FACTORS INFLUENCING CAREER CHOICE AMONG UNDERGRADUTES IN UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN

This study explores the key factors influencing career choices among undergraduate students at the University of Ilorin, Nigeria, focusing specifically on parental influence, economic conditions, and institutional admission policies. Recognizing that career choice is a critical determinant of an individual’s future success and satisfaction, the research addresses how external pressures can lead students to pursue paths that may not align with their personal interests or strengths. Data were collected through structured questionnaires from a stratified sample of students across various faculties. The findings revealed that institutional admission policies, particularly the forced change of course during the admission process, significantly impact students’ career trajectories, often leading to disengagement and lack of motivation. Additionally, economic pressures such as financial instability and perceived job market demands heavily influence students to prioritize high-paying fields over passion-driven ones. Parental expectations were also found to play a strong role, with many students reporting that their career decisions were shaped more by familial obligation than personal ambition. These findings are consistent with previous literature confirming that these three factors, admission policies, economic realities, and parental influence interact to shape students' academic and professional futures in profound ways. The study concludes that while these external influences are often unavoidable, their negative effects can be mitigated through strengthened career guidance services, more transparent and student-centered admission practices, and greater parental awareness of the importance of student autonomy in career decisions. Based on the study’s findings, several recommendations were made to students, parents, university administrators, and policy makers to support better-aligned and well-informed career decisions among undergraduates. The study also suggests future research directions to further explore the role of guidance services and cultural expectations across various Nigerian universities.