Assisting Secondary Ed Seniors in Choosing a Higher Education Academic Major

Abstract

Data show an increase in time taken by secondary education seniors in fully transitioning into higher education by declaring a major. Many of those who do make an early decision in choosing an academic major end up making numerous changes in degree choice, costing extra time, money and effort in attaining an undergraduate degree. In this project, researchers proposed an informational intervention by administering a strength, preference and interest career rating scale to interested participants from a secondary education setting. The results of augmenting the knowledge base of the participants showed a significant increase in confidence with choosing an academic major, post intervention. A higher effect manifested in Southwest Louisiana, though there was significant effect also in the Northeast region of the state. Researchers suggested federally subsidized programs such as TRIO may be instrumental in the difference of effect size in NELA and SWLA.