Hi there, I'm Luna.
I'm a bit like an AI, except instead of making pictures of people with 16 fingers, I can help you find the perfect course and uni.
Would you like some help in your search?
With so many tools and resources available, it's never been easier to help your child with how to choose a university and decide 'what should I study?'. In saying this, having too many tools and resources can make it difficult to know what's really the best way to help.
If you are worried that your child doesn't know what to study at uni, don't overwhelm yourself. Start by simply using the checklist below to ensure you're guiding them in the right direction.
Be supportive at every stage
The extent of support that your child will need largely depends on how undecided they are about which university course to take. If they don’t have a clear idea of what subject they want to study, they may need more help than someone who has narrowed their search down to a few courses.
Words of encouragement are so important. Simply being there with your child, supporitng them along their research journey, is paramount. You should also look to attend open days with them, order prospectuses for them, chat with them about the job prospects of the courses they're interested in and ensure they're aware early what these courses' entry requirements are.
Attend university open days with them
Going with your child to university open days will be one of the most effective steps towards helping them decide which university course to choose.
University open days are a practical way for your child to get a feel for a university, but it can also be a chance for you to answer any questions you may have.
Have any concerns yourself about the course or university? You can also use the opportunity to quell any worries. It will also give you the chance to take any notes that your child may have missed, which you can later revisit when helping them to decide on their final choices.
Order them a university prospectus
In research conducted by YouthSight that looked into both the most used and the most influential sources for prospective students when starting their university research, printed prospectuses were regarded as the 4th most influential source. It was cited by students as both more influential and more used than advice from teachers and parents.
Don't underestimate the power of print. If you want to help your child make the right decision for them, order a university prospectus from the university or the universities they're considering.
Given their influence is rated above parental advice, it will aso give you the chance to boost the knowledge and advice you can provide as a parent.
Chat about job prospects with them
When deciding which university course to apply for, it's important for all prospective students to consider what lies beyond their degree. Researching what jobs graduates of the degree that they're interested in move into will help them decide whether the course they're interested in is a path they wish to pursue.
Having this chat with them about a degree's job prospects will not only help them think long term but it will also encourage them to really consider whether they are interested in the subject.
When trying to find a degree, using Whatuni's Find a Course tool will also allow your child to see what job prospects the university lists underneath the particular degree, to give both you and them and idea of what career they could move into.
Do some of your own research
If you want to advise and support your child’s decision on which university course is the right fit, it helps to have done your own research.
This starts with knowing what your child’s ambitions and interests are in order to allow you to do this research efffectively. If you haven't already, sit down with them and get a feel for the types of courses, and the universities, they've been thinking about. This will not only help to give you a starting point but signal to them that you are both interested and there for support.
From there, as outlined earlier, attending university open days, ordering a university prospectus and looking into a course's job prospects are all great means of bolstering the level of advice you can give.
Question their intentions
Ask your child some questions to find out if their intentions are well-placed. Question whether they’re choosing a degree they’re going to enjoy and be academically good at; one which involves work they not only want to do now but something they may want to do in a future job too.
Of course, some people decide what degree to study based solely on enjoyment. Often, they aren’t sure of their job prospects. Encouraging your child to think long term, to consider a course's job prospects, will prevent course-switching later down the track.
On the other hand, make sure they know that switching courses is always an option. You don’t want this decision to seem too final, or your child may freak out or feel incredibly overwhelmed.
Make pros and cons lists
Be practical and help your child create a list to compare degrees. An accumulation of the pros and cons for each course can help them to sift through to the best of the bunch and ultimately start to decide which university course will be the right fit.
Use this opportunity to also feed in any notes you have from your own personal research, such as the notes taken while attending any university open days.
Deciding on which university course to undertake will be one of the biggest decisions your child makes; whilst some value the ratio of exams and coursework, others might value things such as accreditation, the university's location or modules.
Whatever is most important to your child, make sure you ask them. Ultimately, it's their call. Asking the right questions along the way will only help them decide what degree is the one for them.
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