Choosing what to study at Higher Education: - A longitudinal study of choice, attrition and retention in science, technology and mathematics.

Beskrivelse

This paper presents results from the first part of a longitudinal research project where 134 Danish students are followed from the end of secondary school as they move on to higher education. So far, all students have filled out questionnaires and 38 were interviewed about their choice of study programme. The results show that many students feel anxious having to choose, but only few use a student counsellor. Instead students use their social network, drawing on unequal resources but also incomplete knowledge of the content of study programmes. Student's interests are adjusted by extrinsic factors like career possibilities which also make the content secondary. Even though all of the students were selected for specialising in science only 10 % consider continuing Science in university. Some students dismiss their interest due to low self efficacy. Finally many students feel that their desire for applicable knowledge will not be fulfilled in Science.