Many 10th and 11th grade students plan to change their subjects to choose a different combination of subjects for university admission. Will this affect university and college admissions?
Dr. Nguyen Trung Nhan warns that changing subjects and the trend of choosing social sciences for easy exams is a misconception - Photo: TRAN HUYNH
At the admissions and career counseling session this afternoon, February 22, at Huynh Thuc Khang High School (Van Ninh District, Khanh Hoa), there were many 10th and 11th grade students planning to change their subjects and were confused about which major to choose to enter university.
Master Vo Duc Cao Cuong - Principal of Huynh Thuc Khang High School (Ninh Hoa) - said that this is the first year students participate in the high school graduation exam under the new general education program, so candidates and parents have many questions and need to find out more information. Therefore, the 2025 admissions and career counseling program implemented at this time is very meaningful and timely - Photo: TRAN HUYNH
Choosing social sciences as an easy exam is a misconception.
A 10th grade student said: "Math, physics, chemistry, and biology are my best subjects. I want to choose information technology. Currently, my group does not have information technology, but next year I plan to change to a group that does. I don't know which schools and majors I can apply to. Should I change to another subject?"
Dr. Nguyen Trung Nhan - Head of Training Department of Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry - said that for some reason, the current trend is that many students choose social sciences as their subjects in grade 10. The students' choice of this subject is believed to be for the purpose of making the exam easier.
However, according to Dr. Nhan, that is a very wrong concept and advises 10th grade students to choose subjects according to their career orientation and passion.
"According to the regulations, grade 11 students can "change direction" once to choose another subject, but once they enter grade 12, they cannot "change direction" anymore. Students can only register for the high school graduation exam for the subjects they have chosen to study and register for university admission with those subjects.
So, it means that we must choose subjects based on our point of view, not choosing subjects that are easy to learn," Mr. Nhan noted.
Students attend the admissions and career counseling session at Huynh Thuc Khang High School this afternoon - Photo: TRAN HUYNH
Choose natural science to widen the path to university
According to Mr. Nhan, currently, natural science subjects can be used for admission to many different professions: science and technology, economics, service, etc. The coverage of natural science subjects for admission to universities and colleges is currently very high.
Regarding the graphic design industry that many students are interested in, Mr. Nhan said that there are currently some schools that can train graphic design in an applied direction. That means using software tools to draw design products.
"Schools that train in this field with such goals are not heavy on math and do not require much logical thinking, but the same field but schools that train in depth are different.
We have different goals so we have to choose accordingly. For example, special information technology fields such as data science or computer science, artificial intelligence... require good math skills. So, depending on the characteristics of the industry, we can choose the right direction for ourselves," Mr. Nhan advised.
From this year, schools have started to include computer science in the new general education program, especially in engineering and technology, and even some economic sectors still include computer science. If students do well in computer science, it is considered a good opportunity to get into the fields they want.
Advising students on choosing a major, Associate Professor Dr. Bui Hoai Thang - Head of Training Department of University of Technology (Ho Chi Minh City National University) - advised: "You should listen to the people around you, listen to your friends, listen to your teachers and listen to the economic, political and social situation to be able to choose the best study for yourself."
Many students from Ninh Hoa district braved the rain to attend the 2025 admissions and career counseling program this afternoon, February 22 - Photo: TRAN HUYNH
Universities recruit a wide variety of subject combinations for admission.
Another female student is also studying natural sciences but wants to apply to a university specializing in social sciences. Currently, she has not decided on a major, only planning to choose a university majoring in social sciences and humanities.
Dr. Pham Tan Ha - Vice Principal of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Ho Chi Minh City National University) - said that the recruitment scene is diverse in many majors and subject groups.
For example, the urban studies major recruits students from math, physics, and chemistry, or the psychology major recruits students from a combination of math, chemistry, and biology. That is, for specific majors, the school will recruit students from combinations of natural sciences.
If students are planning to choose a school, they can refer to the school's information to see which majors consider natural science, which majors consider social science, or which majors combine natural science and social science subjects.
"The University of Social Sciences and Humanities and many other universities have combined admissions in this direction quite a lot, so even if you are studying natural sciences, you can still apply for regular university majors. The important thing is to see if you really like that major or not. Therefore, you need to understand more deeply about the majors," Mr. Ha advised.
Any block can take the competency assessment test.
Master Phung Quan - admissions consultant of the University of Natural Sciences (Ho Chi Minh City National University) - added that currently universities have another way to recruit students, which is that universities have their own exams.
For the competency assessment exams, students of any grade can take the exam. This exam has a language section, including Vietnamese and English, a problem-solving section, and a small section related to scientific knowledge.
"Therefore, students can absolutely take that exam to get the results to apply to more than 100 universities and colleges. They do not need to worry that if they study natural sciences, they will not be considered for admission to humanities majors, and vice versa.
"If you study well the subjects you are studying, then you can take the exams," said Mr. Quan.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/doi-mon-hoc-de-chon-to-hop-mon-xet-tuyen-dai-hoc-khac-nen-khong-20250222171717402.htm
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