Table 6 Predictive relationships between perceived abilities, interests, and STEM major clusters

Dependent variable

 STEM degree attainment (Specific)

Perceived abilities

 Perceived mathematical ability

1.63**

0.31

1.08

0.09

 Perceived scientific ability

1.50***

0.19

1.50***

0.13

Academic interests

 Math interest

1.22

0.17

1.15^

0.08

 Science interest

0.94

0.13

0.99

0.09

Student characteristics

 Gender (Reference = Boys)

  Girls

0.25***

0.04

2.35***

0.23

 Race/ethnicity (Reference = White)

  Asian

1.24

0.27

1.65***

0.25

  Black

1.00

0.21

1.03

0.14

  Latina/o/x

1.48*

0.26

1.37

0.20

  Multiple and other race

0.83

0.15

1.20

0.14

 Family characteristics

  Family income

0.97^

0.02

0.99

0.01

  Parental college degree

1.12

0.14

0.87^

0.07

  Father’s occupation (STEM)

1.12

0.15

0.94

0.12

  Mother’s occupation (STEM)

1.19

0.15

1.14

0.11

 Student preparation and observed ability in H.S

  Highest H.S. math course

1.07

0.13

1.19^

0.11

  Highest H.S. science course

2.02

0.17

1.08

0.09

  H.S. math course GPA

0.98

0.16

0.94

0.07

  H.S. science course GPA

1.23

0.21

1.25**

0.10

School characteristics

 High school type (Reference = Public)

  Catholic

0.78

0.13

1.11

0.13

  Other private

0.68**

0.10

0.86

0.10

 College type first attended

  Two-year college

1.08

0.15

0.92

0.11

 High school location (Reference = Urban)

  Suburban

0.98

0.13

1.00

0.12

  Town

1.10

0.22

1.28

0.22

  Rural

0.80

0.13

1.20

0.17

Classroom characteristics

 Math teacher

0.82

0.11

0.85

0.08

 Science teacher

0.96

0.15

1.04

0.11

Constant

0.01***

0.05***

 F test

19.45***

 Sample N

11,560

 Population N

2,713,260