College is a time of self-discovery. It is the first time that many will explore subjects or study subjects that are not directly tied to their future careers. For example, some may be interested in pursuing science, while others may follow more practical issues like business or computer science. The correct approach, therefore, is to encourage students to pursue subjects that interest them. If students are not encouraged to seek topics that interest them, they may not only find themselves bored in classes they do not feel an interest in, but they may also feel lost and unfulfilled in their current career path.

The idea of studying subjects one is interested in, rather than subjects that are likely to lead to jobs, does have its advantages. It allows students to explore what subjects interest them, leading to them finding a subject that will become their passion. A student who finds a subject they are interested in maybe passionate about it, and, as a result, they have a stronger desire to learn the subject and perform as well as possible in the course. Additionally, some subjects may be more interesting than others but may not be of immediate use in the workplace. Studying such subjects may lead to a higher-paying career in the future but will not provide the instant gratification of a job. Students should, therefore, be encouraged to study subjects that interest them because they are likely to bring the most satisfaction in life.

This idea also has its disadvantages. If a student does not study a subject that they are interested in, it will not be wasted time. However, if a student does learn a topic that they are interested in, they may miss out on other, more practical subjects that may be of interest to them. For example, if a student is interested in computer science but takes classes in mathematics, they may be unable to pursue a career in the field. Similarly, a student interested in archaeology may miss out on studying biology and chemistry, which are needed for many jobs.

While it is advantageous for students to pursue subjects that interest them, some specific situations in which adopting the recommendation may not be the best policy. For example, suppose a student is planning on studying a topic that is important to their future, such as engineering or history. In that case, it may be more beneficial to take classes that closely tie in with the subject one is interested in. For example, an engineering student may want to take physics classes if they are interested in engineering but may be discouraged from doing so because physics is too difficult to study at the same time. Likewise, a student interested in history may be prevented from taking classes that do not directly connect to history, such as philosophy or art.

Additionally, suppose a student plans to go into a low pay field or requires a comprehensive education. In that case, there may be no point in taking classes that do not lead to immediate employment. For example, a student interested in history but who does not plan on teaching or going into government may be discouraged from taking philosophy classes since they will need to take up a lot of time.