A causal framework was used to explore factors that influence the enrollment of four-year college students in the hard and technical sciences (math, science, engineering) and the professions (pre-law, medicine, dentistry). The factors studied were family status, standardized test performance, high school rank, educational expectations, high school…

Data from the National Longitudinal Study of the High School Class of 1972 showed that factors influencing female entry into male-dominated higher education programs included academic ability, more high school courses in mathematics and science, and work-oriented attitudes, but not family influence. (MH)