It is easy to apply in the joint application when you already know what you want, but what if you don’t?
Practical sense helps a lot when choosing professions and studies. These tips are from my own experience as a student counselor and a career coach, as well as a frequent applicant myself.
It is important to first find the right questions and then the answers. If your thoughts are spinning and the questions are buzzing in your head, proceed one thing at a time. When the questions are clear, the answers can be found. Finally, you can prioritize the things that are important to you, and proceed to the selection of studies and from there to the application.
Applying requires work so ask, google and think. There are many qualifications and even more professions. The joint application system is a fairly easy application process, which nevertheless affects life choices also in the long term. How to start making a choice? Thoughts can swirl, but take it one step at a time.
Write things down on paper for yourself. Also write down the questions you will look for information on before making a decision. You decide and it is about your future. Take advice and look for information, but decide for yourself.
If you have an interesting profession in mind, see how you can study for it and where. The fastest way to a qualification is a vocational upper basic secondary qualification, and then straight to work.
You can already check if you can continue to a university of applied sciences after completing this qualification, or if it is such a profession that you have to go through high school and further studies. You can study to become a nurse from a practical nurse, a bachelor of business administration from a vocational qualification in business and administration, and you can even get into medical school without going to high school.
Do you want, and can you complete a dual qualification, and how does it work? You should also consider the use of time outside of school, hobbies and the importance of friends.
What forms of study are available for the studies you want? Some are purely day and contact studies, but there are also plenty of online studies. You can also go to an apprenticeship training at the age of 15.
What are the studies in practice? If you ultimately want to be a police officer, what is required, what kind of entrance exam is there, and when?
If you live in the same town as the school, the school trips are probably not a hassle. What if the studies are in another town, how far is it and how would you travel there. Is there public transport, or should you move to live in the study town? Would you like, and would your parents or legal guardian give permission?
What is the job really like, what is done in it? You can get a lot of information by asking adults around you and googling. For example, a hairdresser’s job is fun, but it is also very physical work. You stand a lot, you have to be able to chat with the customer, take instructions and be creative, be able to design hairstyles, colours, curls.
How would the job fit into your other life plans? Do you want to live in a city or in the countryside, in Finland or abroad? Do you want to do night shifts, or definitely not night shifts?
What is important to you in your work? Is it primarily better pay or that you are in your dream job. What is important to you in that job, and are your values consistent with the job. Are environmental friendliness, sustainability, safety, or what essential?
Where can you find all this information? In the Studyinfo (opintopolku.fi) online, there are a lot of joint application places and instructions, and the application also takes place in the Studyinfo. Most often, the contact details of the study place can be found, behind which are the people who answer the questions. Call or write to the student counselor or other contact person and ask if you do not know.
When I know the answer, it is easy to answer. When I was a child, my parents’ acquaintances often asked what I would become when I grew up, or would I become a doctor or a journalist, as they were my parents’ professions. I was already thinking then, under school age, what other professions there are. Find out, think and dream widely and boldly.
I also vividly remember that when I was in high school I chose advanced mathematics and gave it up, and as I gave it up, I also gave up the possibility of further studies for several university degrees, such as medical school. However, I found my own path, and I have found many paths since then. The search requires thought, reflection, research of things, choices and action. Good luck with the joint application!