How Do College Students Form Expectations?

A-Tier
Journal: Journal of Labor Economics
Year: 2011
Volume: 29
Issue: 2
Pages: 301 - 348

Score contribution per author:

4.022 = (α=2.01 / 1 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

This study focuses on how college students form expectations about various major-specific outcomes. For this purpose, I collect a panel data set of Northwestern University undergraduates that contains their subjective expectations about major-specific outcomes. Although students tend to be overconfident about their future academic performance, they revise their expectations in expected ways. The updating process is found to be consistent with a Bayesian learning model. I show that learning plays a role in the decision to switch majors and that major switchers respond to information from their own major. I also present evidence that learning is general and not entirely major specific.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:ucp:jlabec:doi:10.1086/658091
Journal Field
Labor
Author Count
1
Added to Database
2026-01-29