Why Students Change College Majors

Initial Beliefs about Majors Tempered by Experience
Students enroll in college quite optimistic about their ability to match their interests and skills with an appropriate major. This study uses an innovative student longitudinal survey to show that initial beliefs about majors were tempered by experience in courses and within specific programs of study. From a policy perspective, it is important to study which intervening factors affect choice of major, especially when misconceptions about program rigor or personal ability can steer students away from math and science fields. Understanding more about how students’ expectations change as they navigate through college could improve policies related to timing and selection of degree program. (New to the ECS Research Database)