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 1016-8293R
DO 10.3368/jhr.53.4.1016-8293R
A1 Avery, Christopher
A1 Gurantz, Oded
A1 Hurwitz, Michael
A1 Smith, Jonathan
YR 2017
UL http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/early/2017/05/01/jhr.53.4.1016-8293R.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.