Expert System for Selecting College Majors Based on Interests and Talents Using the Certainty Factor (CF) Method

Generally, new prospective students often experience confusion in choosing a major in Computer Science, Informatics Engineering Program at Universitas Al Washliyah Labuhanbatu that truly matches their academic abilities and interests. Often, the decision to choose a major is influenced by the environment, such as following close friends or advice from parents, without considering the students' true potential and talents. However, choosing an inappropriate major can negatively impact their academic future and career. Therefore, it is crucial for prospective students to recognize and understand their academic abilities as well as their special interests and talents. The expert system for major determination developed using the Certainty Factor method is expected to provide an effective solution by combining various indicators of interests, talents, and academic abilities of prospective students. This method utilizes established rules to calculate the certainty level (CF value) for each possible major based on the data and characteristics possessed by the student. By combining CF values from various facts, the system can provide recommendations for the major that best fits the student's greatest potential. This model does not rely solely on academic scores but also considers special interests such as social, creative, and artistic talents possessed by students, making the major selection decision more precise and directed. Thus, this Decision Support System can assist the Faculty of Computer Science, Informatics Engineering Program at Universitas Al Washliyah Labuhanbatu in selecting truly potential new students and providing appropriate recommendations, thereby minimizing the risk of wrong major choices and increasing the likelihood of academic and career success for prospective students.