Passion, Parenting, or Something Else? A Qualitative Analysis of University Students' Academic Decision Making

• In Event: Passion, Parenting, or Something Else? A Qualitative Analysis of University Students' Academic Decision Making

Abstract

Research on American students’ academic decision-making primarily focuses on the role of passion in students’ choice of field of study. Recent scholarship also acknowledges the importance of parents in this decision-making process, particularly for students from collectivist cultures. Both bodies of literature, however, fail to account for other factors. Through 31 interviews with European-American, Chinese-American, and Chinese international students, this study seeks to understand other factors at work in academic decision-making. Although passion was a strong factor for European-American students and parental influence was a strong factor for their Chinese international peers, financial security, desire to impact communities, peer influence, and self-efficacy also played prominent roles. By acknowledging these factors, advisors can better support diverse students in their academic decision-making.

Author

• Emily Petruzzelli Schell, Stanford University