The effects on short-term retention and college major selection resulting from systematic career planning of entering college freshmen

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of a Systematic Career Planning Program on short-term retention and the academic major selection rate of entering college freshmen. The sample consisted of lll randomly selected freshmen who were enrolled in freshman orientation classes during the fall semester at a historically Black university. Three groups (experimental, control, and comparison) were identified and compared. There were 37 subjects in each group.

The experimental and control groups were comprised of students who were undecided about a college major, with the experimental group participating in a Systematic Career Planning Program, the treatment variable. The comparison group had declared college majors and did not participate in the Systematic Career Planning Program. The Major-Minor-Finder was employed to assist students in career decision-making (Cutler, Ferry, Kauk, and Robinett, 1983).

Based on the findings in the study, short-term retention and college major selection rate differed significantly among the groups. More of the experimental group participants chose college majors and remained in e college during the spring semester than did the control group participants. The retention rate was greater for males than for females. Noted differences among the groups implied that the treatment had a positive impact on experimental group participants.

Similar career planning programs were recommended for entering college freshmen as well as other undecided students on a larger scale. it was also recommended that a systemic study be conducted to determine whether the salutary impact of the Systematic Career Planning Program resulted from the administration of the career decision-making instrument and other instruments or from the efforts of a trained professional adult, or both.