FACTORS AFFECTING FIRST YEAR STUDENTS’CAREER CHOICE IN

COLLEGE OF ARTS SCIENCES COURSES

Chapter 1
The Problem and Review of Related Literature
Introduction
Being an adolescent can be extremely lonely. It is not
unusual to have a feeling that there is no one to turn to
when problems arise. This is the stage where major decisions
and deep concerns affect the courses of their lives. Most
adolescents are pressured to perform and succeed, which
experience severe stress in meeting these expectations.

Students need professional advice especially in the

choice of their careers. It is in this period where the
students are advised to prepare for their future worthwhile
occupations. Choosing the perfect career is one of the most
important and crucial decisions a person has to make. This
can be one of the measures whether an individual will be
successful in the future or not. At this stage, self-
realization, role try-outs, occupational explorations in
schools, and finding the first job is the tentative step. It
is at stage when teenager needs guidance in the proper
selection of their desired career. Where, they will arrive
at the right decision considering their innate capacities,
educational privileges offered to the students another
resources that society makes available for them to be more
efficient and effective.

Stated, that the greatest barrier among students

pursuing their own career and having command over their life
is the lack in depth knowledge of the said career. In
addition, knowledge is required to make valid career
preferences.(Philips,1986)
Review of Related Literature

Career choice is one of the biggest dilemma and

challenge in any student’s life. It involves an interplay of
many factors which are intricately intertwined. It is not a
straightforward task and involves a difficult process of
decision making.

According to Bandura, Barbaranelli, Caprara, and

Pastorelli (2001) an individual’s environment, talents,
skills, and academic achievement exert an influence on
career choice. In case of a wrong choice, it may lead to
resultant failure and disappointment.

Research shows homes, schools and the social setup

influence an individual’s career choice. Other factors such
as aptitude, life circumstances, and academic achievement
have also been proven as determinants of career choice
(Ferry, 2006).

Educational level of parents, their profession and

income are also identified as very important factors (Hearn
1984, 1988).Every student at a certain juncture in their
life has to make a choice regarding their career. It is
incumbent that students make the correct choice asserts
Oladele (as cited in Nyarko-Sampson 2013).

This will make them more poised, stable, and

endowedwith a pleasant countenance. Consequently, it will
lead to knitting a better fabric for the society.
Unfortunately, career choices are made with little awareness
of the real world (Caplow, as cited in Bright, Pryor,
&Harpham 2005).
 Students make crucial decisions at a stage when they
may not be fully informed of their choices, or else
unavoidable circumstances prevent them from pursuing their
goals. Being interested in aparticular profession is very
important in decision making. If a student is forced into a
career, he may exhibit low self-esteem and poor performance.

Suutari (2003) reports that several studies have

indicated a positive relationship between interests and
career choice.

It has also been investigated that individuals with

better academic performance are able to make better
judgments about themselves (Arthur &Rousseau, 1996).

Herbart (2005) opines that a child coming from an

environment where he/she receives parental support andlives
harmoniously is more likely to be dictated by them. In such
a scenario, a child’s occupational aspiration is most likely
to be influenced by the parents’ profession.

Research reports career choice is greatly influenced

by students’ surroundings, society and family etc (Gim,
1992; Leong 1995). In his analysis, Watts (1996) concluded
that developing countries direct their students into careers
according to the country needs.

Professions have varying degrees of acceptability in

different cultures which also influences an individual’s
career choice (Kerka, 2003).

Socioeconomic factors, therefore, are also important in

motivating the students to make career decisions (Sukovieff,
1989).
 A comprehensive study by Ngesi (2003)reports that
students from poor socioeconomic backgrounds made wrong
career decisions, and chose professions which required a
short duration of training, primarily due to financial
constraints. As the old adage goes, nothing succeeds like
success, similarly, a student who fare well academically
have better career prospects and choices as compared to the
struggling ones.

Hoover -Dempsey &Sadler (2000) assert that a well-read

person has more information related to career choice, and
reads more to make the crucial decision. Thus their
decisions are likely to be correct and wise.

Olayinka (2005) asserts that it so happens that parents

have pre-determined the careers for their wards, and only
serve to steer them in that direction.

In other research, it is elaborated that the attitude

of parents and the influence of the home environment
influences a child's career path. Similarly,parents’
education has been proven as a factor influencing career
choice (Grissmer, 2003; Ogunlade, 1973). Research
supportsthe position that parents’ education is linked with
the students’ career choice. Literature reports that
parents’ educational level is the most important factor in
students’ career decision (Grissmer, 2003; Ogunlade, 1973).
The results uphold that parents are a child’s first teacher,
and thus they have the role of a guide, advisor and
counsellor in their lives.

Bladeless cited in Nyarko-Sampson (2013) explains that

parents exert emotional pressure on their wards regarding
the choice of careers. They make independent consultations
regarding the career they think is most suitable for their
children. The child’s preferences are never a matter of
concern for them.

According to Wroblewski and Huston (1987), children

tend to be more informed about situations they see on
television and movies, rather than the reality, which serves
as a strong influence on their career decisions. Similarly,
Trujillo and Ekdom (1987) assert that media, particularly
television teaches us to value those professions which are
portrayed to be more socially valued in a society.

According to Semali (2003), the various means through

which we are bombarded with information are “television,
radio, newspapers, magazines, internet, billboards and
marketing materials”. At the time of personal development,
these types of advertisements leave a lasting impression on
the youth.

A factor which influences career choice is the lack of

awareness regarding professions (Jones and Larke, 2005).
Students have misconceptions about professions due to lack
of information, which prevents them from choosing them. On
the contrary, these fields were actually gaining more demand
and were expanding.

Colleges will use additional factors when considering

admission status. Examples include minority status, first
generation status, recommendations, essays/statements, and
extenuating circumstances. The students’ status serves also
as a foundation in their standings in both their school and
college. But that doesn’t mean that more money means the
person is smart, sometimes person will less income have the
brains. Previous school records also become the basis of
 their admission in the university.
(http://collegepreparation.suite101.com/article.cfm/what_col
leges_look_for_in_applicants)

Research Paradigm

Input Process Output

1. What are the Determining the Determined factors

factors that factors affecting first
affected the affecting first year students’
students in year students’ career choice in
choosing College career choice College of Arts
of Arts and in College of and Sciences
Sciences courses? Arts and courses.
2. What are the Sciences
top 3 factors they courses as
have considered survey
during the questionnaire.
decision-making
process?
3. How do these
factors affect the
students’ choice
in choosing the
College of Arts
and Sciences
courses?

FEEDBACK
Figure 1. The research paradigm showing relationship of the
variables of the study.

Statement of the Problem

This study aimed to determine the root factors

affecting the students’ choices in choosing College of Arts
Sciences courses.

Specifically, it seeks answers to the following

questions:

1. What are the factors that affected the students in

choosing College of Arts and Sciences courses?
2. What are the top 3 factors they have considered
during the decision-making process?
3. How do these factors affect the students’ choice in
choosing the College of Arts and Sciences courses?

Significance of the Study

In various ways every study has its own importance and

implication. Earlier, the importance of critical thinking
which results to a good-decision when it comes in choosing
college courses were laid. Pursuing this study will serve
and give the readers a number of purposes. The researchers
believe that this study will benefit the following:

Administrators. This study would serve as a reading that

will enable them to work with the teachers in helping a
student choose the career path they are about to take. It
will also help them in conducting workshops and seminars in
alignment with decision making.
Teachers. The information gathered disclose the
possibilities that the teachers would be able to give
appropriate recommendations regarding the students’
abilities. They also become one of the important factors in
the realization of a student’s goals and vision. This may
help them understand the significance of knowing on how to
motivate students in picking a goal cause for a better
future.

Guidance Counselors. As part of guidance counselors’

expertise regarding career orientation, this study would
help them assess the students prolifically. With this study,
they will have wider reviews and ideas on how to handle or
counsel students who needs guidance about what course fits
their interests and God-given talents and abilities..

Parents. The research aims to help the parents understand

their child’s endeavor. They would be also innovated to work
and support the teachers in giving assistance to their
children. Moreover, they will be informed the great role
they will play in fostering decision making towards the
students’ future and in setting their goal.

Students. Particularly graduating high school students. The

object of learning and direct benefactors of the advantages
of the study. They would be more aware of their interests
and more certain of what they want to become in the near
future.

Scope and Limitations

The study was focused on the first year students in

choosing College of Arts and Sciences courses. Respondents
consist of 50 randomly selected students College of Arts and
Sciences. They were given survey questionnaires to answer
according to their experience during the decision-making
process of choosing their courses. The study was conducted
at Cagayan State University- Carig Campus.

Definition of Terms

The following major keywords used in this study were

defined in the purpose of better understanding and clarity
in the context of the research.

Ability. Refers to the students’ competence in an activity

or occupation because of one's skill, training, or other
qualification. (www.dictionary.com)

Academic Progress. It is the measure of an individual’s

academic advancement when it comes to his commitment at
school.

Bandwagon. A cause or party that attracts increasing numbers

of adherents.(www.dictionary.com)

College Course Decision-Making. Refers to the critical state

in which young individuals decide which path are they in to.

Financial Stability. The capacity of which each household

has a monetary balance

Grade Point Average (GPA). It is the weighted average grade

of students and is used by universities as a mode of
reference for admission

Parents’ Responsibilities. Refers to the contractual

obligation of the parents to their offspring
 CHAPTER 2
METHODOLOGY
This chapter includes the research design used, the
participants involved, the instruments used, the process of
data gathering method and the procedure in data analysis.

Research Design

This study utilized the descriptive-survey method. This

method determines or describes the nature of an object. The
process of descriptive research goes beyond mere gathering
and tabulation of data. It involves the elements of
interpretations of the meaning or significance of what is
described. Thus, description is often combined with
comparison and contrast involving measurements,
classifications, interpretation and evaluation.

Sample and Sampling Procedure

The sample was obtained from 50 respondents from

College of Arts and Sciences first year students through
random sampling technique. We conducted this type of
sampling through survey questionnaires.

Data Collection

A structured interview was utilized in gathering needed

information. The interview was personally conducted by the
researchers, this is to ensure that the participants are
assisted should there be a question or clarification that
they wished to be addressed.

Data Gathering Procedure

A letter of permission to conduct the study was given

to the Dean of College of Art and Sciences and upon approval
an informed consent was given to the target participants.
Included in the informed consent were the purpose of the
study, the expected duration of their participation and the
procedures to be done. The questionnaires were personally
floated to ensure that assistance were given and questions
were addressed.

Data Analysis