Kristen Ross

I am currently an Academic Advisor at Wharton County Junior College. I have a BA and MPA (Public Administration…not Accounting) from Stephen F. Austin State University. As an undergraduate, I changed my major 8 times, so I know a little bit about being undecided. I’m pursuing a PhD in Higher Education from Texas A&M University. I’ve worked in Admissions, Registration, Academic Advising, and First Year Experience & Instruction.

Famous Student Lines

• I read about Actuarial Science on Wikipedia but the images from the Google search weren’t that exciting.

• I’ve watched so much Grey’s Anatomy that I could perform open heart surgery.

• I’ve seen every episode of Dexter and I think I could be a criminal mastermind.

• I heard they make a lot of money and I could fake it until I make it.

• I’m going to be a music producer like Lucious on Empire.

Which Choice Theory?

College Choice Theory

• Integrated with social (Student Development) and economic factors (Rational Choice Theory)

• Can be fluid. No one concrete application or interpretation.

Glassner’s Choice Theory

• Quality World – the idea of what we want our life to be

• Every behavior is a choice.

• Develop supporting environment and behavior

Pre-Search

• When to make the change?• Before or after math/science courses?• Before or after introductory courses?• First semester, first year, or later?

• How much will it cost? • Time and Money

• How much will I get earn?• How much support do I have?

The Search

• Which schools have the program?• Can I get in?• Can I afford the cost?• Rankings

• Career and Interest Inventories• Shoe Shopping• Try it out to see if it fits• You can exchange as long as you haven’t “worn” it

The Choice

• Economic Factors• Financial considerations ultimately weigh heaviest

• Academic Factors• College/program acceptance• How much of current program will apply to new major?

• Location and Social Factors• Close to home or move away• Family considerations

CSI Activity

• The Fun Stuff

• The Reality

The Data

• Pilot Group included 28 Freshmen and 27 Sophomore students.

• 36 found the exercise helpful, 7 did not, and 7 were undecided.

• After the exercise, 20 decided they would still change majors, 18 said they were not changing, and 17 were undecided.

Liberal Arts

Business Education STEM Pre-Med, etc

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

Current major

Series1

STEM Pre-Med, etc Criminology Other0

5

10

15

20

25

Major of Interest

Series1

CSI Series Criminal Minds

Grey's Anatomy

Other0

5

10

15

20

25

What show inspired you most?

Series1

Comments

• This was too much work! I shouldn’t have to find this out on my own. Advisors should tell us all this information.

• This major/career is a lot of work. I don’t want to have to go to medical school to be a medical examiner or sports medicine doctor.

• I’m going to submit some updates to Wikipedia so others will know how hard it is to get into med school.

• I’m glad I did this because I never understood what entry level meant. I’ll

be living with my parents longer than I thought.

• I met with a real CSI guy and he was a nerd. It was so boring. I’ll stick with Finance.

Resources

• Chapman, R.G. (1986) ,"Toward a Theory of College Selection: a Model of College Search and Choice Behavior", in NA - Advances in Consumer Research Volume 13, eds. Richard J. Lutz, Provo, UT : Association for Consumer Research, Pages: 246-250.

• Glasser, W. Choice Theory. New York: HarperCollins, 1998.• Graff, C.G. "Course selection theory and college transition seminars: an adaptation of college choice models

to explain firstyear students' course enrollment behavior." PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) thesis, University of Iowa, 2011. http://ir.uiowa.edu/etd/1141.

• HILLS, J. R. (1964), Decision Theory and College Choice. The Personnel and Guidance Journal, 43: 17–22. doi: 10.1002/j.2164-4918.1964.tb02701.x

• Paulsen, M. B. (2001). The economics of human capital and investment in higher education. In M. Paulsen & J. Smart (Eds.), The finance of higher education: Theory, research, policy & practice (55-94). New York: Agathon Press.

• St. John, E. P., Asker, E. H., & Hu, S. (2001). The role of finances in student choice: A review of theory and research. In M. Paulsen & J. Smart (Eds.), The finance of higher education: Theory, research, policy & practice (419-438). New York: Agathon Press.

• St. John, E. P., Paulsen, M. B., & Starkey, J. B. (1996). The nexus between college choice and persistence. Research in Higher Education, 37, 175-220.

• Walpole, M. (2003). Socioeconomic status and college: How SES affects college experiences and outcomes. The Review of Higher Education, 27, 45-73.