It is very helpful to think ahead and work out what you want to do. It’s worth considering what you’re good at, what interests you, how much you’d like to earn and how much you’d sacrifice to achieve it. However, it is one thing to plan, and it is quite another to experience situations.

So what could go wrong at university?

Maybe this is not exactly how you imagined your major. Maybe it’s during the exam period that you find out it’s not as easy as you thought. You’ve found a brand new field that interests you a thousand times more than your own major. At such times, you shouldn’t rush into a decision. It may well be a temporary situation.

Don’t give up on the university under any circumstances, but do look into what credits of classes you could apply to another major.

Once you have your degree in hand, do you think you and your plan are on track?

Even if you like learning about something, the world of work is a different matter. You may have chosen a field where it’s a little harder to find a job. You shouldn’t give up, you often have to go through all the steps to get to the position that got you started. Many people do not start their dream job straight out of university. It’s also possible that you want the job itself, but you’re just not in the right company. In that case, it’s worth trying your luck elsewhere.

Many people work in a different field from what they originally studied at university. But don’t think for a minute that you’ve wasted your time learning something. Sometimes you can get a much better insight into a particular problem at work.

Can you change your mind – as you plan – years later?

Even if you plan to do this job until you’re old, a lot of things can get in the way. Nowadays, it wouldn’t be surprising if you have to change because of advances in technology. It’s more likely that you feel your current career isn’t giving you as much satisfaction and reward as you’d like. Perhaps you would move in a financially more attractive direction. Or besides starting a family, your previous job isn’t so manageable. It takes courage to start something new at this time, but it may be worth rethinking your life in the long run. And if it doesn’t work out, you can always return to your original field.