Psych Educ, Document ID: PEMJ0, doi: 10.5281/zenodo.6994851, ISSN 2822-4353 Research Article Factors Influencing Students in Choosing their College Course Shar-In A. Sadjail*, Darwina J. Sansawi, Mona-Allea L. Matolo For affiliations and correspondence, see the last page. Abstract Deciding for a college course to take is quiet challenging for a student due to the many influencing factors or reasons in the environment that may affect his own preference. This study aimed to determine the factors that influence the College of Education students at MSU-TCTO in choosing Education as their college course. Further, it tried to determine different approaches in managing the course they are currently taking at the college. The result of this study would benefit the administrators, teachers, parents, students, and future researchers as they gain new insights about the factors that influence the students in choosing their college course. This study made use of a phenomenological-qualitative study conducted to the selected students at the College of Education, MSU-TCTO. Interview guide was utilized to gather the needed data. It consists of guide questions validated by the panel of experts. Data gathered were transcribed, thematically analyzed and interpreted. Based on the findings of the study, the common factors that influence the students in choosing Education as their college course were parental discretion/ influences, external influences, affordability, practicality, personal preference and interest, and socio-economic problems. Moreover, the respondents’ yielded different approaches and ways to manage the courses they are currently taking at the College of Education such as self-determination, overcoming fear of subject difficulties, perseverance and self-confidence, personal preference and interest and developing participation and study habit/skills. In conclusion, there were several factors that influenced the COED students in taking Education course. Further, the course they are currently taking were not solely chosen by themselves. The influence of other people in choosing their course may help or hinder them to succeed in life. Hence, appropriate assistance must be provided to students such as seminar or conference on career guidance, among others to assist them with their course placements and help them invest their full potentials. Keywords: College Course, College of Education, College Students, MSU-TCTO, Tawi-Tawi Introduction For many students, deciding for a college course to take is quiet challenging for some reasons. They must consider many things when choosing a course that would lead to a right career path in the future. Basically, students are driven by their interest, skills, or expertise in choosing their course preference. A student, for example prefers to enroll in a certain course because of his interest, skills, or expertise, however, with the occurrence of social demands and trends, he is sometimes compelled to attune his preference to social needs or demands. They tend to go for a degree or course that is popular at the time, while others hindered by their own socio-economic status hampering them from choosing their own course of preference. The tendency is that they would just bargain their courses that can only be afforded by their own pockets. With rapid social change, there has been a forceful impact urging students to liberally satisfy social trends and decide for a faddy course option. Moreover, the influence of family also plays a significant role in deciding which or what course that their children will take. They are the one who shapes the decision of their children in the college process. According to Almeida and Pinho (2008), family is one of the major elements that can help or hinder professional decision. In like manner, peer influence is also a factor that affects students’ decision in choosing a course to take since as a teenager, it is important for them to feel accepted in a group or society. There are different effects when a student refers all his/her decision on his/her peer or friends. Sometimes, friends or peers can affect one’s decision like for example if most of his friends will decide to take medical courses such as nursing, medtech, among others, most probably he tends to end up taking a degree where they as a friend or peer wants. Kaneez and Medha (2018) manifested that majority of students are influenced by environment and personality factors and not influenced by opportunity factors. As an individual being, one is embodied with his own ability to think and decide on his own but sometimes because of many influencing factors in the environment that affect how one decides on things, student’s right decision on the course he chooses in college is a must because either small or big, the amount he exerts on it would shape his life and future. It remains a fact that the decision you made yesterday can make a huge impact in your lives today and in the future. Sadjail et al. 2/5 Psych Educ, Document ID: PEMJ0, doi: 10.5281/zenodo.6994851, ISSN 2822-4353 Research Article With these significant issues, the researchers found interest as these become symbol of substantially interesting perceptions and reasons. Indeed, survey as to course preferences of students must be toiled for purpose of assessment to improve system adjustments and enhancements. Research Questions This study aimed to determine the factors that influence the College of Education students at MSUTCTO, Sanga-Sanga, Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, Philippines in choosing a course in their tertiary level. Specifically, it sought to answer the following questions: 1. What are the common factors that influence students in choosing Education as their college course? 2. How do they manage the course they are currently taking at the College of Education? Methodology This study made use of a phenomenologicalqualitative research design to determine and analyze the factors that influence the students in choosing their course and how they manage the course they currently taking through interview. This study was conducted to the selected students at the College of Education, Mindanao State University-Tawi-Tawi College of Technology and Oceanography. Using purposive sampling technique, the researchers selected the respondents taking Bachelor of Elementary Education major in General Education and Early Childhood Education, Bachelor of Secondary Education major in English, Math, General Science, and Filipino. In collecting data, it utilized an Interview Guide prepared by the researchers and validated by the panel of experts. Student-respondents were interviewed individually in their most convenient time. A recorder was used to preserve the data gathered during the interview. Afterwards, the data were transcribed, thematically analyzed, and interpreted. Results and Discussion The common factors that influence the students in choosing Education as their college course Based on the responses of the student-respondents, there were six (6) common factors that influence them in choosing education as their college course, to wit: Parental Discretion/influence. A large number of students were enrolled in courses which their parents suggest. They opted to take a particular course out of their preferences or against their own interest. Parents, being convinced by present social trends, put strong conviction in selecting courses for their children without considering their expertise and interest. This is one factor that obstructs the interest of students to perform well in school. On the contrary, there were some of them who took the chance and learned to accept the course. Social or External influence. Influences of friends, peers and teachers were also among the common factors for students to opt their course. Especially for those with unfixed decisions in choosing their courses, they are likely to influence by their friends and other people. Affordability. Education course is one of the most affordable courses in MSU-TCTO. Many students, particularly those with low means would shift to enrolling education course as they find it affordable. This is indeed the reason of huge influx of enrolment in education courses. Though students have their own course preferences, their financial volatility becomes an urge for them to flock to education courses. Practicality. Others were thinking of practicality in choosing for their courses with the massive hiring of teachers by the Department of Education each year. People are becoming practical in targeting their course when reaching college. While several courses are only lucrative abroad, many students are enticed to develop interest in education courses that is in demand at the present time, especially in Tawi-Tawi. Personal Preference and interest. As early as High School and Senior High, students have already their own course preferences as imputed to the own interest. This influences them to opt for their chosen course of study rather than being moved by others choice and suggestions. Socio-Economic Problem. Most students are swerving from choosing their own preferred courses due to their financial capability. Parents’ financial means or with low social status oftentimes become significant factor that influence most students to opt Sadjail et al. 3/5 Psych Educ, Document ID: PEMJ0, doi: 10.5281/zenodo.6994851, ISSN 2822-4353 Research Article for affordable courses. Subjects requiring expensive requirements can become a hurdle hampering students’ interest to choose courses in line with their specialties. Many students would shift from their target courses due to socio-economic problems. Managing the course they are currently taking at the College of Education Based on the responses of the student-respondents, there are five (5) ways on how they managed to take their current courses at the College of Education, to wit: Self-determination. In opting for course preference, a student should be determined. Through selfdetermination, students are encouraged to pursue the course taken despite not their own course preference. Overcoming Fear of Subject Difficulties. There are students who show apathy and sort of abhorrence in taking difficult subjects. As the consequence, they become panicky and less reactive to their subjects. Subject requirements are sometimes inevitably a burden to students. This would become a factor for students to give up their interest. Perseverance and Self Confidence. Most students’ survival and success in their courses can be imputed to their perseverance and self-confidence. In studies, problems are hindrances to success if not properly remedied or if a student lacks perseverance in dealing with study problems. Diligence and Persistence. Diligence and persistence are among study behavior that must be developed by students. This is one helpful way of overcoming failure subject. A diligent student is always successful in their educational struggles. Giving much time to study and devoting effort to persist hardships in course studies helps a lot in gaining commendable grades. Developing Class Participation habit/skills. In order for students to unleash themselves from timidity and indifference, they must learn to expose themselves through classroom participation. Indeed, this is a way of preparing oneself towards achieving good performance in a class. Conclusion Based on the findings of the study, it can be concluded that there were several factors that influenced the COED students in taking Education course. It can further be concluded that the course they are currently taking were not solely chosen by themselves. The influence of other people in choosing their course may help or hinder them to succeed in life. Hence, appropriate assistance must be provided to students such as seminar or conference on career guidance, among others to assist them with their course placements and help them invest their full potentials. References Agrey L., & Lampadan N. (2014). Determinant Factors Contributing to Student Choice in Selecting a University. Ahmed K. A. et. al. (2016). 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The Effects of Background Characteristics and School Factor on College Students’ Performance and Sadjail et al. 4/5 Psych Educ, Document ID: PEMJ0, doi: 10.5281/zenodo.6994851, ISSN 2822-4353 Research Article Satisfaction. Pascual N. T. (2014). Factors Affecting High School Students’ Career Preference: A Basis for Career Planning Program. Ramalu J. C. D. et al. (2013). Factors that Determine Students’ Preferences in Selecting Higher Learning Institution. Raychaudhuri A., et al. (2010). Factors Affecting Students’ Academic Performance: A Case Study in Agartala Municipal Council Area. Affiliations and Corresponding Information Shar-In Sadjail Mindanao State University Tawi-Tawi College of Technology and Oceanography Philippines Darwina Sansawi Mindanao State University Tawi-Tawi College of Technology and Oceanography Philippines Mona-Allea Matolo Mindanao State University Tawi-Tawi College of Technology and Oceanography Philippines Sadjail et al. 5/5