Freshman Decidedness Regarding Academic Major and Anticipated and Actual Adjustment to an Engineering College
The relation between freshman decidedness regarding academic major and self-assessed anticipated and adjustment to an engineering college was investigated. Positive relation was found between decided-ness regarding academic major and both anticipated adjustment (measured prematriculation) and actual adjustment (measured postmatriculation). The relation was clearer postmatriculation than prematriculation and was strongest for academic adjustment and weakest for social adjustment. There does not seem to be much consequence of changing from one engineering1 science major to another available at the same institution. However, change to a major not available at the same institution is associated with lower adjustment scores. Comparing findings from the present study with data from an earlier investigation, it is conjectured that the relation between decidedness and freshman adjustment to college may be stronger in engineering than in liberal arts.
Contributor Notes
Joseph Plaud is a graduate student in clinical psychology.
Robert Baker is Professor of Psychology and Director of the Psychological Services Center.
James Croccia is Adjunct Assistant Professor of Social Science and Policy Studies and Director of the Student Counseling Center. Address correspondence concerning this article to Robert W. Baker, Department of Psychology, Clark University, 950 Main Street, Worcester, MA 01610-1477.
