« Back | Home » Ask Lynn. Choosing the right path

Dear Nadia

I think it is absolutely wonderful that you are giving yourself the gift of education. Before I begin my reply I must confess I am flummoxed - what are  BA (HUS) and (LAL) degrees?

To help with making an informed decision, we suggest you perform some or all of the following steps to determine what you really want from your studies:

• Put the money into a savings account or a fixed deposit so it can grow while you make a decision. Aim to start in 2011 once you have gathered all the information. You will need to start the registration process mid year (May / June) this year. 
• Collect information about each course by exploring UCT, UWC, UNISA and Stellenbosch websites. Also look at similar courses offered by the Cape Peninsular University of Technology. Explore both full time and part-time courses.
• Collect information about the careers that these courses lead you towards from the university websites and then chat with people who are happily employed in that field. For example:
  • BCom Marketing : public relations, sales, marketing and advertising
  • BA with languages: media, diplomatic service, education, publishing, tourism and translation
  • BA with Anthropology and Psychology: social science researcher
• Consider the consequences of taking each course (advantages and disadvantages) 
• Consider what you value – for example, a secure income or the chance to learn something new. In other words what is going to make you feel happy?
• Why do you want to study? For example, to be promoted within your current field or to explore new areas of interest with the view to changing careers.
• Decide what criteria you are going to use to evaluate each option. Fro example, number of career options, future income, personal growth and happiness, etc

We also suggest you look at a BA with communications subjects as a way of entering the world of Public Relations. Have you thought about attending a University of Technology – they have some wonderful marketing, public relations and journalism national diplomas which you can follow with a degree called a Btech.

Please consult the following career page for western cape higher education institutions. http://www.careerplanet.co.za/_pages/places_to_study

To help you gather information about yourself, you could also consider a career development assessment performed by a career counsellor, psychometrist or a psychologist.