University admissions 2026: How can students choose the right major?

The current situation regarding major choices among 12th-grade students.

In reality, many high school students enter the career selection process lacking information, experience, and self-understanding. Many choose a major simply because they "heard it's easy to find a job," "many friends applied," or simply because "their parents decided," or even based on the "popularity" of the field at the time of admissions.

Some students are determined to get into university at all costs, seeing it as the only path to success, even without fully understanding the job requirements, the work environment, or whether their own abilities are truly suitable.

As a result, after a few years of study, many students become discouraged, study half-heartedly, or even drop out midway. Upon graduation, they struggle to find jobs, often having to work in unrelated fields or learn other trades to adapt.

Common mistakes parents make when guiding their children.

According to career counselors, a common mistake is that parents steer their children toward fields considered "safe," "easy to find jobs," or those with high growth rates and high demand. Many other families base their choice of major entirely on their children's exam scores, ignoring their interests and actual abilities.

There are also parents who completely neglect their children, allowing them to decide on their own career paths without the necessary discussion, guidance, and support. All three of these trends carry significant risks, making students more likely to make wrong decisions at crucial turning points in their lives.

"Hot" industries come with high pressure and require persistent self-learning abilities.

Fields like technology or finance require constant mental exertion and persistent self-learning abilities. Without an inherent passion as "fuel," students will quickly become exhausted after a period of study.

Once the initial glamour fades, what remains are 8 to 10 hours of work each day dealing with dry numbers or lines of code. A lack of passion can easily turn work into a psychological burden, stifle motivation, and make it difficult for students to compete with professionals who consider work their life's purpose.

The supply-demand cycle and the saturation trap of the workforce in "hot" industries.

The concept of a "hot industry" is always accompanied by cyclicality and the "supply-demand" trap. The herd mentality often leads the media and society to overemphasize the demand for manpower, resulting in numerous training institutions expanding their scale and tens of thousands of students flocking to a narrow path.

The immediate consequence is a saturation of the workforce after only 4-5 years of training. When the labor supply surges but business demand stagnates, the value of a bachelor's degree in a "hot" field will decline. Graduates face a fiercely competitive job market where employers have the power to negotiate lower prices and demand superior experience.

"Easy to pass the exam" is just the entrance, "making a living from the profession" is the destination.

Dr. Hoang Ngoc Vinh, former Director of the Department of Professional Education - Ministry of Education and Training, said that many students often ask: "Which universities are easy to get into, and which majors are easy to find jobs in?". According to him, that question isn't wrong, but it's only right when students understand that "easy to get into" is just the gateway, while "easy to make a living from the profession" is the true goal of a university education.

Dr. Hoang Ngoc Vinh shared: "Don't choose a university like choosing a parking ticket, just get in and that's it. What you need is a choice that's right for you, one that suits your abilities so you can study thoroughly and graduate with real competence. If the major doesn't match your knowledge base, even if you get in easily, you'll easily get discouraged halfway through."

Four questions prospective students should ask themselves when researching a field of study.

According to Dr. Hoang Ngoc Vinh, when researching a field of study and a training institution, candidates should ask specific questions, including: Does the program require a mandatory internship? Who provides support and what is the evaluation mechanism? What positions do graduates work in? How does the school measure its learning outcomes?

If a university only highlights its attractive features without providing concrete evidence, prospective students and parents should consider carefully. Requesting clear proof will help families avoid low-quality programs or those that are advertised in a way that is far beyond reality.

A summary of key principles for choosing a major that students should remember.