STEM Areas: Choice or Not to Choice

The purpose of this study was to examine possible factors influencing the selection of Science, Technology, Enginering and Mathematic (STEM) related university study areas according to International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED). According to ISCED, two of the eight education areas are related with STEM: Positive and Natural Science (PNS) and Enginering, Production and Structure (EPS). Because of that these two areas were investigated seperately. Among the factors considered possibly significant were gender, school type, and cumulative grade point average. The respondents in this investigation were 216 high school 11th grade students from four high schools (98 female, 118 male). Data were collected through the use of a survey form used to record demographic information as well as self-reported preferences for these STEM related two fields of university study. The resulting survey data were subjected to a chi-squared test analysis using SPSS 13. According to the findings, it was found that except gender, other variables were significant factors to consider for PNS areas. On the other hand except cumulative grade point average other variables were significant factors to consider for EPS areas. These findings were discussed in light of current literature and implications for counseling were offered.