.

Master Vo Ngoc Nhon, Deputy Director of the Admissions Counseling Center at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, also believes that the changes are substantial and help students better orient themselves in choosing careers. Further analyzing, Master Nhon said: "In the new curriculum, compulsory subjects are reduced and elective subjects are increased, especially new subjects related to career guidance and local education. The ability for students to choose many subjects can help them identify the career trends they are interested in and aspire to."

Master Nhon further analyzed: "Students' subject choices will reflect their abilities because there will be fewer cases of students choosing subjects they dislike or are weak in; instead, they will choose subjects in which they excel the most." According to Master Nhon, the new curriculum content is practical, focusing more on experiential activities and a better understanding of their living environment… these are important foundations for students to choose their future fields of study. "This is a key advantage for students in the new curriculum," Master Nhon affirmed.

This year's 12th-grade students are the first cohort of students under the 2018 General Education Program to graduate from high school and apply to universities in 2025.

CRITERIA FOR CHOOSING A MAJOR TO ENTER UNIVERSITY

Regarding the selection of majors for university and college admissions, Master Cao Quang Tu noted: "Currently, academic fields are very diverse and abundant, and the interdisciplinary nature of these fields is also very high. Therefore, it is important for candidates to carefully consider and avoid narrowing their focus to a very small field of study. Instead, they should look at the field of study in a broader future context, considering the potential for many different jobs." According to Master Tu, "Nowadays, most universities are following a multidisciplinary trend, with many different majors within a single institution. There is no longer a situation where a single university specializes in one particular field. When choosing a major, candidates don't necessarily have to work exclusively in that field after graduation. There are interdisciplinary connections between different fields, and much of the knowledge lies in common areas, requiring students to continuously update their skills to adapt to society."

Regarding the criteria for choosing a field of study, Master Tư believes that the first thing to consider is suitability. "Suitability here refers to suitability for the student, the person performing the work, and their commitment to it throughout their future, not suitability from the perspective of others," Master Tư emphasized.

Regarding this issue, Master Vo Ngoc Nhon also shared: "There are many important factors when choosing a profession such as: ability, interests, family economic conditions, social needs… Each criterion plays a certain role, but in the case of having to choose, the most important factor is still ability."

According to Master Truong Quang Tri, Deputy Head of the Student Affairs Department at Nguyen Tat Thanh University, the most important thing for students to choose a suitable major in the 2025 admissions year is to identify their strengths. Because when students excel in a field, they tend to develop a passion for it. However, this choice should also be based on understanding labor market trends to determine a major that is not only suitable for the individual but also for society as a whole.

According to Master Tri, once students have determined which major they want to study, the next thing they need to do is research and choose a university. The choice of university should be based on three factors: the quality of education, the admission requirements, and the tuition fee policy. Notably, understanding the tuition fee policy will help students prepare adequately for their university studies.

Regarding advice for candidates at this time, Master Cao Quang Tu suggested that they should always maintain a prepared and relaxed mindset. Any adjustments to exams and admissions information, if any, are aimed at creating more favorable conditions for students. "Every choice has its price, and it all depends on the choices you make today," Master Tu emphasized.

Expected admission methods for 2025

Nguyen Tat Thanh University plans to use four admission methods in 2025, including: the 2025 high school graduation exam; academic transcript review; admission based on separate entrance exams of the Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam National University Hanoi , and Ho Chi Minh City University of Education; and direct admission.

Saigon International University plans to continue maintaining its admission methods, including: admission based on academic transcripts; admission based on scores from the National University of Ho Chi Minh City's aptitude test; and admission based on high school graduation exam scores.

The University of Economics and Finance Ho Chi Minh City plans to have four admission methods based on high school graduation exam scores, Ho Chi Minh City National University's aptitude test scores, V-SAT exam scores, and academic transcripts.

Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT) plans to add the V-SAT entrance exam score as an admissions method, in addition to considering academic transcripts, high school graduation exam scores, and the aptitude test scores organized by the Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tuyen-sinh-dh-2025-yeu-to-quan-important-when-choosing-a-major-185241217182439011.htm