Students’ Perspective on College Course Choice: A Qualitative Research

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A Research Presented
to the Senior High School Department,
Colegio de Calumpit Inc.
________________________________________________________________________

In Partial Fulfillment
of the Subject Practical Research 1
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Damasin, Jandrei R.

De Jesus, Faith Jeshurei C.

De Leon, Lycomar P.

Gabas, Precious Mariel S.

Oreta, Hannah Jullia O.

Registrado, Carl Dickson H.

Rueda, John Emmanuel M.

S.Y. 2021-2022
 CHAPTER I

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

Introduction

College education can signify several things to different people. The widely held belief is

that a college education will lead to a better career and higher salary. As a result, individuals

consider a college degree to be an investment. Taking a course fosters the development of soft

skills such as time management, communication, and self-confidence, which all employers value.

Training courses are also beneficial since they allow the learners to improve their existing work or

career path, allowing them to advance (Fleming, 2005).

Choosing and deciding on a course is one of the most crucial decisions students will make

because it will determine their entire future. It is a critical decision that will affect their entire life

plan, success, and satisfaction (Olusakin, 2014). Deciding on a course becomes one of the biggest

challenges in any students’ life that they need to address. Hence, this topic was chosen to assist

students by educating them about the factors that may influence their course decision-making.

These factors include financial needs, family, peer pressure, expectations, and many more.

Deciding on a college course is not a simple task because before making a decision, a student must

evaluate a variety of items and considerations. This is because making the wrong choice might

impair a students’ happiness and lead to a professional failure with life-term consequences.

According to (Moneva, 2019), Career selection entails the interaction of numerous

components that are closely interwoven. It's not a simple task that requires a lengthy decision-

making process. This problem is not limited to a single component, but rather in general. This is

because choosing the wrong profession choice might negatively impact one's pleasure in life by

causing career maladjustment.

 While growing up, some people believe that they can follow their dream job because they

want it. However, it is far from accurate and unrealistic. As a result, a lot of Grade 12 students are

debating whether they should choose what they want or what is most convenient for them, as well

as for everyone else.

This study is conducted to help the graduating STEM students to choose their course using

the factors that are included in this research because the process of choosing STEM courses might

confuse some students as they lack the critical ability to put their STEM skills to work because

they are not psychologically or socially prepared to participate in a global, collaborative economy

while not being aware of all the elements that should be assessed before taking this important step

(Edmonds, 2022).

Furthermore, this study aims to see if a student could pursue their aspirations while

ignoring other crucial aspects and if the results would be acceptable to all parties concerned. This

will evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of selecting passion above practicality, and vice versa,

which will undoubtedly help Grade 12 STEM students make informed choices. The researchers

decided to conduct this research to learn about the viewpoints of various STEM students on the

best strategy to choose a college course and to gain a better understanding of the aspects to

consider.

Statement of the Problem

This study aims to analyze students’ perspectives on choosing a college course.

The researchers expect to find answers to the following questions:

1. What are the considerations students have in choosing a college course?

2. What help can students get from:

 3.1 School

3.2 Parents

3.3 Peers

Significance of the Study

The result of the study would be beneficial to the following:

Students. Students were able to express their views and feelings about the impact of

various resources on their decision-making process in their own words as part of the study. This

research can also serve as a guide for graduating students who have difficulties choosing the right

path.

Teachers. The findings of this study may have implications for teachers, as they are the

students' second mothers, and they are frequently asked by students for tips and suggestions in

picking the right course. As a result, this study may assist them in properly orienting their students

on what is best for them, avoiding any confusion or hesitation.

Parents. The study's potential outcome may be useful for parents in assisting their children

in determining what is the best option for them. This research will also assist parents in focusing

their attention on their graduating students, who are at the pinnacle of their near-college journey.

School. This research will benefit the school professionally and personally since it will act

as a guide for them to establish strategies and plans to educate the students and will assist them in

developing learners who are ready for the real world and will favorably represent the school.

Future Researchers. This study will aid them in gathering credible data, as the researchers

have ensured that it will only report the truth and will not be prejudiced. This study would act as a
guide for their research because this study is conducted with utmost effort to produce quality work

to set a standard for future researchers.

Scope and Delimitations

This study aims to understand the different perspectives of Grade 12 STEM students when

it comes to choosing a career path. The selected respondents of the study must be Grade 12

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics students of Colegio de Calumpit Inc.

Academic Year 2021–2022 who have decided to learn through an online method.

The researchers must avoid surveying anyone who includes the following conditions:

students from junior high school, students from grade 11 STEM, ABM, TVL, and GAS, and grade

12 students from ABM, TVL, and GAS, even though they are also graduating students and will

also choose college courses. The months of February to May of the current school year will be

used for this study. This study will exclude Grade 12 STEM students, as well as students from

other schools and years.

Definition of Terms

The following terms are defined by their conceptual meaning extracted from the Merriam-

Webster Dictionary:

● algorithms - a procedure or set of rules that must be followed in calculations or

other problem-solving procedures, particularly by a computer.

● actuarial - concerning actuaries or their profession of accumulating and analyzing

statistics to determine insurance risks and premiums.

● amenities - a desirable or practical feature or amenity of a structure or location.

● drawbacks - a characteristic that makes something less acceptable; a disadvantage

or issue.

● empirical - based on, concerned with, or provable by observation or experience

rather than theory or pure logic.

● falsify - tamper with (information or evidence) to deceive.

● lodgings - a room or rooms rented to someone, typically in the same house as the

owner.

● pinnacle - the summit of progress or achievement.

● rat race - a manner of life in which people engage in a fiercely competitive quest

for riches or power.

 CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

This chapter provides background and support for the entire study, as well as resources for

doing the research, on the elements that influence students' decision-making while choosing a

college course and how it affects their academic performance and mental health.

Related Theories

Decision Theory. A decision theory adaption was described for use in counseling

regarding college or college program choices. Its application necessitates the availability of

actuarial algorithms for evaluating probabilities of various levels of grades (events) at various

universities (alternatives). All counselors for numerous colleges in at least two states have access

to actuarial methods. Constant-sum scaling is used to determine the grades' values. The approach

has been tested on a small number of cases seen by the author of the theory and is proven to be

effective.

Behavioral Theory. The purpose of this work is to suggest and present a behavioral theory

of how students choose colleges. The idea that college selection can be understood as a process

with a series of interrelated stages is implicit in this approach. Students are said to go through this

sequence of steps as they look for desirable colleges, search for and digest college information,

and finally choose a specific college. This theory can also be used to create a framework for

categorizing past and present research efforts in the college selection sector. The formation of a

collection of significant research issues is an immediate consequence of this notion.

Risk Theory. The study of the impact of possible outcomes on the decision-making

process and consequences is known as risk theory. Students make course selection (CS) decisions
based on a variety of return expectations, as well as the risk that such expectations may not be met.

The results of an empirical analysis comparing the relative magnitudes of risk perceptions in four

primary areas that students consider when choosing upcoming courses are presented in this study.

The subject matter, professor, course setting, and grading are all factors to consider. Students from

a business school and an arts and sciences school at a private liberal arts institution took part in the

study. The findings show that undergraduate and graduate students value the surveyed risk

categories in opposite directions.

Related Literature

One of the factors that should be considered is the academic capabilities and the

intelligence of a person. Students are aware that one’s intelligence is not only measured by how

many awards you have brought to the school but students’ position in the school rankings is valued

as well. But one of the pieces of literature that the researchers have read says otherwise, to ignore

the rankings. According to the book, “Choosing College: How to Make Better Learning Decisions

Throughout Your Life”, All rankings ignore one critical question, the answer to which varies

dramatically depending on the student: Why are students attending college? The rankings are most

likely out of pace with what a person is aiming to accomplish. None of them provide students with

the knowledge and context they require to make such a critical decision. There are no absolutes

when it comes to quality and value. They can only be evaluated in terms of why someone is buying

something and the desired outcome. Averages are deceiving. Worse, these rankings have

contributed to the establishment of a rat race in which students bend over backward to get into the

"best" school as if there is only one, and families descend into immoral and unlawful activities. To

climb the false rankings lists, they also cause schools to modify their programs to look good against

the criteria or even falsify data in some situations. More essential for kids than worrying about
whether or not they will be accepted into a highly ranked institution based on a one-size-fits-all

admissions system (Horn & Moesta, 2019).

It is probable that where you learn is as important as what you learn. One of the first

decisions to make is whether you want to stay at home or relocate. If you wish to pursue a specific

course at a specific university or institution, it may be necessary to relocate. Some students

consider living in halls of residence or shared housing to be a vital element of their academic

experience. Others desire the possibility to live in a different region of the country. Living at home

provides convenience, and it's becoming more common as more institutions, such as further

education colleges, provide higher education credentials.

A graduating student should also evaluate the concerns that must be taken into account

when deciding on the best route of study. Here are some of the issues that should be addressed by

the student:

• Size of the institution - does it have a single campus or are the buildings spread out?

• The entry requirements for your desired course may differ between universities.

• What social amenities, such as live music venues, movies, and sports facilities, are

available?

• Lodgings, such as what the halls of residence are like and how much university and

private housing costs

• The neighborhood's cost of living

• Tuition and additional costs

Related Studies

According to Kazi (2017), deciding on a career path is a critical stage in students’ lives.
There are numerous factors and aspects that can influence students’ perspectives before choosing
a career path. In general, the following elements impact students’ decisions on a course:

• Parental Influence

• Friends' influence

• The media's impact

• Academic Motives

• Financial considerations

• Gender

• Interest

According to Darren Fizer (2013), students are becoming more concerned about choosing
a career route. Students must examine several variables while choosing a vocation and a college
degree. Income, parental approval, and social standing are all factors that influence employment
decisions. The major aspect that influences students’ viewpoint on choosing a vocation is the
impact of parents or family. This is supported by Nyarko-Sampson (2013), parents place emotional
pressure on their children when it comes to career choices. Parents seek outside counsel on the
career route they believe is best for their children. They are never interested in a child's preferences.

Obeying their family and making them proud are the reasons why a student selects a course

that their family suggests they take, even if they are not interested. As a result of a lack of

knowledge about choosing a course and what to consider while deciding on a professional path,

some students wind up transferring courses or failing that course.

This demonstrates that numerous things can influence students’ perspectives when

deciding on a career choice. This means that it is critical to address so that the student makes the

best decision for their entire future and life. Knowing the factors that a student must consider can
help them make the best option when selecting a course. Students should select or settle on a

vocation based on their interests and abilities.

Conceptual Framework

The researchers employed an input-process-output (IPO) conceptual framework in their

investigation. The conceptual framework includes an input where the researchers will collect the

respondents' characteristics. Prior study and review of related literature and studies, including

journals, dissertations, investigations, and theses, were used as sources and references by the

researchers. The researcher will conduct surveys with the distribution of questionnaires to collect

the data needed for the study. The output that describes the study's desired conclusion is the

Student's Perspective on College Course Choice, which is backed by theories such as Decision

Theory, Behavioral Theory, and Risk Theory.

 CHAPTER III

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This chapter describes the research methodology and procedures employed by the

researchers to conduct the study. In this section, the researchers go over the research design, the

instrument utilized, the demographic of the study, including the number of respondents, and the

data collection technique in further detail.

Research Design

To achieve the objectives of this study, the researchers will use a qualitative research

design. This research focuses on people’s experiences or perspectives on something, and it works

best with small groups where the results aren't measurable or quantifiable. According to Keith

Punch (2010), qualitative research is an empirical study where numbers are not used to gather data.

Qualitative research does not use treatments, manipulate variables, or force the participants

to use the researchers' operational definitions of variables. Rather, it allows the participants to find

their meaning. As the research proceeds, concepts, data gathering tools, and data collection

methodologies can all be changed.

This research aims to acquire a better knowledge of a topic through firsthand experience,

honest reporting, and quotes from real conversations. Its purpose is to learn how people observe

and make meaning from their surroundings and how that observation influences their behavior.

Research Instrument

The researchers will use an essay-type questionnaire to gather different data and

information for this study. An essay-type questionnaire allows the respondents to write any
answers they prefer, regardless of length. The researchers will conduct a survey for 20 Grade 12

STEM students in Colegio de Calumpit, Inc. in the Academic Year 2021–2022, who decided to

learn through an online method. The researchers construct various questions that will be answered

by 20 well-chosen respondents for the study. The goal of the researchers is to discover the different

factors that affect students’ perspectives on choosing a college course.

Population of the Study

The researchers chose the study's participants using the random sampling technique, which

is designed to provide an accurate representation of the entire population.

1. They should be senior high school students of Colegio de Calumpit Inc. school year 2021-

2022.

2. The respondents should be students of the Grade 12 STEM track.

The criteria are specified to gather accurate data to achieve the research study's purpose of

learning about Grade 12 STEM students' perspectives on choosing a college course.

Random sampling, a sampling method that enables sample selection to be randomized, will

be used by the researchers. Twenty (20) Grade 12 STEM Online Learning students from Colegio

de Calumpit, Inc. A.Y. 2021-2022 participated in this qualitative study. There are 6 participants

from 12 STEM-A, 7 participants from 12 STEM-B, and the same number of participants from 12

STEM-C.

Data Collection

To keep the number of participants to a minimum, the researchers narrowed their focus to

a specific grade, strand, mode of learning, and academic year, eventually settling on Grade 12
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Online Learning students at Colegio de

Calumpit, Inc. for the Academic Year 2021-2022.

Using Google Forms, the researchers created questionnaires that would be used as study

instruments. The researchers handed the questionnaire to the teacher for approval after it was

completed. After that, the researchers disseminated the questionnaires to the study's participants

over the internet. Researchers will be able to ascertain the response to their study and evaluate the

information received from the study's respondents using the questionnaires.

 CHAPTER IV

RESULTS, ANALYSIS, AND FINDINGS

To various people, a college education can mean different things. A common

misconception is that a college education leads to a better job and a greater wage. It is one of the

most important decisions students will make because it will define their future. It's a pivotal

decision that will impact their long-term goals, success, and happiness. It is also not an easy

undertaking because a student must weigh a range of factors before making a decision. This is

because making the wrong decision could detract from a student's pleasure and result in

professional failure.

This research uses the qualitative method as its research design. This method only focused

on interpreting and analyzing the data gathered. The researchers used an essay-type questionnaire

in gathering the data as their instrument.

This chapter contains the analysis, explanation, and interpretation of the data the

researchers have gathered based on the problems presented in Chapter 1. This chapter consists of

the results from the following questions: (1) Is their chosen course centered around their passion

or is it more on what is practical? Why? (2) What factors do they consider in choosing a college

course? (3) In decision-making, what help can they get from: A. School, B. Parents, C. Peers (4)

Are they satisfied with the course that they have in mind? Why or Why not?

The respondents of the study were grouped based on their age. There are twenty (20)

respondents in the study. Nine (9) students are seventeen (17) years old, there are also nine (9)

students that are eighteen (18) years old, and two (2) students are nineteen (19) years old. The

selected participants are Grade 12 students of Colegio de Calumpit, Inc. from the Science,

Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics strand, who will finish their studies this year and will
decide what college course they will choose. With seven (7) respondents from 12 - STEM A, with

the same number of participants from 12 - STEM B, and six (6) respondents from 12 - STEM C.

1. Is your chosen course centered around your passion or it is more on what is practical? Why?

As per the analyses of the researchers, the results of the study show that out of twenty (20)

respondents, eight (8) of the respondents chose a course that is centered on passion while being

practical. Most of their answer stated, “My chosen course is centered around my passion. But I

also think that this course is practical.”, “It is mostly centered around my passion but I will not

deny that I also considered practicality.” and “My chosen path is centered on my passion while

also being practical.” On the other hand, seven (7) out of twenty (20) respondents stated that their

chosen courses are centered around their passion, stating reasons such as: “It is centered around

my passion because I think it will be easier for me to finish a path that I like to do.” And, “I think

it’s more on passion because I choose a course of what I am capable to do.” Five (5) of the

respondents said that they chose a practical course. Most of the reasons stated, “I choose to think

about them what’s more practical as I am the eldest in the family and I have to think more than

myself as they rely on me and my future success.”

2. What factors do you consider in choosing a college course?

According to the analyses of the researchers, the majority of the respondents stated that the

factors they consider in choosing a college course are their career future salary, opportunities, and

income, they mentioned that: “I considered the salary that I will get when I start working”,

“Future Salary is a huge factor, I can’t work in a job that pays a small amount of money…” Other

respondents mentioned that when picking a college course, they examine their interests, talents,
hobbies, and passions. On the other hand, a few respondents also mentioned that the factor they

consider is the financial or cost of the course they want to pursue in college.

3. In your decision-making, what help can you get from:

A. School

B. Parents

C. Peers

According to some participants, school provides lots of suggestions on how they choose

their college course, but one (1) respondent said “I think [they helped me with] nothing”. On the

other hand, most of the respondents said that the help they get from their parents is support, and

their parents are the one who supports them in what they want to be. While their peers are the one

who gives opinion and advice on what course they will take in college, according to the

participants.

4. Are you satisfied with the course that you have in mind? Why or why not?

Over half of the respondents are satisfied with the course that they will pursue. Some of

them said, “yes, because this is what I want when I was young”, “Yes because it’s my dream”,

“Yes, because it took me so many years to find out what I want and now I’m sure and I know that

it’s really for me”. Four (4) of them are not satisfied, some mentioned, that “I am concerned that

the course I chose is not for me”, “No, but I have to pursue it. Better to have a degree that to

none”. And, four (4) of them are not sure if they are satisfied or not. Overall many of them chose

the course that they want, and even some of the participants do not like the course that they chose,

they are still studying to take that course.

 Based on the data acquired, the researchers were able to analyze the answers to their

queries. Choosing a college course is indeed a hard decision for graduating students. A lot of

students are having a hard time deciding because they also have to think about the future of their

families and not just themselves. It seems that even though they are already graduating students,

some of them still need time to fully think about their satisfaction with the course they have in

mind. Lastly, the students should also be provided with better guidance as some of them think that

the school, their peers, and even their parents did not help them in their decision-making.
 CHAPTER V

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION, AND RECOMMENDATIONS

This chapter contains the results of the research based on the gathered data from the

previous chapter. The conclusion was derived from the result of the analysis, the limitations that

researchers observe throughout the study, and the recommendations which are beneficial to the

individuals mentioned in Chapter 1.

This study was conducted to help the graduating Grade 12 Science, Technology,

Engineering, and Mathematics Online Learning students at Colegio de Calumpit, Inc. for the

Academic Year 2021-2022 to identify the different factors that affect their perspective on choosing

a college course. The study was conducted on twenty (20) respondents, fifteen (15) females and

five (5) males, who were selected through the random sampling technique.

The following were the study's findings:

1. Eight (8) respondents chose a course that is centered on passion while being practical;

seven (7) of them chose a course that is centered on their passion, and five (5) of the

respondents chose a practical course.

2. The factors that the majority of the respondents consider when choosing a college

course are career future salary, opportunities, and income. Other respondents stated that

the factors that they consider are their interests, skills, hobbies, and passions. Few

respondents consider the financial cost of the course they want to pursue in college.

3. The school helps the respondents in decision-making by suggesting or offering

different college courses they can pursue. While the family of the respondents helps

them by giving them support on what course they should choose, their peers give them

opinions and advice that can help in choosing a college curse.

 4. Over half of the respondents were satisfied with the course they wanted to pursue, while

four (4) of the respondents were not satisfied, and four (4) of the respondents were not

sure if they were satisfied or not.

5. The reason why some students consider their future salary as a factor is that they want

to help and contribute to their families.

6. Some students will not take the course that they dreamt of but at the same time, they

are not unsatisfied with it because they think that they will eventually learn to like their

course as time goes by.

Conclusion
According to the findings of the study, the majority of CCI Grade 12 STEM students are

still undecided on the college degree they would pursue. The future wage is said to be a factor to

consider when picking a college subject. The bigger the compensation, the more likely they are to

take that path. They evaluated the practicality of the course they chose, even if it was focused on

their passion. It demonstrates that many students do not select the best course for them because

they are more concerned with the amount of money they will earn in that course. It also indicated

that the people in their immediate environment have an impact on their college course selection.

This research proves that students in Grade 11 Science, Technology, Engineering, and

Mathematics considered many factors in choosing a course in college.

Recommendations

Students. The researchers of this study encourage students to be careful in choosing the

course they will take in college. Although it is tempting to just choose the course that they are

passionate about, it is still important to consider the practical side of decision-making as this will

heavily affect their life in the future.

 Teachers. The researchers recommend that teachers should guide the students more in

deciding what path they will choose while preparing for college. They should also let the students

know that they can talk to their teachers about it as some students are scared to have a conversation

about this matter with their parents.

Parents. The researchers suggest parents to focus on their children’s hobbies and observe

them because it can be one of the reasons that will help their choice of college courses. They should

also stop putting too much pressure on their children as it is one of the reasons why the students

pursue something they enjoy.

School. The researchers of this study encourage the school to create more ways to educate

their students about decision-making. This will help the students make more informed choices.

Future Researchers. The researchers of this study suggest that they should explore more

factors of decision-making that are not discussed in this study to help them add more knowledge

to this already existing research.