When a student asks themselves, “What should I study?”, they often feel they must find a quick, definitive answer, as if their entire future hinges on a single decision. However, choosing a course of study can be experienced as a learning process: how to make an informed, realistic, and personally meaningful choice.
A sound career decision integrates four elements: self-knowledge, information about the education system, knowledge of the professional world, and decision-making strategies. Effectively articulating these four aspects is fundamental; we can be very familiar with existing career paths and still make the wrong decision by neglecting the other components.
Self-awareness and insecurity
One of the most common mistakes is making decisions without sufficient self-awareness. It’s about truly understanding what interests us, what we value, what goals we pursue, and what resources we have. Sometimes the problem lies in a damaged self-concept (our perception of ourselves) stemming from past failures or from external messages that diminish our confidence in making decisions. Phrases like “I don’t care about anything” or “I’m not good at anything” often mask far more insecurity than indifference.
Another common mistake is making decisions based on limited, vague, or poorly organized information. It’s common to be guided by general ideas like “it has job prospects” or “I’ve heard that…,” without really knowing the training options or the actual conditions of each choice.
All of this occurs within a context of information overload, where distinguishing between useful data and noise is crucial. To navigate this information accurately, it’s advisable to consult official and up-to-date sources: QEDU , to find out what and where to study at university; TodoFP , for information on Vocational Training programs; or the SEPE’s Occupations Observatory , for information on professional profiles, employment trends, and the job market.
Choosing by trends or labels
It’s also common to fall prey to trends or the perceived prestige of certain degrees, without understanding the actual tasks and working conditions. To properly guide a student, we must understand that we don’t choose what we don’t know. But it’s not enough for an option to simply sound appealing. A phrase like “I like psychology” is insufficient if its various fields, functions, methodologies, and specific requirements are not understood.
Added to this is another common difficulty: misjudging the consequences of a choice. Many subsequent frustrations arise from failing to foresee aspects such as the effort required , the time involved, the sacrifices involved, the requirements, or the alignment between a choice and future goals. It is also common to believe that there is only one possible path to achieve a goal when, in reality, many goals allow for varied routes.
When deciding becomes overwhelming
Trying to consider everything at once can easily lead to paralysis. It’s not just that there are many career options, but we need to reduce the complexity of the decision by prioritizing criteria or eliminating alternatives one by one. To avoid paralysis or hasty decisions, we must realize that we can’t simultaneously achieve financial security, vocation, prestige, connection with others, and well-being: we need to decide what matters most, what is most important to us.
It’s crucial not to leave such a key decision in the hands of outside opinions or poorly informed sources. Naturally, these decisions are heavily influenced by the context. We live in a time of great uncertainty and a changing job market, shaped by technological advancements and social transformations. This leads us to view the future under pressure, especially regarding employability and living conditions.
What do students really value?
According to recent data , second-year high school students prioritize practical factors related to work-life balance: good economic conditions, schedules compatible with personal life, job stability, and the opportunity to perform well in their work. This trend is similar for boys and girls, although boys tend to value the economic aspect slightly more, while girls place slightly higher scores on stability, schedules, and professional excellence.
In this scenario, universities have a key role to play. Guidance should not be limited to “choosing a career,” but should focus on helping students make informed, realistic decisions that align with their personal profile, connecting self-awareness, educational opportunities, and knowledge of the professional world.
The role of universities in guidance
The university must provide reliable and up-to-date information on pathways, requirements, educational experiences, and career opportunities. But it must also provide support throughout the student’s academic journey, because many important decisions are made during the degree program and are adjusted as the student compares expectations with experience.
Equally essential is collaboration between universities and schools, so that students and families have clear channels for guidance and support. Along these lines is the Orion Project , which offers the free, evidence-based tool “My Vocational Space,” organized into three stages: exploration (questionnaires on interests, values, well-being, and strengths), decision-making (building a realistic pathway), and evaluation (review and adjustment). All of this is supported by tutoring, guidance, and, if the student wishes, family involvement.
Learning to choose
Choosing a course of study is an important decision, yes, but not irreversible. The most accurate way to understand it is as a process that can be reviewed, supported, and adjusted. Perhaps that is the key to contemporary career guidance: not just helping people choose “right” once, but teaching them to make better decisions throughout their lives.
Author Bio: Mercedes Villasana Terradillos is Principal Investigator, Orion Project / Director of the Master’s Degree in Psychopedagogy and the Master’s Degree in Secondary Education Teaching + Master’s Degree in Psychopedagogy at Comillas Pontifical University
