Social Correlates of Undergraduates' Major Areas of Study

Abstract

<p>Within a context of social mobility and occupational choice, this study is a preliminary investigation of the influence of aspects of social structure and cultural traditions upon the aims, decisions and achievement of college students. By means of a questionnaire mailed to the freshmen at McMaster University it was found that certain aspects of their social background are related to their choice of major area of study. The grades they achieved at high school, which are themselves related to the students' background, have the strongest relationship to their major area of study.</p>