In order to gain an overview of the various study options, there are two especially important questions you need to consider.

1. Who am I?

In order to find the right degree program for you, it is important to know your own interests, skills, and priorities.

• What defines me? What do I find fun?
• What are my greatest interests?
• What can I do well? What makes me lose track of time?
• Where would I like to get more involved? What don’t I like?

A creative method to help better approach these questions is to create a “life map.” This will encourage you to reflect upon two criteria that are essential in the selection of your degree: your interests and skills.

Look at what you have experienced and done throughout your life. Focus not only on school, but also on other important places and activities in which you have invested a lot of time. What has brought you joy and what interests you in particular? Either independently or in conversation with others, you can use your answers to infer which skills and abilities you have demonstrated in your endeavors.

2. What’s out there?

In addition to reflecting on your personal interests and skills, it is a good idea to have a rough overview of the subjects offered. To narrow down your selection, you can search for fields of study, under which related degree programs are grouped together. This provides a quick and efficient glimpse at what is offered. By doing this, you may find a field of study that appeals to you right away, or perhaps one that you can rule out.

In the first step, you reflected on your interests and abilities and also gained an overview of what study programs are available. Now it is time to join these two aspects and to ask the following questions: What suits you best? What can you see yourself doing? This narrows your search down to the areas that you can imagine for yourself.

As human beings, we typically make decisions based on criteria we set for ourselves. When buying a new smartphone, for example, we decide which brand it should be or whether we need a contract. Similarly, when deciding on a program of study, establishing criteria can help make the decision easier. The steps below outline important (yet perhaps not the only) criteria for choosing the right degree program for you.

• Check the content and focus of the program of study.
  Does the desired program of study suit your interests and abilities? What can you focus on in terms of content?
• Consider your goals, career aspirations and ideas.
  Are there any professional fields that already interest you? Which degree program will steer you towards this goal?
• Explore program structures and locations.
  What type of program is best for you? Do you want to study at any higher education institution or specifically at a university? In what city or town would you like to study?
• Consider the feasibility of the desired program of study.
  Is it selective? Which higher education institutions offer your desired degree program? What costs are associated with pursuing a degree?
• …and many further possible criteria!

Based on your criteria, you can now narrow down the selection of courses offered, leaving you with just a few concrete options.

If you have already decided on a small selection of programs of study that interest you, the next step is to take a closer look at the subjects.

• What can you expect during your studies?
• How is the degree program structured?
• Do your ideas and expectations coincide with the actual content of the program of study?
• What do students or lecturers involved in the program have to say?

When researching online, be sure that your sources of information are reliable. We have compiled some resources for you:

In addition, universities and other higher education institutions offer a wide variety of orientation opportunities so that you can gain firsthand insight and information as well as interact with students and lecturers.

Are the application deadline and the time to make a decision approaching? No problem!

When making a decision, two systems of evaluation always play a role. A pure “head decision” (rational) or “gut decision” (emotional) does not exist. Therefore, don’t just listen to what seems logical at first glance, but also listen to your gut feeling.

Thinking about your interests, skills and personal criteria has already gotten you closer to your rational “head decision.” Now, how can you decipher what your gut feeling is telling you?

Our tip: toss a coin
Pick up a coin and assign one option to “heads” and the other option to “tails.” Now flip the coin and concentrate on your first intuitive reaction! Do you feel satisfied with the result? Or are you disappointed and would rather immediately toss the coin again to change the outcome? Tip: If you have multiple options, you could roll dice and assign the options to each of the numbers.

In most cases, there is more than just one “right” option with which you will be happy. The important thing is that you prepare your decision well, feel comfortable with it, and are satisfied with the possible outcomes.

Moreover, a seemingly “wrong” choice can be corrected at any time. This can open up opportunities that you otherwise may not have discovered.