Information Accessibility and Decision-Making in Career Selection: An Examination of Influential Sources for University Students

Abstract

[EN] The aim of the present study is to analyze the relationship between information accessibility and career decision making among first-year university students from a Central Eastern European university (n=2,330). Hierarchical cluster analysis was conducted based on motivational factors and four distinct student groups were identified: ‘Independent Decision Makers’ (IDM, 15.4%), ‘Amenity-Oriented Selectors’ (AOS, 41.2%), ‘Location-Centric Choosers’ (LCC, 16.6%), and ‘Academic Excellence Seekers’ (AES, 26.8%). While IDMs made decisions independent of institutional attributes, AOS prioritized university services, LCC were influenced by the city, and AES emphasized academic course quality. The most relevant sources of information are the official website of the National Office of Admissions, university websites, peer opinions, and institutional information. These findings provide important insights for universities and their targeted enrollment campaigns to understand the different decision-making preferences of students.