Finishing Senior High School is one of the biggest turning points in a young person’s life. After years of studying subjects such as Mathematics, English, Integrated Science, Social Studies and electives, the next question suddenly becomes serious: What course should I study after SHS?
For some students, the answer seems obvious. They have always wanted to become doctors, teachers, engineers, journalists, accountants or lawyers. For others, choosing a course can be extremely confusing. Parents may have their own expectations, friends may be choosing different programmes, and social media can make certain careers look more attractive than others.
The truth is that choosing a course after SHS should not be based on what is popular, what your friends are studying or what someone says will make you rich quickly. It is a decision that deserves careful thought because the programme you choose can influence the subjects you study, the skills you develop and the opportunities you pursue after graduation. So, how can an SHS graduate in Ghana make a sensible decision?
Start With Yourself, Not Your Friends
One of the biggest mistakes students make is choosing a course because their friends are choosing it.
Your friend may be passionate about accounting while you struggle to enjoy working with numbers. Another friend may love biology and dream of working in healthcare while you are more interested in communication, technology or business. The fact that someone you know has selected a particular programme does not mean it is suitable for you.
Before looking at university brochures, spend some time understanding yourself. Ask questions such as:
- What subjects did I genuinely enjoy in SHS?
- Which subjects did I perform well in?
- What activities do I naturally enjoy?
- Do I prefer working with people, machines, numbers, information, computers, words or physical materials?
- Do I enjoy solving problems?
- Do I prefer practical work or theoretical learning?
These questions can reveal patterns that may help you narrow down your options.
You should also separate what you enjoy from what you are good at. Ideally, your course should sit somewhere between your interests and your abilities. You may love the idea of becoming an engineer, for example, but you also need to seriously consider whether your academic background and interest in mathematics, science and technical problem-solving support that choice.
Look Carefully at Your Wassce Results
Your WASSCE results should not be treated as a definition of your intelligence or your future. However, they are important when choosing a tertiary programme because different institutions and programmes have different entry requirements.
For example, the University of Ghana states specific requirements for WASSCE applicants, including credits in core subjects and relevant elective subjects, while KNUST also specifies requirements involving core and elective subjects and aggregate scores for its undergraduate admissions. These requirements can vary according to the institution and programme. Therefore, a student should never assume that meeting a general university requirement automatically means they qualify for every programme at that university.
Instead, take your results and compare them with the official admission requirements for the programmes you are considering.
If you studied General Arts, for example, your options will not necessarily be limited to one or two areas. You could find opportunities in areas such as communication, business, social sciences, education, public administration and other related fields, depending on the institution and the specific entry requirements. The important thing is to ask: What programmes can I realistically apply for with the subjects and grades I have?
Do Not Choose Course Because it Sounds Prestigious
There is nothing wrong with aspiring to study medicine, engineering, law, accounting or another highly respected profession. The problem begins when prestige becomes the only reason for choosing a course. A course can have an impressive name and still be a poor fit for a particular student.
Imagine a student choosing medicine because relatives believe doctors are respected and well paid, even though the student has little interest in healthcare and struggles to cope with the required subjects. That student may eventually discover that the reality of the programme is very different from the image they had in mind.
The same applies to courses such as business administration, computer science, nursing, engineering, communication and many others. Do not ask only, “Is this course respected?”
Also ask, “Can I see myself studying this subject for several years and developing a career around the skills it gives me?”
Understand What the Course Actually Involves
A course title can sometimes sound very different from what students actually study.
Before applying, search for the programme’s curriculum or course structure. Find out the subjects you will take in first year and later years. Look at the practical components, projects, internships, fieldwork and possible areas of specialization.
For example, someone interested in technology should not assume that every technology-related course involves the same kind of work. Computer Science, Information Technology, Computer Engineering, Information Systems and related programmes can have different academic and practical emphases.
The same applies to business. Accounting, marketing, finance, human resource management, logistics and supply chain management may all sit within the broader business field, but they develop different knowledge and skills.
The course title is only the beginning. Find out what you will actually be learning.
Think About Career Path, Not Just the Certificate
Another important question is what you can potentially do with the knowledge and skills from the programme.
This does not mean that every graduate will follow exactly the same career path. A degree or diploma can lead to different opportunities depending on additional skills, experience, professional qualifications, networking and personal initiative. Nevertheless, students should understand the possible pathways before enrolling.
If you are considering a programme in communication, for example, investigate areas such as journalism, public relations, digital communication, corporate communication, content creation and related fields.
If you are considering agriculture, look beyond the traditional image of farming. Research agribusiness, agricultural technology, food production, agricultural extension, processing and other related areas. If you are considering computing, research the different areas within technology and determine which ones interest you.
Consider Skills You Will Gain
A good course should not only give you a certificate. It should also help you develop useful knowledge and skills. Ask yourself what you will be able to do after completing the programme.
- Will you develop analytical skills?
- Communication skills?
- Technical skills? Research skills?
- Design skills?
- Financial skills?
- Programming skills?
- Teaching skills?
- Management skills?
- Practical vocational skills?
This is particularly important in a changing world where employers and clients often look beyond academic qualifications. A student studying marketing, for example, could deliberately develop additional skills in social media management, graphic design, digital advertising, analytics and content creation.
A student studying journalism could learn video production, photography, search engine optimization, social media and data journalism. A student studying business could learn spreadsheet analysis, accounting software, digital marketing and entrepreneurship.
Your course is one part of your professional development. The additional skills you build alongside it can become equally important.
Do not Ignore Technical and Vocational Education
University is not the only route after SHS. Ghana’s TVET system provides another pathway for students who prefer practical and technical learning. The Ghana TVET Service lists accredited programmes, TVET qualifications and career pathways, and describes technical and vocational education as an important part of skills development and industrial transformation.
A young person who enjoys working with tools, machines, electrical systems, construction, automotive technology, welding, plumbing, refrigeration, fashion, beauty, catering or other practical areas should not feel inferior because they choose a technical or vocational route.
The real question should be: What skills can I develop that can help me build a productive career or business? A practical skill can also be combined with further education later. Your first qualification does not necessarily have to be the final stage of your education.
Check Accreditation Before Paying Fees
This is one of the most important steps that students and parents sometimes overlook. Before paying admission fees, verify that the institution and relevant programme have the appropriate accreditation or recognition.
The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) regulates tertiary education and provides accreditation and quality-assurance functions. GTEC also maintains information on accredited institutions and has issued public notices concerning unrecognized institutions and unaccredited learning centres.
This means you should not rely solely on advertisements, WhatsApp messages, social media posts or what an agent tells you. Go to the official GTEC platform and verify the institution. Also check the institution’s official website for the programme and admission information.
A student can spend years and significant amounts of money pursuing a qualification, only to discover problems with recognition later. Checking before enrolling is far easier than trying to solve the problem afterwards.
Consider the Cost of Studying
Choosing a course also means choosing a financial commitment. Tuition is only one part of the cost. Depending on the programme and institution, students may have to consider accommodation, feeding, transportation, textbooks, learning materials, internet access, practical fees, laboratory requirements and other expenses.
Some programmes may also require equipment or special materials. Before choosing a programme, have an honest conversation with your parents, guardians or whoever will support your education. Ask: Can we realistically afford this programme?
If the answer is no that does not necessarily mean you should abandon your educational ambitions. It may mean that you need to investigate scholarships, public institutions, distance learning, technical education, alternative institutions or a different pathway that can eventually lead you toward the same broader career goal. Financial planning should be part of course selection, not an afterthought.
Consider Where You Will Study
Location can also affect your decision. Studying close to home may reduce accommodation and transportation costs. Studying farther away may provide access to a particular programme or learning environment that is not available locally.
Think about whether you want to live on campus, rent privately or commute from home. Consider transportation, safety, accommodation availability and the general cost of living in the area. Do not choose a school simply because you like its name. Consider the complete experience and whether it is realistic for your circumstances.
Talk to People Who Are Already Doing the Work
One of the best ways to understand a course is to speak with someone who has studied it or works in a related field. If you want to study nursing, speak with a nurse. If you are interested in accounting, speak with an accountant. If you are considering journalism, talk to a journalist. If you are interested in electrical engineering, find someone working in that field.
Ask them what they actually do during a normal working day. Ask what they wish they had known before choosing the field. Ask which skills are important and what challenges people entering the profession should understand.
Do not ask only, “Is the job good?” Ask more useful questions such as, “What does your work actually involve?”, “What skills do you use every day?”, and “What would you advise someone who wants to enter this field?”
Real experiences can give you information that a university brochure may not provide.
Do Not Let Your Parent Choose Your Entire Future
Parents and guardians have an important role in helping young people make educational decisions. They often have more life experience and may understand financial realities that a teenager has not yet considered.
However, there should be a conversation rather than simply an instruction. A parent may want a child to become a doctor because they believe it offers security. Another may want their child to study accounting because a relative is an accountant. Someone else may believe every successful child must study at university.
Students should listen to advice, but they should also understand themselves. The final choice should be based on a realistic discussion involving the student’s interests, abilities, qualifications, financial circumstances and long-term goals.
A Simple Method for Choosing a Course
If you are still confused, take a sheet of paper and write down five to ten courses you are considering.
For each course, write down why you are interested in it, the SHS subjects required, your grades in those subjects, the institutions offering it, the cost of studying it, the skills it develops, possible career pathways and any additional qualifications that may be required.
Then eliminate the options that clearly do not match your academic background or circumstances. For the remaining options, conduct more research. Read the official programme descriptions, speak with graduates or professionals, compare institutions and discuss the financial implications with your family.
By the time you finish this exercise, your list should be much smaller and your reasons for choosing each course should be clearer.
Final Advice to SHS Graduate
Do not rush because your friends have already made their choices. Do not choose a course simply because somebody says it has money in it. Do not reject technical and vocational education because of social pressure. Do not assume a university’s advertisement is enough evidence that its programme is properly recognized.
Research. Ask questions. Check the requirements. Verify accreditation. Understand the cost. Speak to people in the field. Look at the skills you will gain. Then make your decision with as much information as possible.
Your WASSCE result may influence which doors are immediately open, but it does not define the value of your future. What you do with the opportunities available to you, the skills you develop and the effort you put into your chosen path will continue to matter long after you leave SHS.
Source: GTEC UGAdmissions KNUST
