title: "Holding on" or "coming to terms" with educational underachievement: a longitudinal study of ambition and attainment.
abstract: Given mounting aspirations to graduate from college and pervasive difficulties in obtaining a four-year degree, growing numbers of young people in the United States have become "underachievers." Using data from the ongoing Youth Development Study, the authors examine the prevalence of "holding on" and "letting go" of high aspirations and the precursors of these states as youth move from high school through their mid-twenties. They find that advantage stemming from the family of origin and changing occupational circumstances engender persistence or reappraisal of earlier educational goals.
authors.affiliation: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis-St. Paul, USA.
authors.forename: Mayumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uno
authors.forename: Jeylan T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Mortimer
authors.forename: Minzee
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vuolo
mesh_terms: D001240:Aspirations, Psychological; D002321:Career Choice; D004522:Educational Status; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008910:Minnesota; D009042:Motivation; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education; D012649:Self Concept; D012931:Social Environment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014477:Underachievement; D055815:Young Adult