I’m in 11th grade studying for finals, and I feel like I have no future because I’m taking math literacy. Most good-paying degrees require pure math, but the options available—like arts and tourism—lead to poor job prospects. I don’t want to waste four years on a degree with no financial return. I tried taking pure math but had to drop it, and now I feel inadequate. Please help.
Feeling uncertain about your future is very common, especially when you’re still figuring out your academic strengths and interests. But it’s important not to lose hope—there are several pathways to success, some of which you may not have considered yet.
Firstly, understand that while many degrees require pure maths, there are plenty of opportunities available where maths literacy is accepted. You’ve already mentioned fields like arts and tourism, but there are others too, including education, social sciences, communications, and more. These industries can offer satisfying careers with financial returns if you follow a strategic approach, such as gaining specific skill sets, networking, and seeking internships.
Secondly, you may want to consider options such as bridging courses. Some universities and colleges offer these to allow students to catch up on subjects like pure mathematics, opening pathways to more science and commerce-related degrees.
Now, when it comes to finding financial support, bursaries, and scholarships, you can search for funding based on your chosen field of study. For instance, you may explore available bursaries at: https://apply.org.za/bursaries. Many bursaries are offered based on merit and might not strictly require pure mathematics as a criterion, depending on the field.
You can also use tools like the APS calculator to check specific university admission requirements for your desired degree and institution. This is helpful to gauge which degrees are available to you with maths literacy.
Here’s the link to the APS calculator: https://apply.org.za/aps
Lastly,