“Majoring in a Professor”
Choosing a college major is an important decision and sometimes often pressuring for college students. There is so much that can factor into such a decision, whether it’s parents, interests, lower costs in tuition, or starting salaries in applicable careers. However, Scott Jaschik argues in his article, “Majoring in a Professor,” that a phenomenon of the same name is what is one of the most influential factors in shaping a college student’s decision in picking a major. The experience the student has in the professor’s class can either be positive or negative.
Professors, especially those who teach introduction level classes, have a very big impact on deterring students away from a major, or possibly cultivating their interest and passion in that certain subject. Because of studies that support this “Majoring in a Professor” phenomena, universities are placing more importance on who teaches introductory level classes as there are more students taking it as they start college. This is similar to information cascades as the students are not influenced by their own passions and interest, but rather, by seeing how the professor lives his or her life. When seeing that the professor really enjoys what he or she teaches and that he or she decided to pursue the major in that field, students switch their major, thus, “Majoring in a Professor.”
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2013/08/12/study-finds-choice-major-most-influenced-quality-intro-professor