What does a sociologist do? Norwegian, English, and Hungarian university students’ possible future selves

This paper explores how sociology undergraduate and postgraduate students understand and discuss their possible (sociological) futures in three national contexts of Norway, England, and Hungary. Using an international comparative design based on a total of 38 semi-structured interviews from the three case-study countries, it explores first, current university students’ perceptions of roles and activities, goals and outputs, as well as organisational settings one needs to work in to be considered a sociologist. Second, drawing on the possible selves model outlined by Markus and Nurius and further conceptualised by Harrison this paper explores students’ allusions to probable, like-to-be, and like-to-avoid selves, providing a brief window into their imagined sociological futures. Students’ perceptions of their future sociological selves and the influence of role models in shaping their sociological identities reveal intricate decision-making processes, undertaken while navigating their sociological futures.