A Space to Experiment, Clarity for the Future

Helena Steiner, student in the StudyXplore orientation program

Through the StudyXplore orientation program, I was able to explore different fields of study, better assess my own interests, and thereby gain more confidence in my future academic choices.

After graduating from high school, Helena Steiner wasn’t sure which path to take at first. She worked for a while until her sister told her about a program at CU Carinthia University of Applied Sciences where students can simply try out different fields of study. “So I kind of stumbled upon it by chance,” she explains.

What helped her the most were the direct insights into different academic fields and the personal interactions with faculty members, some of whom are still actively working in the field. Right from the start, the group visited every campus and received a brief overview from one faculty member per program about what the field actually entails. “That made a huge difference,” says Helena–especially because, from a distance, you often don’t know exactly what to expect from a degree program.

She found the opportunity to take elective courses from virtually every degree program particularly valuable. She deliberately combines different fields–such as mechanical engineering and Disability & Diversity Studies. That’s how she discovered social work, a field that was completely unfamiliar to her at first: “Without the StudyXplore orientation program, I don’t think I would have come across it.”

Even beyond her choice of major, the year had a profound impact on her: She learned to better recognize her own strengths and to step out of her comfort zone–so much so that she’s now even volunteering for an interview like this one. She also took advantage of the Xtra program for paramedic training, which she wholeheartedly recommends.

At the end of the year, Helena feels much more confident: “Now I feel much more certain about which direction I’ll take next.” She’s clearly leaning toward social work–even though she’s aware that this could still change. And that’s exactly what makes the difference for her: “I think I’m stressing less about it now because I have that insight.”