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Source: Developing Economist: An Undergraduate Journal of Economics
Resulting in 1 citation.
1. Trejo, Sam
Two Roads in a Wood: An Econometric Analysis of the Major Choice of First-Generation College Students
Developing Economist: An Undergraduate Journal of Economics 3 (2016): 31-56.
Also: http://deveco.weebly.com/uploads/5/2/1/5/52151897/thedevelopingeconomist_vol3_2016.pdf
Cohort(s): NLSY97
Publisher: University of Texas at Austin
Keyword(s): American Community Survey; College Major/Field of Study/Courses; Educational Attainment; Parental Influences; Risk-Taking; Undergraduate Research

Permission to reprint the abstract has not been received from the publisher.

Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997, I estimate a multinomial logit choice model for the college major decisions of first-generation college students--students who are the first in the families to attend college--and non-first-generation students. The model controls for other factors such as sex, race, ability, and family income to isolate the effect of first-generation status on major choice for two otherwise identical students. I find that first-generation college students do make statistically different college major selections than otherwise identical students. I then examine whether the estimated differences between the major selection of first-generation and non-first-generation students is systematically related to characteristics of the majors. In particular, I use data extracted from the American Community Survey to create these measures of safety and stability. First-generation college students tend to be more risk averse than otherwise identical non-first- generation students whose parents have attended college, as they are more likely to select majors with well- defined career paths, high expected wages, and low unemployment rates.
Bibliography Citation
Trejo, Sam. "Two Roads in a Wood: An Econometric Analysis of the Major Choice of First-Generation College Students." Developing Economist: An Undergraduate Journal of Economics 3 (2016): 31-56.