CAREER AND SCHOOL PREFERENCES OF SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ACADEMIC YEAR 2017-2018.

The choice of a course and which school to enter in college is one of the major decisions faced by graduating students which is an important element of their learning process. The course and school selection decision will most likely define their future success. The paper was aimed at assessing the students? course and school preference using a descriptive research design. A survey was administered to respondents totaling 2,231 comprised of grade 12 students enrolled in La Consolacion University Philippines (LCUP) during the second semester of school year 2017-2018. Findings revealed that Accountancy, Education and Hotel and Restaurant Management were the three courses most preferred. However, LCUP was not the top school of choice among respondents. Seven out of ten most preferred courses are current offerings at LCUP, three of which are board courses. The provision of a more intensive internal marketing program is suggested. Likewise, a study on the impact of programs and services and their influence on career and school selection decisions may be conducted to determine which program or service made available to senior high students singly or in combination are determinants of their retention. Follow-up research on the reasons why students choose a course or a school may be also be considered.