How Do College Students Select Their Majors? Group 4: Tara M Bellofatto Jessica Collins Gergana Galiatsatos Vitaliy Konev Tom C Vogdes

Data Collection Population –All current and former students –Ages 17 to any age –All genders –All ethnicities –All social statuses –All marital statuses

Data Collection Method – Survey –Part 1: General Information Gender Age (18 and below/ / above 21) Ethnicity Social Class (working/middle/upper) Marital Status Have you changed your major?

Data Collection Survey –Part 2: Major Selection Factors (12) Future income; Interest in the field; Ease of study; Following your role model; High school influence; Random selection, etc. Rank the influence of each factor on selection of his/her major, from 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest)

Data Collection Our Sample - 62 people : –98% current students (from 3 different colleges) –63% females –56% age –68% whites –87% middle class –95% singles –63% never changed their major

Analysis For the whole sample: –Top 3 factors (most influence): 1. Interest in the field 2. Job availability 3. Future income –Bottom 3 factors (least influence): 12. Friends’ influence 11. Random selection 10. Appropriate for my gender

Analysis

Analysis - Age Top 3 factors for 18 and below: 1.Interest in the field 2.Future income 3.Challenge of course material Top 3 factors for above 21: 1.Interest in the field 2.Job availability 3.Future income

Analysis - Age

Younger students (18 and below): –focus more on course material and studying; –don’t think about future jobs yet; –desire financial independence; Reason: most of them still live with their parents and financially depend on them. Older students (above 21): – realize importance of the job availability factor; Reasons:  depend on their parents much less;  had Co-ops and have part time jobs now.

Analysis - Gender Top 3 factors for males: 1.Interest in the field 2.Future income 3.Job availability Top 3 factors for females: 1.Interest in the field 2.Job availability 3.Future income

Analysis - Gender

Males chose future income because: –of their role as the provider –thought of as the “bread winners” –have been socialized into a more dominant role Females chose job availability because: –need for job security –resistance entering into highly demanding, aggressive careers

Analysis - Ethnicity Top 3 factors for Whites & Asians: 1.Interest in the field 2.Future income 3.Job availability Top 3 factors for African Americans: 1.Interest in the field 2.Job availability 3.High school influence

Analysis - Ethnicity

African Americans have defined high school influence as a very important factor: –They don’t have the same resources as other ethnic groups; –Rely on scholarships earned during high school years. Asians ignore ease of study factor: –Particular interest in challenging majors like Physics, Statistics, etc. –Asian culture emphasizes importance of high achievement and challenge

Analysis – Social Status Top 3 factors for Middle & Upper Class: 1.Interest in the field 2.Job availability 3.Future income Top 3 factors for Working Class: 1.Job availability 2.Interest in the field 2.Future income

Analysis – Social Status

Upper class: –wishes to maintain their high social status Middle class: –have the option of choosing between different jobs offers –aiming for higher status Working class: –the only group in our sample who selected job availability as most important factor –need to be able to go to work immediately to support oneself or family

Analysis – Change of Major Top 3 factors for YES (changed major): 1.Interest in the field 2.Future income 3.Job availability Top 3 factors for NO (did not change major): 1.Interest in the field 2.Job availability 3.Future income

Analysis – Change of Major

Students who DID change their majors: –Are more concerned about their future income –Less interested in actual jobs Students who DID NOT change their majors: – are more interested in their major field; – are more intrigued by future job opportunities

Further Testing Larger sample: –More people; –More colleges; –Randomness of sample Different survey: –Focus on specific hypothesis; –Use on-line survey

Further Testing Interviews: –To get qualitative data –More details –Students as well as professionals involved in college decision process Secondary analysis: –Reference past research for further comparison