Reasons, Expectations, and Employment Situation of First-Year Students

Abstract

This paper explores the reasons for choosing a career, future expectations, and the employment situation of first-year students from two faculties of Economic Sciences in Tucumán. From a sociological perspective, choosing a university career is a social action influenced by previous experiences, available capital, and biographical projects. The research is exploratory and  qualitative. Data from three surveys conducted between 2023 and 2024 were used, targeting students from the introductory course and the subject Mathematics II of the first year at the Universidad del Norte Santo Tomás de Aquino, and the subject Introduction to the Accounting Information System at the Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, gathering a total of 223 responses. The results indicate that the majority of students choose their field of study based on motivations related to future professional practice or previously developed knowledge and interests. Regarding expectations, representations associated with economic independence and entrepreneurship predominate. Although some descriptive differences were observed according to the students’ employment status, statistical tests did not show significant associations. It is concluded that educational trajectories simultaneously integrate professional vocation, prior knowledge, and aspirations for economic autonomy.