A longitudinal study compared the academic abilities of undergraduate women students in seven college programs at a large university. Four questions were posed: (1) What are the academic qualifications of women choosing education as a career? (2) How do these women compare with women choosing other programs? (3) What changes take place in the career choices of women during their college career? and (4) Are women who are unsuccessful in other programs choosing education as a last resort? Information was gathered on women choosing programs in agriculture, business, education, engineering, liberal arts, physical education, and science. The qualifications of the students were measured by Scholastic Aptitude Test averages for the math and verbal components for each of their four years and by their high school class standing. An analysis of the resulting data indicated that education attracts women who have lower academic qualifications than women in other fields. Large numbers of women with high academic ability chose majors in male-dominated fields. The greatest difference between women choosing education as a career and women choosing other areas was in mathematics scores. The wide range in verbal test scores that appeared at the senior year indicated that education was allowing women with marginal verbal skills to complete the program. However, the improved academic qualifications apparent at the junior year indicated that some women with high academic qualifications were evaluating their original career choice and choosing education as a career. By the junior year, women in education compared quite favorably with those in other fields. (JD)