"Young people are faced with myriad choices around university study, not just in terms of what programs they wish to undertake, but also where they would like to study." she said. "For many, making those life-changing decisions can be quite daunting and UQ, like many universities, endeavours to help students through this process by providing detailed information about our programs through a range of channels including open days, program guides, advice nights and school visits." But inevitably, universities have come to understand that as students progress through their academic studies things change. "We understand that some students will start a degree and then, after gaining some university experience, change their mind about what they want to study or what profession they want to enter," Professor Macdonald said. "UQ supports students in that process through providing career advice and by facilitating program changes in accordance with UQ's admission rules."

Professor Macdonald said some program changes were the result of students knowing what career they wanted but who had not achieved strong-enough results at high school to enter the degree of their choice, instead using other degrees as a pathway. Some students moved from a single degree focus into a dual degree. She said it was important tertiary institutions were flexible to allow students the opportunity to explore their options. "We think it's important that students have some flexibility to try different things and find out what's right for them," she said. "We also think it's important that students have a second chance to get into the degree of their choice if they didn't quite do well enough in year 12." But, as young people were still teenagers when they made their decisions about university, the influence of emerging adulthood could also make a student change his or her mind.

"The university environment is very different to school and many of our students come to us when they are just moving into adulthood," Professor MacDonald said. "At this time they are still learning about where their academic strengths, weaknesses and interests lie." UQ psychology fellow Kylie Burke said for some school students, making decisions about university was extremely stressful. "For a lot of kids it is anxiety-provoking and stressful," she said. "Even if it is self-imposed pressure, it doesn't have to be imposed externally.

"They can have those feelings of having to make decisions now and if you make the wrong one your life is over." But she said it was important for students to remember, and teachers and parents to reinforce, that the decision on what career path they wanted to take at high school wouldn't dictate the path they would end up taking. "Some teens are very clear very early on what they want to do, they follow that and they get there," she said. "For a significant number they don't know what they want, and may not want to do, until they finish university. "What's important for parents and teens to know is that is normal, there isn't one path towards your life."

Professor MacDonald said students who found themselves thinking of changing degrees should embrace it as part of the adventure of growing up. "For some students, (changing programs) can potentially feel quite freeing because they have found something they are interested in and are happy to pursue that," she said. "For others it can feel that they have wasted their time. "As long as they are making a decision that feels right for them, it doesn't have to be damaging." All universities offer comprehensive support services for students struggling with their program choice and considering other options.