Undecided students who self-identify as uncertain of their academic path represent a unique population to support from an academic advising perspective. In a sample of 257,813 students who entered 243 four-year institutions nationally, this study examined the relationship between students who selected undecided as their intended college major and…

In this study, we explored the career variables of goal instability, vocational identity, and career decidedness levels in two groups of student-athletes. We compared scholarship student-athletes who had been selected to participate in a summer academic-support program designed for at-risk students to scholarship athletes who were not included in…

Six sophomore students who had entered a public midwestern university as undeclared participated in the study. The advisors used a modified form of appreciative advising designed to assist first-year exploratory students. The study was conducted using grounded theory techniques, a phenomenological perspective, and semi-structured interviews. At…

We analyzed the impact of a self-assessment instrument on the self-efficacy of those deciding on majors in a university setting. Using a pre- and post-test methodology, we employed "Career Cruising" to measure career decision-making self-efficacy. Participants completed the "Career Decision Self-Efficacy-Short Form" (CDSE-SF)…

In this study, we sought to determine whether psychosocial development and self-efficacy of major changers differ from those classified as relatively stable. Participants completed the "Life-Skills Inventory-College" (Picklesimer, 1991) form to measure psychosocial development and the "General Self-efficacy" (Schwarzer &…

With concern over parental involvement in students' academic lives on the rise, research is needed to provide guidance for advisors and parents. In this article, student-parent interactions about academic and career decisions are examined. Data come from the Brown University Office of Institutional Research and semi-structured interviews with…

The accounting profession is in a state of flux--some might even say crisis. Recent ethical lapses, such as the Enron debacle, have called into question the professionalism of a few, tainting the reputation of many accountants. In this study, we examined the attitudes of accounting students at a comprehensive public university at the beginning and…

The effect that scores on a career-maturity scale and college experience have on the change of major status of four groups of college students was examined. The dependent variable was academic success measured by cumulative grade point average over a two-year period and change of major status. (MLW)

A report from a NACADA Task Force focusing on the particular issue of advising as a profession is summarized. The report was an effort to provide an accurate profile of professional advisers, the tasks they perform, and their perceptions of what "professional" advising means. (Author/MLW)

The inability of some students to continue pursuing the undergraduate academic program they initially selected because of stringent institutional or departmental requirements is discussed. A survey to study the problem of the need for alternative advising for these students is described. (MLW)

A survey of medical school applicants rejected by the University of Arizona, Arizona State University, and Northern Arizona University were surveyed about their actions and career plans after the rejection. Most experienced a career crisis, some an identity crisis. Better early career counseling is recommended. (MSE)

As enrollments in engineering programs soar, many schools have been forced to control enrollment, resulting in a large population of pre-engineering majors. To aid in the understanding and advising of these majors, student profiles reflecting motivation patterns are presented. (MLW)

The extent to which students in preprofessional programs used academic resources to assist them in making decisions about a change of major or college was studied. Undergraduates who changed majors were expected to rely primarily on the University Bulletin for program information. (MLW)

A study examined a national sample of over 20,000 college students, decided and undecided on a career, on 9 variables: persistence, college grades, full-time versus part-time enrollment, housing arrangement, honors participation, student-student academic involvement, student-student social involvement, leadership/political involvement, and…