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What to Do After School If You Don't Know What You Want to Study Yet
Updated: 3 days ago
Short answer: if you don't know what to study after school, don't pick a degree at random – and don't do nothing. Give yourself a structured period of three to twelve months to test real options: work, a short course, an internship, a programme abroad or volunteering. Most students find their direction by trying things, not by thinking harder about them.
Not knowing is completely normal. Many young people finish school without a clear plan, and many who start a degree they chose under pressure end up switching or dropping out. This guide is for students and parents who want a practical way forward.
Why so many students don't know what to study
At 17 or 18, most people have only seen school subjects – not jobs, industries or ways of living. You are being asked to choose a path you have never actually tried. Common reasons for feeling stuck:
You like several subjects equally, or none of them strongly.
You don't know what jobs a degree really leads to.
You are tired after exams and need a break before deciding.
You feel pressure from parents, teachers or friends to "just choose".
You want more independence and life experience first.
None of these mean something is wrong. They mean you need more information – and the best information comes from experience.
5 steps to find your direction
Step | What to do | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
1. Take stock | List the subjects, activities and moments you have enjoyed most | Shows patterns you may not have noticed |
2. Get real input | Talk to students, graduates and people in jobs that interest you | Replaces guesses with real information |
3. Test, don't guess | Try work, an internship, a short course or a project | Experience tells you more than any brochure |
4. Build skills that fit any path | English, independence, teamwork, communication | Useful whatever you choose later |
5. Set a deadline | Decide when you will apply or choose | Stops a break from drifting |
1. Take stock honestly
Write down the school subjects you liked, the activities you lose track of time doing, and the moments you felt proud. Then ask: do I prefer working with people, ideas, numbers, my hands or creative work? Patterns often appear quickly. Online orientation tests can help, but treat them as a starting point, not an answer.
2. Talk to people who are already doing it
Ask current students what their degree is really like, and ask people in jobs that interest you how they got there. Open days, online lectures and student forums are useful too. A 20-minute conversation with someone doing the job is often worth more than hours of reading.
3. Test options instead of guessing
This is the step most students skip. A short job, an internship, volunteering, an online course or a few weeks abroad will teach you what you like – and, just as importantly, what you don't. Our guide Gap year ideas: 10 options compared lists the most popular ways to test your options, with costs and length.
4. Build skills that are useful whatever you choose
Some skills help with every degree and every job: fluent English, independence, communication, teamwork and confidence. Time spent building these is never wasted, even if you are still undecided at the end of it. See How to improve your English after school for practical ways to do it.
5. Set a clear deadline
Uncertainty becomes a problem only when it has no end date. Decide when you will make your choice – for example, before the next application deadline – and plan your months around it. Our article Is taking time out before university a good idea? explains how to make a break worthwhile.
What to avoid
Choosing a degree only to "be safe" – it often leads to switching later, which costs time and money.
Doing nothing for months – motivation drops fast without structure.
Copying your friends' choices – their direction is not necessarily yours.
Waiting to feel 100% sure – most people never do. Aim for "sure enough to try".
A structured bridge: LGN Beyond
If you want to use the autumn after school to build skills, gain independence and think about your next step, LGN Beyond is one option. It is an eight-week programme in England for 18–20-year-olds, from 20 September to 12 November 2027, on Queen Ethelburga's campus near York.
Participants start with four weeks of intensive English (25 hours a week), then take Academic English, Business English, Creative Writing and Entrepreneurship – each with a certificate. Those four tracks are also a low-risk way to test what you enjoy. Five two-night city trips to London, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Manchester and the Lake District are included, and the price of €10,900 covers everything except flights and spending money. You come home in November with time left to work, apply or try something else.
LGN Beyond is new. The team behind it isn't. LGN Beyond is run by Let's Go Native. Our English camps for young people have more than 200 five-star reviews from parents and a 5.0 rating on Google and Trustpilot. Read what parents say or discover LGN Beyond.
More guides for students and parents
The Best Gap Year in England for 2027: LGN Beyond, 8 Weeks That Prepare You for What Comes Next
How to Improve Your English After School (Without Spending All Day in a Classroom)
Is Taking Time Out Before University a Good Idea? Pros, Cons and What to Do With It
Gap Year Ideas: 10 Options After School Compared (Cost, Length and What You Gain)
Does a Gap Year Have to Last a Whole Year? Short Gap Year Options in England Compared
How Much Does a Gap Year Abroad Really Cost? A 2027 Budget Guide for Parents
How to Choose a Gap Year Programme Abroad: 7 Things to Look For (2027 Checklist)
Frequently asked questions
Is it normal not to know what to study after school?
Yes. Many students finish school without a clear idea of what to study, and it is far better to take time to find out than to pick a degree at random. The key is to use that time actively – testing options, building skills and setting a deadline to decide.
Should I take a gap year if I don't know what to study?
A gap year can help a lot if it has a plan. Use it to try work, courses or time abroad that show you what you enjoy, and set a clear date to decide. A year with no structure is the main risk, which is why many students choose a short programme plus work or an internship.
What can I do after school instead of going straight to university?
Popular options include working and saving, an internship, volunteering, a language course or structured programme abroad, au pair work, travel and short courses. Many students combine two or three of these in a "split" year.
How do I find out what I want to study?
Look at what you have enjoyed so far, talk to students and people in jobs that interest you, and test options through short work, internships or courses. Experience gives you better information than thinking alone.
Will taking time out hurt my university application?
Usually not – if you can explain what you did and what you learned. Universities generally accept a year out, and many students apply later with a clearer idea of what they want.
What skills should I build while I decide?
Skills that help in every path: English, independence, communication, teamwork and confidence. Living abroad for a few weeks or months is one of the fastest ways to build several of them at once.
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