Complete certainty does not exist. Precisely because this is one of the biggest decisions in a child's life, Career Paths specialises in helping families choose the right university and programme - from testing interests, through choosing the university, to complete support with the application.
According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics, around a third of bachelor's students change their major within three years, while for maths students that figure is as high as 52%. In the UK, 38% of students and 52% of graduates say they would choose a different course or university if they could do it again. This is not because they decided badly, but because people change through experience. The risk can be reduced by testing interests before enrolment, but there is no guarantee.
In brief
- Around 30% of bachelor's students change their major within three years. For STEM programmes that figure is 35%.
- Maths students have the highest rate of changing major of any field: 52% leave mathematics for something else.
- 38% of students and 52% of UK graduates would change their course or university.
- Summer programmes and work experience help test genuine interest before enrolment.
- UK universities allow a change of course in the first term, but afterwards it becomes more complicated.
The reality of changing course
Changing course is not a sign of failure, it is a sign of growth. Students start university with limited experience of a subject, and then through their courses they realise the field does not actually interest them, or that they are better at something else. Many choose a course based on getting good grades in secondary school, but the university level is different from the school level.
According to NCES data, students who start in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) change course more often than those in other fields: 35% of STEM students compared with 29% of non-STEM students. The most common reason is that university-level maths and physics require a different way of thinking from secondary school.
It is important to understand that changing course is not the same as dropping out of university. Students who change course often end up with better grades than if they had stayed on a course that did not suit them.
Summer programmes (how to test interest before enrolling)
The best way to reduce the risk of the wrong choice is for your child to spend time doing activities in the field before applying. Summer programmes at Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial or other universities give a taste of university-level teaching through 2-4 weeks of intensive work in a chosen field.
These programmes are not a guarantee that your child will love the subject, but they show what learning at a high level actually looks like. If your child dreads every day of the programme, that is a clear sign to reconsider the choice. It is better to find this out for 3,000-8,000 pounds and two weeks of time than for 50,000 pounds and a whole year.
Alongside university programmes, there are also online courses (Coursera, edX) that offer an introduction to different disciplines. A maths or science online course can show whether your child genuinely loves the subject or simply has good grades in it.
For medicine, we recommend programmes at universities such as Imperial College and UCL, which offer an introduction to biomedical sciences and clinical work. For law, summer programmes at Oxford and LSE provide insight into British legal thinking, which differs significantly from the Italian system. For engineering, Cambridge and ETH Zurich have excellent programmes where students work on practical projects. The key is that the programme lasts at least two weeks, as that is enough time for your child to form a real impression of whether the field genuinely suits them.
Work experience and volunteering
Work experience or volunteering in a relevant field shows the everyday reality of a career in a way an academic course cannot. If your child wants to study medicine, volunteering in a hospital shows the difficult scenes, the emotional weight and the night shifts that are part of the job. If they want to study law, work experience at a law firm shows the paperwork, reading hundreds of pages of documents and the stress of deadlines.
Many students give up on a career idea after a week in a real environment. That is a perfect outcome, because it is better to learn the truth before a year of tuition fees and stress rather than after. Parents sometimes worry that work experience will put their child off, but in fact it helps them make an informed decision.
For students in Italy, arranging work experience abroad can be a challenge. Career Paths helps by connecting students with hospitals, law firms and engineering companies in the UK that take on secondary school students for shorter placements during the summer.
Whose choice is this, really
Ask your child directly: "Why do you want to study X?" Pay attention to the first part of the answer. If it starts with "You said that...", "Grandma and grandad think...", or "It's well paid", that is a warning sign. The choice of university has to come from genuine interest, not from outside pressure.
Another test: can your child explain what specifically they love about the subject, beyond grades? If the only argument is "I get top marks in maths", that is not enough. University-level maths is fundamentally different from school maths. A child who loves maths can describe specific problems that fascinate them, books they have read outside school, or projects they have worked on independently.
If your child cannot articulate an internal motivation, they may not be ready for the decision. A gap year can be a good option to gain clarity.
This is a situation we see regularly, and we always approach it from both sides. First we listen to the child without the parents present, to understand what they truly want, and then we talk with the parents about their concerns. Our job is to help find an option that satisfies both the child's motivation and the parents' need for reassurance. It often turns out that the two visions do not differ as much as they seem to at first, it is just that each side is looking at it from a different angle.
How an education consultant helps with the choice
Choosing a university is a complex process that involves assessing interests, academic ability, financial means and long-term goals. Most families go through this for the first time and have no experience with application systems in the UK, the US or Switzerland.
Career Paths works with families through the whole process: from the initial assessment of whether the child is even ready to study abroad, through testing interests and choosing programmes, to the final application and interview preparation. The team includes Jovana Kurcubic, who leads academic advising, and psychotherapists Marija Bogdanovic and Mila Benac, who help assess readiness and motivation.
Having helped more than 300 families over the past 10+ years, we have seen what works and what does not. Sometimes our advice is that the child should wait a year, or consider options in Italy instead of going abroad. The goal is not to sell a service but to help the family make the right decision.
It all starts with a free consultation, where we meet the family, understand their goals, and give an honest answer as to whether they need our help at all. If we move forward together, we first carry out a detailed profile assessment through interest tests and an analysis of academic performance. Based on that, we jointly choose universities and programmes that suit the child, rather than following league tables. Then comes intensive work on essays, references and interview preparation, where we tailor every application to the requirements of the specific university. The process ends with support after admission, from the visa through to settling in during the first term.
Gap year (and why it is not a waste of time)
Many parents worry that a year off will "throw their child out of rhythm". The data shows the opposite. Research from Australia and the UK shows that students who take a gap year enrol at university at the same rate as those who go straight on, and they often achieve better grades too.
Around 90% of students who take a gap year enrol at university within a year. A gap year allows them to work, volunteer or travel in a field that interests them. Many use that year for work experience in an industry or volunteer work that confirms or changes their choice.
UK universities, including Oxford and Cambridge, look favourably on a gap year if it is used productively. A child can apply before the gap year, receive an offer, and then defer their place for a year.
Career Paths helps plan a productive gap year that combines work, volunteering and application preparation. This way the year is not wasted but strategically used.
What if your child realises they made the wrong choice after enrolling
UK universities generally allow a change of course in the first term if there is space on the new programme and if the child meets the entry requirements. This is relatively straightforward if the move is to a similar course, for example from maths to economics.
After the first term, things become more complicated. Most universities require a formal application to the new programme, and the child often has to repeat the first year because the modules are not compatible. For example, switching from law to medicine in the second term is practically impossible, because medicine has specific requirements from day one.
Transfers between universities are rigorous and rare. Oxford and Cambridge only consider transfers in exceptional circumstances, and almost never from students at other universities. For most students who want a drastic change, the more realistic option is to finish the first year and then apply again as a new student.
It does happen, though not often, because it is precisely thanks to thorough assessment before enrolment that most of our students end up on a programme that suits them. When it does happen, it is usually a change in interests that is natural at that age, rather than the wrong choice from the start. In these situations, we help work out what is realistically possible and what the smallest cost of changing would be.
The cost of getting it wrong
The financial cost of the wrong choice is obvious: if the child has to repeat a year, that is an extra 30,000-60,000 pounds in tuition fees for international students. But the bigger and harder cost is the emotional one.
A child who hates their course but feels pressure to stay "because we paid so much" goes through a year or more of misery. Loss of confidence, a sense of failure, anxiety and depression are common among students who are in the wrong place. This is not solved by ignoring the problem and hoping it will "pass".
If your child clearly says they hate their course, it is better to act quickly. A year lost on the wrong path is less damaging than three years of misery and a degree in a field they will never use.
How to recognise a good choice
A child who is in the right place has certain characteristics. They do not have to love every course and every essay, but they should enjoy at least 60-70% of the material. They should show curiosity beyond what is required: reading extra books, watching lectures on YouTube, asking lecturers questions, taking part in lectures.
If your child struggles with every essay, avoids projects, and can't wait to get home for the holidays, that is not a temporary crisis but a structural problem. Track their emotional state throughout the whole first year, not just the first few months.
It is normal for the first year to be hard because of adjusting to a new city, life without parents, and an academic level that is higher than secondary school. But there is a difference between "this is hard but I love it" and "this is hard and I hate every day of it".
If the child is sure they want to change, it is always better to finish the first year, since some credits may be transferable to the new programme. Dropping out in the second term rarely brings any advantage, since the tuition for that term is already paid and an incomplete year offers nothing useful. The most realistic option after completing the first year is to reapply to a new programme as a first-year student, which means an extra year, but also a clean start in a field that genuinely suits the child. Before making any decision, we recommend speaking to an academic advisor at the university, as every institution has its own procedures.
FAQ
Is it normal for a child not to know what they want at 17-18 years old?
Yes, most do not know. That is why testing through summer programmes, work experience and conversation reduces the risk of the wrong choice. If your child genuinely does not know, a gap year can provide the clarity needed.
How much does a summer programme for testing interests cost?
Typically 3,000-8,000 pounds for 2-4 weeks, depending on the university and programme. This is a significant cost, but far less than a year of the wrong studies, which can cost 50,000+ pounds.
What if the parent and child disagree on the choice of university?
The child's choice has to prevail. Forcing a child to study something they do not want almost always leads to poor grades, mental health issues and, in the end, dropping out or changing course. Parents can express concerns and ask questions, but the final decision has to be the child's.
Can I change course after enrolling in the UK?
In the first term it is relatively easy if there is space available. After the first term it becomes more complicated, often requiring the first year to be repeated. Transfers between universities are extremely difficult.
Does a gap year hurt your chances of admission?
No, not if it is used productively. UK universities, including Oxford and Cambridge, look favourably on a gap year that includes work, volunteering or relevant experience.
Complete certainty does not exist, but testing through programmes, work experience and open conversation significantly reduces the risk. Changing course is not a failure, it is a normal part of growing up and discovering who we are.
If you are not sure how to help your child test their interests before enrolling, or if your child is already at university and thinking about changing course, we can go through your situation in a free 30-minute consultation.
