Features of career self-determination of regional university applicants in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the career plans of high school graduates in 2020 is examined in article. At the stage of graduating from high school and admission to university, career self-determination is considered in the context of professional self-determination, an indicator of the development of which is a conscious choice of a professional future. As a result of a survey and diagnostic of 127 first-year students of Smolensk State University, it was found that students who entered the university with formed professional plans have a higher level of development of personal competencies that are significant for career self-determination. Most of them implemented their university admission plans despite the limitations associated with the COVID-19 pandemics. At the same time, students who did not have formed career ideas at the time of admission experienced more difficulties in entering; their choice of the training program was due to external factors.