Professional and college aspirations among 11th grade high school students in CALI

Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine the establishment of changes in the self-efficacy and professional and college aspirations of high school students as a result of the performance of the Saber 11 tests. Also, to identify the relationship between self-efficacy and the results of the Saber 11 tests; and in turn, if the variable gender and the results of the Saber 11 tests predict the professional and college aspirations of the students. The inferential nature of the study allowed us to contrast self-efficacy and aspirations of 55 students’ sample size before and 38 students after having received the results of the Saber 11 tests. Self-efficacy and college aspirations changed as a result of low performance in the Saber 11 tests; however, there is not variation in professional aspirations. Unlike other studies, no relationship was found between self-efficacy and academic performance. Gender was an intervening variable of professional aspirations; females tend to choose health careers, psychology, social communication and administration, whereas men engineering, architecture, and education. The role of educational institutions in college readiness was also discussed.