The Privilege of Choice: A Qualitative Longitudinal Study of How First-Generation/Low-Income (FLI) and Non-FLI Students Choose Majors

• In Event: Academic Choices and Success

Abstract

We examine whether the process of choosing academic majors looks different for FLI college students, compared to their non-FLI peers. We interviewed 115 college students at an elite university from the beginning of freshman year through junior year. FLI students are more likely to pursue STEM majors, compared with non-FLI students. Furthermore, students’ rationale for their majors vary substantially: non-FLI students tend to pursue majors out of passion, while FLI students pursue academic majors out of passion and pressure. FLI students describe two types of pressure: 1) pressure to feel financially secure, and 2) pressure to help their community. We refer to this difference as the privilege of choice, which is afforded to wealthier students but not socioeconomically disadvantaged students.

Author

• Ilana Horwitz, Stanford University