Learn To Be An Advocate For Yourself in College
By Alma Lopez
Did you know that “one in three students who drop out has earned over 75% percent of the credits they need to graduate? Moreover, tens of thousands of students need fewer than 12 credits to graduate, and thousands more have earned enough credits to claim a degree but don’t know it.”
This could be because of financial reasons, health issues, or uncertainty. This shows the differing paths that all college students go through, but it also reveals how much we need to be knowledgeable and actively engaged in our education. Some students lack critical guidance. Psychology Today points out though that many students need a small boost to cross the finish line. This boost they described came in the way of a series of text messages that encouraged students to stay motivated and informed as they worked to complete their degree.
I started at MSU, Mankato as a nursing major and continued down this path for 3 semesters. I chose this path because it was familiar and comfortable. I had not explored any other paths and did not know about the endless opportunities available to me. I then discovered the field of psychology and fell in love. When I considered switching majors, I was afraid the move would set me behind the traditional four-year plan. Rather than letting worry hold me back, I took the step to seek out advising from a psychology professor. The advisor told me right away that it was possible to switch and that it was wise to do so given my motivation to learn more about psychology. Talking further to the advisor I found a way to decipher what my interests where and what was an individualized learning plan for me. I am currently three semesters into a declared psychology major, graduating in a couple months, and recently accepted into graduate school! If I had not sought out advising and help I more than likely would have stayed as a nursing major and been unhappy.
Research shows that the majority of college students do not know or have not been shown the wide range and variety of opportunities in majors before making their decision and choosing a major. In fact, most freshmen and sophomores who have decided on a major still demonstrate a sense of uncertainty. This can be shown in a longitudinal study that Philips conducted where she investigated whether the decisions that people made to choose a major were exploratory decisions (think of shopping around based on interest) or final decisions. She found out that 80% of decisions made at the age of 21 were exploratory. At the age of 25, 50% of decisions were exploratory and even one third of participants in their late 30’s was still exploring their options. Bottom line is that younger students were more apt to be in an exploration process to find their major field of study.
All of this demonstrates that even if one knows what their major is or their career path, it does not hurt to learn more and widen your knowledge of the opportunities available. The National Center for Education Statistics followed 25,000 students enrolled in college and found that nearly 1 out of 3 changed their major within 3 years. If you have chosen a major, but are not comfortable or happy with that decision, go out and learn more. Ask questions, seek advising. Universities use student tuition dollars to provide career services. But do students access these services? The Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) found as many as 61% of students visit their institution’s career center. As a university, courses and events in career exploration even for decided majors should be widely available. Universities should encourage students to explore their options while providing programs that show the wide range of careers and opportunities. This emerging adulthood period that most college students are in consists about discovering oneself, revising commitments, and exploring possibilities.
This is a time as students where we should not feel ashamed or scared to ask for help because this is our future, and we are the ones who have to live it. So the power is in your hands. Seek out the following:
Find an advisor or ally to talk to, and talk often
Use University resources like career services and counseling services
Find opportunities to explore courses
Don’t settle on a major but do visit faculty and staff often to stay on track
References
AAC&U News (March, 2017). Facts and figures — University graduates’ experiences with career services, mentorships, and diversity. Retrieved from: https://www.aacu.org/aacu-news/newsletter/facts-figures-university-graduates-experiences-career-services-mentorships
Data Point: U.S. Department of Education (December, 2017). Beginning college students who change their majors within 3 years of enrollment. Retrieved from: https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2018/2018434.pdf
O’Hara, R.E. (November, 2017). Helping college students cross the finish link. Psychology Today. Retrieved from: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/nudging-ahead/201711/helping-college-students-cross-the-finish-line
Phillips, S. (1982). Career exploration in adulthood. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 20(2), 129–140. https://doi.org/10.1016/0001-8791(82)90001-X