CHOOSING a university and course of study can be a daunting process, according to Bond University admissions manager Tom Betts.
Mr Betts said it often was the fear of having to commit to a set course of study that made the process difficult to face, resulting in students procrastinating at this time of year and missing the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre deadline.
He said many students believed that lodging their application was "locking in their future career path and throwing away the key" but a student's QTAC preference did not necessarily dictate what they would be doing for the rest of their life.
"I've helped students who have started out studying law and have ended up pursuing careers in international diplomacy," Mr Betts said.
"You don't have to get it right the first time.
"My advice would be to be brave and aim high.
"There will always be a way to realise your ambition."
Mr Betts said that, while there always would be options to change courses of study "down the track", there still were steps students could take to increase the likelihood of selecting a course and campus that would satisfy them.
"The most important thing for students to realise is that there is plenty of help out there to assist them in their decision making," he said.
"My advice would be talk to your school career advisor, your family, current students, graduates and staff of the universities you are interested in.
"Ask the questions that are important to you.
"Compare graduate outcomes -- starting salaries, full-time employment rates and satisfaction levels.
"These are all very real statistics that will give you an insight to the university offering and allow you to compare different institutions.
"Choose a university that excels in the areas that are most important to you and don't settle for anything less."
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