Dissertation Choose Wisely A Study of College Major Choice and Major Switching Behavior Cameron Wright This document was submitted as a dissertation in May 2018 in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the doctoral degree in public policy analysis at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. The faculty committee that supervised and approved the dissertation consisted of Charles A. Goldman (Chair), Trey Miller, and Dermot Forde. PARDEE RAND GRADUATE SCHOOL For more information on this publication, visit http://www.rand.org/pubs/rgs_dissertations/RGSD414.html Published 2018 by the RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, Calif. R® is a registered trademark Limited Print and Electronic Distribution Rights This document and trademark(s) contained herein are protected by law. This representation of RAND intellectual property is provided for noncommercial use only. Unauthorized posting of this publication online is prohibited. 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Support RAND Make a tax-deductible charitable contribution at www.rand.org/giving/contribute www.rand.org Table of Contents Acknowledgments........................................................................................................................... v Abstract .......................................................................................................................................... vi Chapter One: Introduction & Research Design .............................................................................. 1 Research Questions .................................................................................................................................. 3 Research Design ....................................................................................................................................... 3 Organization of the Dissertation ............................................................................................................... 7 Chapter Two: Literature Review and Conceptual Models ............................................................. 9 Overview .................................................................................................................................................. 9 How do Students Choose their Major? ..................................................................................................... 9 What Majors do Students Choose and what is the Impact of those Choices? ........................................ 12 Why do Students Switch Majors? .......................................................................................................... 13 How Much Major Switching Occurs and What is the Effect? ............................................................... 15 Are their Differences in Major Choice Behavior between Demographic Groups? ................................ 17 Conceptual Models ................................................................................................................................. 21 Summary ................................................................................................................................................ 24 Chapter Three: Analysis of Major Selection Behavior Using Nationally Representative Data ... 26 Background............................................................................................................................................. 26 Data and Methods ................................................................................................................................... 26 Results .................................................................................................................................................... 27 Limitations .............................................................................................................................................. 33 Discussion .............................................................................................................................................. 34 Chapter Four: A Qualitative Exploration of Student Major Choice ............................................. 36 Overview ................................................................................................................................................ 36 Top Major Fields of Study Under Consideration ................................................................................... 39 Reasons for Being Undecided ................................................................................................................ 43 Initiation of Major Consideration ........................................................................................................... 46 Important Factors in Major Choice ........................................................................................................ 48 Sources of Information ........................................................................................................................... 57 External Influences on Major Decision Making Process ....................................................................... 64 Career and Life Planning Course ............................................................................................................ 71 Potential Career Outcomes and Major Choice ....................................................................................... 73 Knowledge of Pay Levels Associated with Different Majors ................................................................ 74 Should All Students be Undecided? ....................................................................................................... 75 Initial Major Consideration Process ....................................................................................................... 77 Major Switch Consideration Process ...................................................................................................... 82 Biggest Challenges ................................................................................................................................. 86 Additional Information or Resources ..................................................................................................... 89 iii Advice for Incoming Major Deciding Freshmen ................................................................................... 91 Conclusion .............................................................................................................................................. 92 Chapter Five: Academic Advisor Perspectives on Major Choice ................................................ 95 Overview ................................................................................................................................................ 95 Responsibilities and Student Load ......................................................................................................... 96 Assistance with Initial Major Selection .................................................................................................. 96 Information Used for Advisement .......................................................................................................... 98 What Factors Should Students Use to Weigh Different Majors ............................................................. 98 Biggest Challenges for Initial Major Decision Advisement ................................................................. 102 Primary Factors Driving Major Switches ............................................................................................. 105 Difference in Advisement between Initial Major Deciders and Major Switchers ................................ 107 Effects of Switching on Time to Degree and Graduation ..................................................................... 108 Serial Major Switchers ......................................................................................................................... 110 Difficulty of Major Switching .............................................................................................................. 110 Should All Students be Undecided? ..................................................................................................... 111 Additional Resources ............................................................................................................................ 112 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................ 113 Chapter Six: University-specific Analysis of Major Selection Behavior ................................... 115 Data and Methods ................................................................................................................................. 115 Descriptive Statistics ...........................................................................................................................