Occupational Aspirations and Intended Field of Study in College.

Changes that occurred between 1972 and 1980 in the intended field of study and occupational aspirations of high school seniors were investigated, along with how successfully seniors attained their aspirations. Background, personal, and school variables associated with selecting each occupation and field among the 1980 seniors were analyzed in-depth. Data were obtained from the National Longitudinal Study of the High School Class of 1972 (data on base-year and fourth followup available for 13,847 students at 1,318 schools) and the High School and Beyond Study (data on 28,240 seniors at 1,015 schools). Major findings include: decreased interest in education and teaching occurred between 1972 and 1980; increased interest in computer/engineering/architecture fields and managerial/proprietor occupations occurred; the percentage of females planning to enter higher status occupations increased substantially; successful pursuit of occupation was highest among those in the housewife, craftsman/operative, and clerical/sales categories and lowest among those in the teacher, technical, and professional categories; and successful pursuit of field of study was highest among those planning to study education and the humanities and arts, and lowest among those planning a preprofessional study field. Additional findings and policy implications are considered. (SW)