What If My Child Has No Idea What to Study — Should I Be Worried? 

It is a common worry among parents that their teenage children do not know what to study in university. Let me start by saying, “Don’t worry!” 

Yes, Do Not Worry If Your Child Does Not Know What They Want to Study in University 

It is as common for teenage children not to know what they want to study in university or what to do for a career as it is common for parents to worry about it. This is particularly true in the world of AI and the rapid rise of other technologies like robotics. 

While it is true that some students have a general idea of what they want to do, usually based on topics or courses that spark their curiosity in school, they may still find a specific aspect or pathway that they had not considered yet once they enter university. In some cases, students may be following a direction specified by their family. 

However, the courses students take up to Year 13 are foundational in nature. Once they arrive in university, they will be exposed to a much wider set of academic opportunities. University students are also encouraged to sign up for internships to get a better understanding of the world of work and possible careers. Even then, they may still not have a concrete direction or feel inclined to choose a path solely based on paycheck. 

For example, take my own path. I have had many jobs but a single career for a long time. As a child, I wanted to be a stuntman in films, but that was short-lived. Then, my father wanted me to go into business and take over his company. The problem was that I was not good at mathematics, and given his company was based on financial advising, I knew that it was not my pathway. I did, however, attempt it.  

I have also worked in the hospitality industry and advertising until I finally settled in the education field. My point is, how many parents knew what they wanted to be when they were growing up? And how many are still following that career? 

The Pressure of Wanting to Know What a Child Should Study 

It is understandable that the pressure of wanting to know what a child should study and what career they should follow came out of anxiety, the desire for top college acceptance, the changing perspective of success from loving one’s job to wealth accumulation, job scarcity, politics, and much more. It could even be from seeing other students find a clear pathway. All of these and more are natural parental factors and considerations. 

As a parent myself, I worried about this. But since my daughter is about to turn 26 and has a career she loves that utilises her talents, I feel reassured that she is on the right track.  

However, when she was in university, she too, like many other students, did not know what to do. She did a little of this and that, learnt to grow through her fear of mathematics, found what she wanted to major in, and did a double major in a US university that probably most people have never heard of. But since before graduating, she has been fully employed by top companies in the field of marketing and public relations. 

What You Can Do Instead to Help Your Child Develop Their Talents and Discover New Interests 

Here are some things you should encourage your child to do. 

• Explore different courses and read about different careers 

• Let your child discover who they are and allow them to assess their academic, personal, and social skills 

• Take the Skills, Personality, and Careers tests on Unifrog (every Year 9 and Year 10 student at The Perse School (Singapore) has an account) and look for courses or majors that align with those skills 

• Participate in a wide range of classroom and extra-curricular activities offered in school 

• Encourage them to continue with their participation and gently probe if they fall out to find out why something is not working for them 

The bottom line is, when you see that your child is open to trying new things, developing interests, and growing in confidence and self-awareness, then you can be assured that they are doing well. 

Tips on Initiating a Conversation with Your Teenage Child 

Here is something that can be a challenge for parents. You ask your child how their day was, and their response is, “Fine.” When you try to probe into what they learnt in school that day, they say, “Nothing really. I’m going to my room.” 

While it is common for teenagers to want to be independent and show that they have everything under control, it would still be great for parents to show them more interest in what happened at school each day.  

While you would not want to encroach too much on their sense of freedom, it is important to exert the right kind of pressure and encourage them to explore their interests. Engaging in conversations with them shows that you care about them and are interested in their life. 

You may do so by sharing how your day went and what interesting things you did at work that day. Put yourself in the shoes of your teenage child by thinking back to your adolescence and how you felt and share that with them. 

Being a teenager today is more complex and challenging in different ways than when we were growing up. When I speak with teenagers, they sound worried. They are worried about doing well, about making their parents proud, and about being successful in life and in their careers. They also do not like being constantly compared to their peers who are perceived to be perfect.  

Show your support by engaging them and nudging them to follow their interests and discover new ones. Give them time to find their way. And remember to breathe! 

How The Perse School (Singapore) Helps Your Child Find Their Path 

At the Perse School (Singapore), students discover their direction with the following offerings: 

• A broad and balanced curriculum that leads to university and academic success 

• Over 100+ extra-curricular activities to try and learn a wide variety of skills 

• Leadership opportunities to develop teamwork, collaboration, and many more important skills 

• Creative and sporting pursuits to help develop equally important parts of the brain 

• A strong pastoral care and inclusive environment that helps students foster meaningful relationships with teachers, mentors, and peers who play a significant role in their lives 

• Personalised university guidance and support to ease students through the process by guiding, teaching, exploring, and applying to university 
   

If your child has no idea what they want to study, remember that life is not a race to win. It is a life to live, experience, and enjoy. Having a career that I love took time and exploration. Some of that time was frustrating, but I was still learning what I was good at and what I was not good at. Once I stopped trying to force myself to be someone I could not be, I was able to have a wonderful, vibrant career.   

Good luck!  
Hamilton Gregg  

About Hamilton Gregg  

Hamilton Gregg is a world-renowned university guidance consultant. He has 30 years of experience advising students and their parents on university pathways. He has worked in leading schools across Switzerland, Japan, and China, and currently supports The Perse School (Singapore) as we grow our Senior School and prepare for our A-Level pathway in August 2027. At The Perse, Hamilton works with students and parents to strategically prepare for competitive global universities.