Factors Influencing the Career Decision of Grade 12 STEM Students

• Main Authors: Estigoy, Zharylle A., Rimorin, Gerri Ann C., Wal, Tracy Jane V.
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2022
• Subjects: decision-making; college; course selection; pandemic; career decision
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/conf_shsrescon/2022/paper_cli/11; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1169&context=conf_shsrescon
• Institution: De La Salle University

Given the current situation, graduating senior high school students are conflicted in their decision-making process because of the pandemic. Students' course selection decisions are among the most important factors in determining their learning achievement and career advancement. The main objective of this research was to identify the most influential factors in students’ course selection in the context of a pandemic. A qualitative phenomenological research design was used in this study. It utilized a semi-structured interview with graduating senior high students through the use of Google Meet. The researchers used thematic analysis to analyze the qualitative interviews required for a phenomenological study. The identified factors that influence students’ decision making were classified into the following categories: Undecided, Social Factors, Personal Factors, Environmental Factors, Economic Factors, and Most Influential Factors. Each category had factors that most influenced students’ decision making, including "Interest", "Skills and Abilities", "Self Doubts", "Job Demands", "Job Opportunities", and "Family and "Parental Influence." Nevertheless, interest was discovered to be the most influential factor influencing students' decision-making process among all factors. However, most students showed uncertainty in their decision-making process due to the current situation of a pandemic and the unpredictability of the future.Ria Francis A. Robles