I read this wonderful book by Sheila Tobias,
"They're Not Dumb, They're Different:Stalking the Second Tier".

The book, written in 1990, discusses why qualified students do not pursue science degrees. I read it years ago, but one of the main points discussed was that qualified students (second tier does NOT mean less academically able in the book) chose not to major in science simply because there is very little opportunity for scientific research once they graduate. It is quoted somewhere in the book (paraphrased here) that this country has never had a shortage of qualified PhD s, but there is a shortage of open PhD level potions.

I could not find an amazon link(still available for purchase on amazon) with excerpts to read, but the following is a link of a review. Which also discusses the university culture of professors, and lack of community which results in pushing many qualified students away.. very interesting.

http://trc.virginia.edu/Publications/Teaching_Concerns/Spring_1992/TC_Spring_1992_Deen.htm

I meant to state that the book is still available for purchase on amazon, but that there are no pages available for viewing

Last edited by barbarajean; 11/04/11 01:50 PM.