Dubai – Rehab Halawa – Maryam Al Addan
With the announcement of secondary school results and the start of university admissions, the choice of academic major has returned to the top of students' and families' concerns — a decision whose effects extend across years of study and into the early stages of a professional career.
While many are preoccupied with grades and available opportunities, specialists stress that the most important step comes before university registration: students must have a clear vision of their abilities, interests, the nature of different specialisations, and the needs of the labour market.
Specialists believe that academic and career counselling is no longer a supplementary service but has become an essential element of student success, as it helps students make informed decisions, reduces the likelihood of switching majors or dropping out, and improves the alignment of educational outcomes with labour market requirements.
They note that many cases of major changes or university withdrawals stem from decisions made at the end of secondary school without sufficient information about the nature of the chosen field, or without genuine self-knowledge of abilities and interests.
Specialists identified 7 benefits reinforced by academic counselling, beginning with helping students choose a major that aligns with their interests, abilities, and personality — thereby raising their chances of success and continuation — through to reducing the likelihood of switching majors or withdrawing as a result of students' prior awareness of programme requirements.
Counselling also helps connect students' choices to labour market needs, introduces them to future sectors and required skills, and raises motivation and academic achievement.
It further strengthens students' confidence in their ability to make decisions independently of peer influence or social pressures. Specialists affirm that effective counselling saves students and their families the time, effort, and costs resulting from choosing an unsuitable path, and helps students build an early vision of their professional future from the secondary school stage.
Dr Issa Al Bastaki, President of the University of Dubai, holds that the choice of university major should not be linked solely to grades, but to the degree to which the major aligns with the student's personality, interests, and abilities, as well as its connection to labour market needs.
He explained that universities observe annually that high-achieving students encounter difficulties in certain academic programmes — not due to weak abilities, but because they enrolled in specialisations that do not reflect their true interests, which affects their academic performance and motivation to learn.
He noted that early counselling gives students the opportunity to understand the nature of university study, the skills required for each programme, and the career opportunities associated with it, rather than choosing a major based on the prestige of a field or the choices of friends.
He stressed the importance of strengthening the role of universities at this stage by organising open days, orientation workshops, and meetings with faculty members and alumni, providing students with a more realistic picture of their future specialisations.
Dr Abdul Latif Al Shamsi, Academic Adviser to Sheikha Budoor Al Qasimi, affirmed that an unsuitable choice of major can cost a student years of their life and may push them to redraw their path after a period of study.
He explained that some students discover after one or two years that they lack the passion or skills required for the major they chose, leading to a change of direction or withdrawal — a loss for the student, their family, and the educational institution.
He emphasised the necessity of beginning career counselling at early stages, not after secondary school results are announced, through exploring students' skills and abilities and linking them to modern specialisations and promising economic sectors.
He added that the decision to choose a major must not be built on the social image of certain professions, but on precise knowledge of the nature of study, training opportunities, and the skills the labour market will require in the future.
Academic counsellor Marwan Hamid affirmed that the school represents the true starting point for academic counselling, as it is the institution closest to the student and most capable of following their academic and personal development.
He explained that the school's role is not limited to introducing students to universities, but begins with discovering their interests and abilities through tests, individual interviews, and monitoring academic performance, then translating these findings into counselling plans tailored to each student.
He noted the importance of organising meetings with universities and specialists in various sectors, and involving the family in the decision-making process, given that the success of counselling depends on the complementary roles of the school, university, and family.
He pointed out that one of the most common mistakes is a student choosing a major because a friend chose it, or because of its social status, even though the student's own abilities and interests may lead them to a more suitable field.
Academic counsellor Mahmoud Farghal affirmed that academic counselling has become one of the building blocks of a student's future, especially amid the rapid transformations in the labour market and the emergence of new specialisations linked to artificial intelligence, the digital economy, sustainability, and advanced technologies.
He explained that students need to know themselves and their abilities before choosing their major, and that a successful decision does not rely on impressions or social pressures, but on an understanding of future opportunities and the requirements of different professions.
He added that the choice of major not only determines years of study, but also affects an individual's ability to build a stable professional path and achieve distinction in their chosen field.
Dr Rania Abdullah, Director of the Communication and Media Programme at Al Ain University, explained that academic counselling is based on understanding the student's personality, interests, and abilities — not merely introducing them to available specialisations.
She said that some students being influenced by family wishes or social perceptions about certain professions may lead them to choices that do not reflect their true interests, which impacts their level of motivation or leads to a later change of major.
Professor Dr Nathir Ahmad Al Rawashdeh, Director of the Centre of Excellence in Teaching and Learning and Director of Admissions and Registration, affirmed that counselling represents a pivotal stage for secondary school students, as it helps them identify their abilities scientifically and guides them towards suitable pathways.
He noted that developing counselling services requires strengthening the partnership between schools and universities, and expanding the use of aptitude and interest assessment tools to ensure a more successful transition to higher education.
Dr Saleh Salim Al Hamouri, Training and Development Expert at the Mohammed bin Rashid School of Government, explained that effective counselling must be built on 4 main pillars: understanding the student's interests, academic abilities, and personal traits, and linking them to labour market needs.
Dr Firas Al Qar'an, Dean of the College of Dentistry at Al Ain University, stressed that the choice of major must be based on the student's own conviction and genuine interests, not on social considerations or financial returns alone.
He affirmed that counselling built on scientific foundations enhances the chances of academic and professional success. As higher education options expand and the nature of future jobs changes, specialists agree that choosing a major is no longer a decision that depends on grades alone, but a process requiring early awareness that helps students discover their abilities and build their future on clearer foundations.
Benefits of academic counselling: from discovering abilities to choosing a career path
The wrong choice wastes years of study and affects the future of graduates