Used hierarchical linear modeling and longitudinal data from the first three waves of the National Education Longitudinal Study to examine achievement and growth rates in precollege science by racial, ethnic, and gender subgroups. Findings show socioeconomic status and previous grades to be strongly related to eighth-grade achievement across all…

This article presents results of an interpretive study of the educational and career paths of seven women who have left the mathematics/science pipeline to research scientist in order to pursue a doctorate in education. Their narratives portray conflicts between their self-concepts and the nature of their chosen disciplines. (SLD)

A longitudinal model of mathematics/science major choice at college entrance for Black and White, male and female students was tested using a "High School and Beyond" sample. Significant predictors of choice included sophomore choice of major, mathematics attitudes, mathematics/sciences courses completed by senior year, and various parental…

Associations among background, commitment levels, institutional involvement, and student persistence were studied for 260 out of 323 early college dropouts. The model of attrition developed by V. Tinto (1975) was applied. Student persistence was found to vary by motivational type and student's psychosocial orientation to college. (SLD)

Current literature on status attainment and student college choice is reviewed, and a structural model of predisposition to attend college is presented. Data from 2,497 ninth graders attending 21 high schools in Indiana and their parents, analyzed using LISREL, support the model's usefulness in determining students' college choice. (SLD)