Abstract

BENITEZ BLANCO, Mónica Celeste. Academic and vocational preferences: longitudinal analysis at Colegio Italiano Santo Tomás, Year 2024. Rev. ciente. UCSA [online]. 2025, vol.12, n.2, pp.105-121. ISSN 2409-8752.  https://doi.org/10.18004/ucsa/2409-8752/2025.012.02.105.

Choosing an academic or vocational path is a crucial turning point in a young person's life, as it significantly influences their professional and personal future. This decision is not made in isolation, but is shaped by a complex web of social, cultural, economic, and labor-related factors. In the case of the Subvencionado Italiano Santo Tomás Private School, this study analyzes the academic and vocational preferences of its graduates during the year 2024, aiming to understand how these factors influence their choices. The research follows a longitudinal, mixed-method approach, combining quantitative tools (sociodemographic surveys) with qualitative ones (semi-structured interviews), allowing for a comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon. Special attention is given to variables such as family socioeconomic status, parental educational background, cultural identity, family expectations, and labor market trends. The findings reveal that these variables interact dynamically in the decision-making process, reflecting both personal motivations and external pressures. Moreover, a generational shift in career choices is observed, linked to social and economic changes as well as transformations in the labor landscape. This analysis is essential for designing more relevant vocational guidance strategies, capable of supporting students in building academic paths that are conscious, realistic, and aligned with their contexts and aspirations.

Keywords : Career choice; academic preferences; sociocultural factors; longitudinal study; vocational guidance.

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