Why choosing a major is so difficult today
Carolina Müller, Coordinator of the Orientation Program – StudyXplore
The Orientation Program – StudyXplore creates space for experimentation, reflection, and exploration–so that young people can better understand their interests and strengths and make more informed decisions about which degree program truly suits them.
According to the latest IHS High School Graduates Survey 2024, about eight out of ten high school graduates have difficulty choosing a degree program–a figure that has remained consistently high for years. The most common reasons: uncertainty about their own interests (42%), the sheer number of degree options (32%), and uncertainty about their own abilities (31%). The result: Many begin a degree program without really knowing if it’s the right fit for them.
An ill-suited choice of major rarely goes without consequences. Students often drop out not because of a lack of motivation, but because their expectations diverge from reality. A study by the German Center for Higher Education and Science Research (DZHW) uses a specific degree program as an example to show how effective an orientation semester can be: In that program, the percentage of students who left without a degree dropped from 37 to 24 percent.
The reason is simple: information alone is rarely enough. What matters most is the opportunity to actually experience course content, reflect on one’s own interests, and realistically assess one’s own strengths. This is exactly where the orientation program–StudyXplore–comes in–and feedback from the first participants strongly confirms this approach:
- 77% say their confidence in choosing a degree program has increased.
- 85% now have a better understanding of which field of study aligns with their interests and abilities.
- 100% were able to reflect on their strengths and interests in relation to choosing a field of study.
For Carolina Müller, coordinator of the StudyXplore orientation program, these figures confirm exactly what the program is designed to achieve: “It’s important to us that we support and guide young people as they make this important decision about their educational path. The pedagogically designed orientation year offers the ideal framework for trying out different things through a wide range of opportunities and, in doing so, also fostering personal growth.”
Making a good decision about a degree program takes time, room to experiment–and the opportunity to get to know oneself better in the process. That is exactly what the StudyXplore orientation program offers: the chance to try things out, explore options, and ultimately begin one’s degree program with a solid foundation and motivation.