Choosing a Major
Design Research Group Project │ Fall 2016 │ The Ohio State University Alyssa Miller, Morgan Mitchell, Zachary Norman, Libby Riddell, Gregg Tuckermann
Objective The overall objective was to study the factors that go into the process of choosing a major, and to be able to put it together into a session people can complete to come to a conclusion without wasting their time and money in a major they are unhappy with. What we discovered was that choosing a major is just a step on your ultimate career path. Students need to visualize their end goal to ensure that their paths will align.
Research 1.
Secondary Internet Research
2.
Online Student Survey
3.
Semi-Structured Student Interviews
4.
Semi-Structured Advisor Interviews
5.
Student Make Sessions
3 Sessions 13 Precedent Study Internet Sources
15 Questions 78 Student Responses
15 Students 13 Questions
2 Interviews 2 Advisors
11 Students 3 Pre-Session (Homework) Activities
3 In-Session Activities
Analysis When do students choose a major? 20-50%
Students who enter college undecided
75%
Students who change majors at least once
Graduation Rates
78%
Students who don’t switch majors
Top Influences for why people choose a major:
Don't worry about picking the "wrong" major 50%
82%
Students who do switch majors
Graduates who pursue careers unrelated to their major
60%
Future jobs in the work force that have yet to be created!
What Students Want:
● Job or financial security
● Knowledge about collegiate curriculum plans
● Family members (especially parents)
● More career opportunities available sooner
● Common influential people that helped
● University resources
● Passionate about the field
● College-credit or AP courses
● Something they are good at
● More knowledge about majors
● Ties with professionals in that chosen field
● Students feel pressured to pick something. ● Students want less push for STEM subjects
What's the Problem? ✓
Students get to college without clear intentions for their future career path.
? ?
?
Students enter college with an idea, but once exposed to collegiate life have a change in perspective.
? ?
These students sometimes end up confused about what to study, and can spend valuable time and money in a program that will not get them to their dream job.
How can we solve it? 3 Opportunities (organized by level of plausibility) 1 Make Session process for the Explorations Survey Class and all other survey class experiences. 2 OSU Student Organization made up of diverse group of majors who travel to visit schools and educate students on majors and college coursework. 3 Federal program that allows high schools to provide more college experiences and credit for GE courses, thus allowing students to take a year of Explorations where they just try different classes in order to discover what they really want to major in and what all of their options are in their dream career path.
The Four Steps: 1.
Interest Journey Map
2.
Bullseye Exercise & Personality Test LESS INTEREST
INTEREST
Reading Movies Painter/ Artist
Personality Type:
Fashion
Fashion Designer
Acting
MORE INTEREST
ENFP r
ato
nsl Tra
Writing Drawing
Actress
ting
ng
Marke
i ertis
Adv
Journ
alism
Litera tu & Writ re ing Graphic Design
TIME
3.
Research Compatible Majors
Writing
News
Design
4.
Shadow Professionals
Author
Graphic Designer
Journalist