RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Shifting College Majors in Response to Advanced Placement Exam Scores
JF Journal of Human Resources
JO J Hum Resour
FD University of Wisconsin Press
SP 918
OP 956
DO 10.3368/jhr.53.4.1016-8293R
VO 53
IS 4
A1 Christopher Avery
A1 Oded Gurantz
A1 Michael Hurwitz
A1 Jonathan Smith
YR 2018
UL http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/53/4/918.abstract
AB Do signals of high aptitude shape the course of collegiate study? We apply a regression discontinuity design to understand how college major choice is impacted by receiving a higher Advanced Placement (AP) integer score, despite similar exam performance, compared to students who received a lower integer score. Attaining higher scores increases the probability that a student majors in that exam subject by approximately 5 percent (0.64 percentage points), with some individual exams demonstrating increases as high as 30 percent. A substantial portion of the overall effect is driven by behavioral responses to the positive signal of receiving a higher score.