Individual Achievement, Person-Major Fit, or Social Expectations: Why Do Students Switch Majors in German Higher Education?

Abstract While a large body of research addresses both subject choice and student dropout in higher education, much less is known about switching the initially chosen major. Therefore, we ask why students switch their major education analyse this for case Germany, taking timing degree such switches (within across groups) into account. Based on extended rational framework, identify three aspects that might explain majors: individual achievement secondary (mis)match between occupational interests content studies parental peer judgement regarding initial choice. We test derived hypotheses by applying logistic regression models to representative data from German National Educational Panel Study (NEPS), Starting Cohort 5. Our results indicate analysed achievement, person-major fit social expectations affect majors, but influence varies according switch. high-achieving are more likely especially disciplines at later stage studies, mismatch mainly affects majors broad groups. Finally, disapproval parents peers matters most during first two semesters academic disciplines.