College Pathways: A Choose Your Own Adventure Quiz

A diverse group of college students experiencing various college scenarios, sitting around a campus courtyard, engaged in discussions, studying together, and exploring opportunities, vibrant and inviting atmosphere, representing choice and adventure.

College Pathways: Your Adventure Awaits

Embark on a journey that explores the critical choices faced by college students from disadvantaged backgrounds. This interactive quiz allows you to navigate through various scenarios that shape your college experience, from selecting schools to managing finances, major decisions, and social life.

As you progress through the quiz, consider the implications of your choices on your educational outcomes and personal development. Learn about:

College selection
Living arrangements
Major and career paths
Social involvement
Balancing responsibilities

11 Questions3 MinutesCreated by ExploringPath345

Learn about college outcomes through answering questions about your player’s desired college experience. This quiz provides an example of the hard choices and sacrifices that students from disadvantaged backgrounds must make on an individual level in their pursuit of a college education. By no means does it fully reflect the vast experiences that students have throughout their college experience. Use the provided image to learn about your player, their socio-economic status, and their identity! After you have read, type "ready" down below to begin the story.

Question 1: Choose Your School

Large public $11K (or $27 if on campus), 33K students (large campus), 39% live on campus, 28:1 student to faculty ratio, Top 100 US news ranking list, limited financial aid, 27% white people, 63.4% four-year graduation rate, 57% full time

Private elite $55K (to $75K) a year, 10K students (small, tight knit community), 82% live on campus, 6:1 student to faculty ratio, Top 10 in US news ranking list, a lot of financial aid, PWI, 97.3% four-year graduation rate (lots of school supports), 70% full time students

Question 2: Where do you decide to live?

On campus, in dorms - you’ll have a built-in community, but you’ll have to take out a loan to pay the price tag for room and board fine

Off campus, renting with other students in a nearby apartment. You might get bad roommates but it’s cheaper!

Off campus, live with family and commute to school. Saves tons of money, but you’ll have to balance home life and college. You might miss out on certain activities.

Question 3: What major do you choose?

STEM: Less likely you’ll complete and pass degree requirements, but higher payoff post graduation

Liberal Arts: Follow your passions, but future success relies on the opportunities you take, find, or are available to you

Undeclared: take time to explore everything and find a major with the right fit, but it might take longer than 4 years to graduate (costing you additional $).

You are approved for a Work Study job. Where would you like to work?

Doing research with a faculty member. It’s a big risk since your chances of being hired are low but this is a highly selective opportunity.

Staffing student life and athletic events. They look for students every so often, so you will likely get hired.

Food Services & Facilities. They’re always looking for people to staff the dining hall and to maintain dorms - you will definitely get hired, work flexible hours, and get a good hourly wage.

You decide to focus on your college experience; you need time for academics and extracurriculars.

You’re walking through the Quad and you see there is a Club Fair. What club do you sign up for?

Greek Organization - Remember it’s a huge time commitment and there are fees associated.

Affinity groups (Casa Latinx, Black Student Union, LGBTQIA+ Center, Asian American Association, etc.). They’re great but get little institutional support and recognition.

Random, fun, social club. Great opportunity to make friends, nothing to lose if you have the time.

Intramurals. Events are at night and over the weekends, hard to participate if you are a commuter.

Academic organization related to your discipline. Not super fun, but great networking and conference opportunities (of course only if you pay $$$).

No time for clubs, I have a lot of responsibilities outside of school.

Who’s part of your squad?

People with similar interests as my own

People with similar identities as my own

People from my Greek house

People from my major - it’s all about networking!

No new college friends, I hang out with friends from home

No one, I have a hard time meeting new people

You’re having a difficult time with a class assignment. What do you do?

Visit office hours and request an extension from my professor - If you are at a big state school, your professor is more difficult to reach because of your class size.

Go to the tutoring center, but it is only open from 9-5, and is often overbooked.

You planned to visit the tutoring center, but your shift was scheduled during this time, so you have study independently.

Meet with other classmates to ask for help.

You’re an independent student, you shouldn’t have problems resolving this on your own.

Here is a list of internship options, which do you apply to?

A paid internship at a well-known company, though the work is often boring and not demanding. This opportunity is only open to STEM majors.

An unpaid internship in your field of study that can give you transferable skills for future opportunities, but it’s going to be a lot of time and work.

Unfortunately, you cannot participate in an internship - either you don’t want to or you have other commitments.

When things get difficult and you have competing demands, what do you prioritize and what do you sacrifice?

Academics are my priority, so I do well in school; however, I don’t have much time to connect with professors, classmates/friends, or even my family.

Attending office hours and networking at events. My network is everything! This doesn’t leave me time to see my family or friends.

Investing time in the clubs/orgs I’m involved in. It gives me a strong community, but I don’t always get the best grades.

I have a lot of responsibilities outside of being a college student (to my family/work), so it’s not always realistic to prioritize academics and extracurriculars.

College Pathways: A Choose Your Own Adventure Quiz

College Pathways: Your Adventure Awaits

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