Personality and Gender as Predictors of Academic Choices: A Comparative Study of Business and Non-Business Students

The impact of personal factors on academic and professional preferences has been the topic of a number of researches. But there is a dearth of studies on comparative analysis of such traits with reference to academic choices of business and non-business students. This study aims to identify if gender and personality explain difference in business and non-business students’ academic programs choices. 254 undergraduate students from schools of business and economics (business) and schools of engineering and technology (non-business) responded to this survey. Results revealed the significant impact of big five personality traits on students’ selection of business or non-business degree programs. Students from business major scored high for extroversion and emotional stability, but they scored low on agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness. The difference in business and non-business academic preferences in terms of gender was also found significant