Navigating Your Future Through Design: Guiding Students Through The College Experience and Beyond

For students who are transitioning from high school into

college, navigating academic learning experiences alongside self-discovery and personal growth can be challenging and stressful. Although some students can see a clear path ahead of them, the majority of students feel uncertain about their future and their fit within it. Students who are pursuing higher education face many obstacles that can lead to confusion and uncertainty, which can keep them from achieving their goals to graduate and receive gainful employment. The drawbacks of the current higher education system pose the following obstacles for students:

• A limited understanding of the connections between

their academic goals and career goals.

• A lack of support in keeping their educational momentum

going to stay on track, graduate, and avoid

accruing additional debt.

• A lack of structure in identifying clear career paths

forward after receiving their degree and entering

the workforce.

(“Complete College America”, 2021)

Due to these shortcomings, there is a significant need for

research that investigates how the design of an academic

tool can help students transition from high school into

college, while empowering them to take control of their

future over time. A well-designed academic tool has the

potential to assist students in the process of understanding

their fit and purpose, aid them in their long-term planning,

build their confidence in decision making, and provide them

insights into career opportunities while engaging them

throughout the process. These four design principles

served as a foundation and guide for my research and

design concept.

• Fit and Purpose

• Long-Term Planning

• Confidence in Decision Making

• Insights Into Career Opportunities

A well-designed academic tool could have a significant

impact in providing young adults the guidance they need

to follow a clear career path, achieve financial security, and

contribute to their communities. In addition, a tool of this

nature could also reduce college dropout rates and the

frequency of students changing majors, ultimately saving

them time and money while streamlining their process of

self-discovery (“The Boomer Cult of Self-Realization Is Killing College”, 2020).