ERIC Number: ED603809
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2017-Apr-29
Pages: 22
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-
EISSN: N/A
Choosing Double: The Relationship Between Successful Advanced Placement Exam Completion in High School and College Double Major
Ewing, Maureen; Jagesic, Sanja; Wyatt, Jeffrey Nagle
AERA Online Paper Repository, Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (San Antonio, TX, Apr 27-May 1, 2017)
Research shows that students who double major have higher earnings and are more satisfied with their educational experience in college than those who graduate with a single major. In this study, we examine the extent to which a student's experience with academic acceleration programs in high school, specifically successful participation in the Advanced Placement (AP) Program, defined here as scoring a 3 or higher on an AP Exam, is related to double major completion after controlling for academic preparation, motivation to double major, student background characteristics, and postsecondary institutional characteristics. We find that students who obtain a score of 3 or higher on an AP Exam are more likely to double major than students who do not earn a 3 or higher on any AP Exam. Furthermore, the greater the number of AP Exams with a score of 3 or higher, the higher the likelihood of the student double majoring. When controlling for academic preparation, academic motivation and institutional factors, minority and first-generation students are more likely to complete a double major than advantaged peers if they have completed one to three AP Exams with a score of 3 or above. Effects are, however, not significant for minority and first-generation students who scored a 3 or higher on more than four AP Exams. We also find that students who graduate within four years are more likely to complete a double major than students who take more time to complete their degree. This indicates that students are not using the additional time spent in a postsecondary education to acquire more credentials.
Descriptors: Majors (Students), Advanced Placement Programs, Scores, Student Motivation, Institutional Characteristics, First Generation College Students, Minority Group Students, Time to Degree, College Preparation, Student Characteristics, Correlation, Bachelors Degrees, Gender Differences
AERA Online Paper Repository. Available from: American Educational Research Association. 1430 K Street NW Suite 1200, Washington, DC 20005. Tel: 202-238-3200; Fax: 202-238-3250; e-mail: subscriptions@aera.net; Web site: http://www.aera.net
Publication Type: Speeches/Meeting Papers; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Advanced Placement Examinations (CEEB)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A