In the “real world” before an IFR flight you plan your route and then file it either over the phone with Flight Service or with software. You can file the route as simple as just listing the departure and arrival airports or fill in the whole thing including the arrival and approach you would like. Before you taxi out you call for your clearance either on the radio or in the case of an uncontrolled airport - over the phone. What you get back in the clearance may or may not be what you filed so you have to be ready to scribble down changes and then figure that out and program that into the GPS or FMS. And then along the route ATC can amend your clearance. In the case you asked about you could make your last nav point be an intersection or VOR and then ATC would give you instructions for an arrival - or maybe right to the approach in use that matches the nav equipment you filed with. If you filed a specific approach and that fits the winds when you arrive you usually get that approach - or you can ask for it if you are not flying into a crazy busy airport. Initial clearances are never set in stone. Plenty of times the initial clearance you get resembles nothing like what you filed. A lot of times along the route ATC will delete part of the clearance and clear you direct to a point. So you need to be ready to adapt. It’s a huge topic but once you get immersed it all makes sense.
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