Choosing a university course is a bit like dating – exciting, overwhelming, and your mum has lots of opinions. Here are a few tips to help you swipe right on your perfect study match.

1. Start with what excites you

If your weekends involve waking up after midday and gaming until 4am, do you really think your ideal match is someone looking for a gym buddy to join them on sunrise hikes every Sunday? Probably not. The same logic applies to uni courses. Your dream degree should be compatible with not just your goals and ambitions, but your interests. 

Before you panic-Google ‘high-paying jobs with no maths’, take a breath and think about what actually excites you. Do you love solving problems? Telling stories? Helping people? Creating weirdly specific Pinterest boards? You don’t need a fully-formed five-year plan, just a spark of curiosity. 

Make a list of what you enjoy at school, in your free time, or even what random careers you’ve done a Reddit deep dive on at 1am. If a subject makes you lose track of time (in a good way), it’s worth stalking further.

Choose a course that matches who you are – not the person you think you should be.

2. Get set up by a pro

You don’t have to figure this out with nothing but a vibe and a few ChatGPT questions. Career practitioners, uni course advisers, and recent students have actually done this before, and they can help when your brain feels like it’s got 47 tabs open.

Swinburne even offers one-on-one appointments for personalised advice on everything from narrowing down your options to decoding course names (seriously, what is a Bachelor of Psychological Sciences?). 

Prefer your advice in podcast form? Check out episode 1 of  What I Wish I Knew, where VTAC experts spill their top tips for choosing the right course and uni.

3. Test the chemistry 

Even after you’ve collected enough Open Day tote bags to start your own market stall, there’s still time to get a real taste of uni life (and we’re not just talking about the free pizza). 

If you’re curious about what happens after Year 12, sign up for A Day in the Life of a Swinburne Student. You’ll meet real students and academics, explore the Hawthorn campus, and jump into hands-on workshops that give you a proper feel for your dream course - plus the all-important chance to hit up Glenferrie Road’s best lunch spots. Think of it as a trial run for your future life.

Don’t overlook the warning signs of a potential mismatch.

4. Don’t ignore red flags

Just like in dating, choosing a degree isn’t all about first impressions. Beyond the glossy brochures and flashy course titles, it’s important to spot both the green flags and the red ones. Green flags might include modern facilities, glowing student reviews, or strong industry links that lead to real-world experience. These are signs you're onto a winner.

But don’t ignore the red flags. A course that’s heavy on theory but light on hands-on learning could leave you underprepared. If the campus is tucked away in a hard-to-reach location or lacks a supportive student community, those are things to think twice about. Do your research, ask questions, and make sure you're not just falling for a pretty prospect.

There’s more than one path to your dream degree, no matter what your ATAR might be

5. Explore your options

Worried your ATAR might ghost you? Don’t stress – there are plenty of ways to stay in the game. Think of bridging programs, diplomas, portfolio entry, and alternative pathways as your second (and third) chances at love, all designed to help you reconnect with your dream degree.

Got commitment on the brain? Swinburne’s Early Entry Program lets you lock in your future before the exam season drama begins. Even better? It’s the only one in Victoria offering ATAR-free entry for all eligible courses – talk about a solid catch.

And hey, if you start a course and the spark just isn’t there, you can absolutely break up and move on. Changing direction is way easier than getting out of a bad date.

Need some help finding the one?

Finding the right uni course is less about pressure and more about possibilities. Stay curious, stay open, and don’t be afraid to follow what lights you up. Because when you find that course that clicks — when it’s love at first lecture — you’ll know you’re on the right track.

And if you need a little extra help finding the course of your dreams, reach out to book a one-on-one appointment with one of our friendly Future Student Advisers.

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