Which stream should I choose?
Having sat for your G.C.E Ordinary Level Examination, it is easy to be deceived by the shortness of the years allocated for your G.C.E Advanced Level Examination and the idea that you only have to focus your attention on three subjects instead of nine.
It goes without saying that your Advanced Level will require hard work and dedication much more than your previous years of schooling.
Sri Lankan education system offers four major streams namely Science, Commerce, Arts and Technology with varied subjects for each stream. However, a drawback of this system is that, the students have no choice but to select the particular subjects assigned for each stream. For instance, a student studying an Arts subject such as English Literature would not be able to choose a science subject that is Physics.
The choices are therefore limited. The added pressure that it is your final years in school; an end of an era is enough to make you take a step back to evaluate your aims for your future. Take that step to reflect on what might affect your choice of selection of the stream for your G.C.E Advanced Level Examination.
APTITUDE
Aptitude is your “inborn potential” to do a certain kind of work at a certain level. It takes into account your strengths and weaknesses, skills and intelligence in different fields. A standardized aptitude test is designed to measure your competency and accordingly determine the probability of your success in a field you have not yet been trained.
Aptitude tests act as a useful tool to narrow down your choices by helping you figure out your natural preferences in relation to work. The next time you surf the internet make sure to try some aptitude tests online!
PERSONAL INTERESTS
I personally believe that personal interests are a key factor in making a decision. The very reason being that we are by instinct drivens to choose a life of happiness and mental satisfaction.
By pursuing a stream in which your interest lies, your choice of career will accordingly fall into place, which will ensure a life driven by passion. Your stream should reflect certain aspects of your personality which include things you have an interest in, enjoy doing and inspires the most. Your “dream job” or your childhood dream should be the cornerstone of your decision.
STATE UNIVERSITY ADMISSION
The subject choices that you make for your last two years of school can have a significant impact on the course options available to you at university. Each subject carries a high or low Z-score that affects your university admission.
If you are not sure about what subject combination is best to enter University, ask a teacher or the University Grants Commission.
Most students are inclined to choose subjects with a high Z-score in the hope of getting into University. While that option may seem easy, you are assessed in the end by how much effort you have put into your work.
INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS
There is rarely anything that is impossible today. The mass availability of options for education has enabled students to transcend national frontiers in an attempt to expand their horizons.
If you are expecting to study abroad and is relying on a scholarship, ensure that the subjects in the particular stream you have chosen meet the necessary requirements. There are of course different scholarships for each stream. For further inquiries, contact international institutes or agencies and note down their offers and scholarships. Your school may also provide necessary information to earn yourself an international or state scholarship.
CAREER PATH
You don’t have to have life all figured out but, as Aristotle said, there is wisdom in knowing yourself. Match your personal interests with potential careers and make a list of subjects that will kickstart your journey. Ask yourself where you see yourself in the near future, what courses you will like to follow up after exams and, whether one of the streams holds a promise for a possible career you desire.
At this point you must make the choice for yourself and not be influenced by external factors. Difference of opinion could and would confuse you and mar your chance of doing what you love.
Living in a brown community, you may be pushed to choose a stream that is “socially superior.” If you dislike the stream, you will dislike the entire experience of learning. It is best to have a conversation with your parents and explain why choosing a stream you like is far better.
Take into account what you like and dislike, can and cannot. Do not choose a stream which neither complements your capabilities nor fuels your interest. To quote John Wooden, “Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.”
Your choice matters.