Selecting a course and college is always the most difficult exercise for even those students who have a good academic record. Some join a course only to drop out and opt for a more preferred option. This is often a wise decision, but sometimes the thought of losing a year or two stops students from changing course, even if it wise to do so in the long run.

1. Which is the stronger determiner: Course or College?

A college education is as much about studies as it is about the social contact opportunities it creates, the peer group one gets to interact with, and the lifelong friendships one can form.  Studying in a reputed college always helps, even if the course you get admitted to is not your first preference. Between a college and a course, especially in nonprofessional programs, a better college would win hands down over a better course. However, do not get into any course, just for the sake of entering a college. For someone who hates working with numbers, doing Mathematics even from Delhi’s hallowed St. Stephens would not help, because he or she will not enjoy the course. So as far as possible study what you like and what your capabilities allow you.

2. What does it mean to have passion?

Can being passionate about something lead to a full-time career? Yes, of course, it can. But one needs to understand what it means to be passionate or to have a passion for something, and  (more importantly) how you intend making a career out of it. Narayana Murthy, the father figure of the Indian software industry, was a passionate Marxist and wanted to be a politician. But passion, according to the man himself, is a transient phenomenon. So unless one is absolutely sure of one’s abilities, or one has a natural flair or talent for something in particular (such as sports or music), you would do better to pay more attention to opportunities that are opening up and choose a course that would help you realize your dreams. For example, communication-related options are plenty now. Courses such as English Literature, Journalism and Mass Media are becoming popular.

However, interest matters when it comes to professional courses. For instance, one who is not good at tinkering with machines shouldn’t opt for mechanical engineering. Personal interests and inclinations do play a role and must not be ignored. This is as true of courses that demand creative talent such as design, arts, music, and filmmaking as of courses that require your to have scientific, logical thinking. Unless you have a flair for a domain do not venture into it. And when it comes to Sociology and Economics or English Literature and journalism, a selection based on a combination of potential opportunities and interests must do the trick.

3. Are the Sciences superior to the Humanities?

A recent study published in the magazine US News says that science graduates out-earn their humanities counterparts by a factor of two. But the humanities too offer a lot of options, especially in fields such as communications, management, and administration. So it is not exactly right to be ruled by a mindset that says the sciences are superior to the humanities in helping build great careers.