我学什么专业? The Factors that Inform Student’s Choice of College Major

When college students speak about their majors, it’s assumed they selected it because it is a topic of interest to them. Which is not wrong, but what other factors do students rely on with 和 without even knowing? Literature expresses the correlation between high socioeconomic statuses 和 non-lucrative majors, as well as the significance parental roles play in student’s lives. Less understood is detailed accounts of motivations for majors that include student’s generation, 种族/民族身份, 童年经历. Drawing on this research project, 27 in-depth interviews of college students at a private western institution spoke about the experiences that led up to them selecting their major(s). It was found that first generation students face the pressures of graduating college 和 earning a high income to move upward in social mobility. Second generation students have different experiences based on their 种族/民族身份. 除了, common motivations for major selection were seeking financial security, 创造社会变革, 和 distinct childhood experiences. 有了这些知识, students who have trouble selecting a major can observe why others selected their major(s). These findings can help faculty 和 staff members better underst和 why their students decided to join their departments. 如发现, students rely on their identities 和 experiences to select their career pathways that includes their major(s) in college.