Master Cu Xuan Tien (University of Economics and Law, Ho Chi Minh City National University) answered questions from parents and students at the 2025 Admissions and Career Counseling Day organized by Tuoi Tre newspaper in Ho Chi Minh City - Photo: TTD
This not only wastes time and study costs but also affects the development path of students. Therefore, choosing a major from the beginning plays an important role, helping students have a clear direction and avoid unnecessary changes during their university studies.
Don't follow the crowd when choosing a major.
Participating in many admissions and career counseling programs organized by Tuoi Tre newspaper in coordination with other organizations, including the 2025 Admissions and Career Counseling Festival in Ho Chi Minh City recently, Master Cu Xuan Tien - Head of Admissions and Student Affairs Department of the University of Economics and Law, Ho Chi Minh City National University - said that many young people often make seemingly small mistakes but have a big impact on choosing a major.
Some students overlook important factors such as labor market needs, personal conditions (health, tuition fees, family circumstances, etc.), or misunderstand the profession.
This leads to incorrect choices, new students will be disappointed with their major and have no motivation to study.
Others choose a career based on the majority trend, choose a “hot career”, choose it because it is easy to find a job, high salary. Or choose a career based on the wishes of family and friends without considering whether it is suitable for their passion and real ability or not.
However, it should be noted that although some majors may sound “hot”, the situation may be different when you graduate.
In addition, not carefully understanding the admission regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training will lead to placing your preferences in the wrong order, causing you to be admitted to a major that you do not want or that is not suitable for your abilities.
“Don’t make a hasty decision, take time to think and learn carefully. At the same time, prepare a backup plan if you are not accepted or are not suitable. For example, if you are not accepted into the medical field, you can choose pharmacy or nursing,” Mr. Tien advised.
Besides, another common mistake when choosing a major is that many students put too much emphasis on choosing a "top" school.
Dr. Nguyen Trung Nhan, head of the training department of Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry, said that when choosing a major, students should not focus too much on the reputation of the school, but should prioritize majors that are suitable for themselves.
For the same major, the admission score between schools may be different, however, the entrance score does not completely determine the training quality or student capacity after graduation.
“A student who scores 27 points may not necessarily have better learning and development abilities than a student who scores 25 points. Because success in study and career also depends on the suitability of the field of study, learning methods and efforts of each individual,” Dr. Nhan commented.
Need to prepare carefully
Candidates learn information at the 2025 Admissions and Career Counseling Day organized by Tuoi Tre newspaper in Ho Chi Minh City - Photo: THANH HIEP
According to Master Cu Xuan Tien, to make the right decision, students need to prepare carefully. First, they need to evaluate their own abilities and strengths using career tests such as MBTI or Holland Code to get an overview of the profession.
Besides, it is also important to learn carefully about the field of study through books, the Internet, field trips, talking to people in the industry or admissions consultants.
In addition, students should openly discuss with family and friends to receive objective feedback, and at the same time consider labor market needs and personal conditions to ensure sustainable choices.
For parents and teachers, when supporting students in choosing a career, we should encourage students to learn about themselves. We only play the role of guides, learning together and providing information for them to make decisions.
And in order to avoid creating pressure, parents and teachers should follow the motto of "accompanying, but not imposing", "guiding, but not deciding for", "supporting, but not controlling".
This gives students enough space to choose the path that is right for them, while still receiving the necessary guidance.
Dr. Nguyen Trung Nhan, Head of Training Department of Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry, answered questions from parents and students at the 2025 Admissions and Career Counseling Day organized by Tuoi Tre newspaper in Ho Chi Minh City - Photo: TTD
Dr. Nguyen Trung Nhan encourages students to proactively gain practical experience by participating in business tours or talking to people working in the desired field to have an objective view of the major.
In addition, students can use multiple choice tests to assess their abilities and strengths. However, he also noted that career guidance tests are only 70-80% accurate, so students need to observe reality and self-assess their abilities.
He also emphasized that the professions that universities train all have certain job opportunities and positions. The important thing is that students need to try their best and develop their own abilities well.
“Preparing early, right from middle school, will help students have enough time and opportunity to learn about themselves, instead of only starting to shape their path when they reach high school,” said Mr. Nhan.
Should you choose according to your passion or your ability?
Many students often confuse personal interests with career abilities, leading to misjudgment of their own abilities.
According to Master Cu Xuan Tien, passion is what you love, can spend a lot of time without getting bored, it is associated with personal emotions and interests. Meanwhile, ability is what you do well naturally or can develop through practice.
Therefore, when choosing a career, students need to consider whether their passion and ability have something in common. If they both love and have the ability, it is a positive sign that they can develop a long-term career in that field.
On the other hand, if you like it but are not good at it, it may be more of a personal interest than a practical career path. In this case, students should consider taking additional classes to improve their skills or find a more suitable path.
“The right choice not only helps you have a sustainable career but also brings joy and motivation in future work,” said Mr. Tien.
Don't rely on quizzes.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy Trang, a psychology lecturer at Quy Nhon University, said that choosing a career based entirely on testing can be risky. The assessment results are sometimes inaccurate due to the influence of temporary moods, incomplete self-awareness or the testing method not ensuring reliability.
Over-reliance on this result can cause students to miss out on other suitable career opportunities. In addition, constant changes in themselves and fluctuations in the labor market can make the initial choice no longer suitable, leading to loss of motivation or difficulty adapting in the future.
Comment (0)