176R_Major transcitions: how college students interpret the process of changing fields of study

Are you interested in how young people change their fields of study? Summary of the article titled Major transitions: how college students interpret the process of changing fields of study from 2023 by Blake R Silver published in the Higher Education journal. This is a great preparation for our next interviewee, Amelia Gaskill in episode 177 talking about how and why she changed her major to focus more on the environment. Since we are investigating the future of cities, I thought it would be interesting to see how and why students change their majors as a key education transition. This article explores the complex experiences of college students changing majors, revealing emotional, logistical, and perceptual challenges during this significant educational transition. As the most important things, I would like to highlight 3 aspects: Changing majors significantly impacts a student's identity and future aspirations, involving a deeply personal and emotional journey through phases of endings, exploration, and new beginnings. Each student's experience of changing majors is unique, influenced by a mix of personal values, academic interests, and external factors like family and career considerations. There is a need for holistic support in higher education, emphasizing that academic advising should be complemented with emotional and personal guidance to aid students through this transition. Find the article through this link. Abstract: Selecting a major is one of the most consequential decisions a student will make in college. Though major selection is often conceived of as a discrete choice made at a particular point in time, many students change their majors at least once during college. This article examines the process of changing majors as a key education transition. Drawing from 38 interviews with college students at a public university in the USA who changed their declared major, this study explores the ways they make meaning of transitions between fields of study. Specifically, I ask: How do students describe their experiences navigating the process of switching college majors? Six themes emerged in relation to three phases of transition: endings, neutral zones, and new beginnings. These themes provide new understandings of students’ meaning making about their experiences moving between majors. In doing so, this study (1) demonstrates the value of studying major change as an important educational transition and (2) sheds light on the potential for employing theories of transition to understand non-normative and non-linear transitions in higher education. Implications for higher education research and practice are discussed. Connecting episodes you might be interested in: No.112R - Engaging with place; No.113R - Radical collaboration; No.114 - Interview with Kelly Boucher about pedagogy as a learning experience; You can find the transcript through ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠this link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. What wast the most interesting part for you? What questions did arise for you? Let me know on Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@WTF4Cities⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wtf4cities.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ website where the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠shownotes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠are also available. I hope this was an interesting episode for you and thanks for tuning in. Music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lesfm ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠