Research Symposium

BIO

Gisele Garcia is a sophomore at Florida State University pursuing a double major in Political Science and Finance. She has the honor of working with Dr. Aleksandra Zimmerman of the Wertheim College of Business on a research project examining how social and cultural identities influence undergraduate students, as well as professionals, in their career pathways. Her work on the project involves building surveys and analyzing the survey data to identify patterns in academic major selection, career preparation experiences, and access to professional opportunities. Gisele thanks the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program for this connection.

In addition to her academic and research work, Gisele serves as a Senator in the 78th Student Senate representing the College of Social Sciences & Public Policy, Seat 4, where she advocates for student resources and civic engagement. She is also a pre-law student intending to pursue business or contract law, with a strong interest in the intersection of law, finance, and organizational policy.

Finding the Fit: Undergraduate Identity and Career Pathways​​

Abstract

This study examines how identity shapes undergraduate students’ major choice, career development, and post-graduate pathways. While professions are working to diversify, they still lack a clear understanding of how social and cultural identity influence economic outcomes such as major choice, access to opportunities, and career trajectories. Findings aim to inform educators, students, and employers seeking to strengthen career development support and improve transitions into the workforce. With our data, we can pursue avenues to help diversify different professions and destroy the barriers holding undergraduate students back. ​

Using survey data, our research explores patterns in major choice, career preparation experiences, and perceived support to better understand inequities in professional pathways. The survey questions are not based on a particular hypothesis but rather meant to reveal patterns that can explain why undergraduates do or do not make choices in their careers. To garner data, our team built a survey using Qualtrics, based on a foundational survey geared toward professionals in established career paths, created by our research mentor, Dr. Zimmerman, and her team. Survey responses were analyzed using descriptive and comparative methods to identify patterns, inequities, and differences between groups. Thus far, we were able to have 180 complete responses to our survey from undergraduate students at different institutions across the US. Results revealed patterns in major choice related to social identity.

Keywords: Undergraduate, identity, career, pathway, choices