Love What You Choose: College Students' Major Identity Under The College Entrance Examination Reform

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Saturday 9:45 am - Gold 3
  In Roundtable Session: Technology, Pedagogy, and Student Learning

Abstract

This study evaluates the China's College Entrance Examination Reform's impact on professional identity and career congruence, using 2024 National College Student Survey data and the IEO model. It examines the reform's impact through three dimensions of major identity: behavioral persistence, affective commitment,and occupational matching, constructing the “behavior-affect-career” framework. The findings reveal: (1) The reform significantly reduces students' major-transfer behaviors and enhances major satisfaction, yet no effect on major-career alignment; (2) Institutional satisfaction diminishes the reform's positive impact on major satisfaction, showing a compensatory effect between college and major choices; (3) Non-elite institutions and STEM majors report lower satisfaction. The reform improves short-term major adaptation, it needs systemic enhancements,so we suggest transitioning from exam-based selection to an integrated talent-development ecosystem.

Authors

• Ruoxi Dong, Nanjing University

• Junhua Sun, Nanjing University