ANANALYSIS OF SCIENCE MAJOR HIGH SCHOOLSTUDENTS’PREFERENCES FOR PURSUING HIGHER EDUCATION

Student preferences in continuing their studies to the college level are a crucial topic in education, particularly for those transitioning from high school. This study aims to identify and compare these preferences between students in urban and rural high schools. Using a descriptive and comparative quantitative approach, data were collected from 163 students through a questionnaire comprising 26 items developed from previous research. Descriptive analysis and independent samples t-tests were used to examine patterns and differences. The findings indicate that, overall, there are no significant differences in student preferences between urban and rural schools across most indicators, such as prestige, knowledge, location, opportunity, and economy. However, a notable distinction was found in the "campus" indicator, where urban students showed a stronger preference, particularly for facilities, green open spaces, and infrastructure. These results suggest that while student motivations are generally consistent across regions, campus quality holds greater influence for urban students, highlighting the importance of improving campus environments and accessibility to support students in making informed higher education choices.