Half of community college students change their program of study within their first two years despite expressing high levels of certainty about their initial choice, according to a new report from the Community College Research Center at Teachers College, Columbia University.
"Choosing a program of study is one of the most important decisions community college students make, one that defines the college experience and lays a foundation for future career trajectories," the report states. "Making the choice is not always easy."
Among the 42 students interviewed, 21 remained in their original program while the other half changed to different programs—with nearly all switching to entirely different fields rather than related programs within the same area.
The findings reveal that students' expressed certainty often masks deeper complexities in their decision-making. According to the report, 48% of students remained certain about their program choice throughout the study period, while 38% became more certain over time. However, this certainty didn't prevent program changes.
"From an external perspective, it is not always clear what is driving students' decisions because students are evaluating programs across a number of dimensions," the researchers write. "In some cases, they may change programs not because their interests have changed but because their college experience has shown them a new way of pursuing their goals."
The study found that students who felt very certain about their choices typically had longstanding interests and valued whether the program fit their personal goals and was enjoyable. Those who became more certain over time often started college with general interests but needed classroom experience and faculty connections to solidify their confidence.
