A Major in Science? Initial Beliefs and Final Outcomes for College Major and Dropout. (30th October 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Stinebrickner, Ralph; Stinebrickner, Todd R.
• Is Part Of: Review of economic studies. Volume 81:Number 1(2014:Jan.)
• Page Start: 426
• Page End: 472
• Publication Date: 2013-10-30
• Subjects: Education -- College major -- Dropout -- Science -- Learning -- Expectations data; I2 -- J24; Economics -- Periodicals; 330
• DOI: 10.1093/restud/rdt025
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0034-6527

Abstract

Abstract: Taking advantage of unique longitudinal data, we provide the first characterization of what college students believe at the time of entrance about their final major, relate these beliefs to actual major outcomes, and provide an understanding of why students hold the initial beliefs about majors that they do. The data collection and analysis are based directly on a conceptual model in which a student's final major is best viewed as the end result of a learning process. We find that students enter school quite optimistic about obtaining a science degree, but that relatively few students end up graduating with a science degree. The substantial overoptimism about completing a degree in science can be attributed largely to students beginning school with misperceptions about their ability to perform well academically in science.