TRENDS IN THE SELECTION OF SCIENCE, MATHEMATICS, OR ENGINEERING AS MAJOR FIELDS OF STUDY AMONG TOP‐SCORING SAT TAKERS

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe study explored the major field preferences of top‐scoring SAT examinees over the past decade, focussing especially on the numbers choosing to major in math, science, and engineering. The major findings were the following: The proportion of top‐scoring examinees planning to major in math, science, and engineering is greater than the proportion of the rest of the examinee population planning to major in any of those fields. The proportion of top‐scoring examinees planning to major in math, science, and engineering increased until 1982 and then declined slightly. The decline reflects an overall decline in interest in mathematics and the physical sciences. Engineering seems to have leveled off after 1982, but it is not clear how the trend will continue. There is a considerable difference in the major field selections of males and females. In 1986, 55 percent of the top‐scoring males and only 34 percent of the top‐scoring females selected a major within math, science, and engineering. Only about 15 percent of the white females having the highest mathematical aptitude (scoring above the 90th percentile on Math) plan to major in a highly quantitative field, namely, mathematics, physical sciences, or engineering. The percentage of top‐scoring females planning to major in math, science, and engineering rose until 1982 and then declined, following much the same pattern as the trend for males. There has been a shift in the proportions of top‐scoring examinees planning to study different fields within math, science, and engineering. Over the past decade, the proportion planning to study engineering has risen from 33 percent to 47 percent. Over the past decade, there has been a clear increase in the number of top‐scoring examinees planning to study engineering and business, and there have been declines particularly in the more quantitative sciences and in the health fields other than pre‐medicine. Business has proved to attract more white females and blacks of both sexes than white males.