The university experience. Analysis of motivational and sociodemographic factors

Abstract

In this paper, the impact of the motivational choice to study, sex, scientific area and educational level of parents is analyzed.. The sample consists of 9 360 graduates. The results indicate that intrinsic type motivations –vocation- lead to greater satisfaction varying according to the scientific area. Women are more vocational and have greater satisfaction. Students whose parents have low education have a better assessment of the college experience. In addition, the hierarchical segmentation technique determines the profile of graduates with greater satisfaction. Knowing the importance of pre-university variables and their impact on satisfaction after studies conclusion is a key to guide universities decisions, prospective students and educational management information.