Experts’ Opinion on Factors Affecting the Selection of Field of Study by High School Students

Given the concerns of parents, students, and the educational system as a whole, in regards to the selection of field of study by the high school students, factors affecting these selections become of interest to all those involved. Based on the socio-educational foundation of the study, a group of 25 experts in education and field selection in Ilam Province was interviewed. Findings consist of 49 concepts and 10 basic categories from which the main theme is discovered to be the idea of “field selection as a creator of capital”. Individuals, through the process of socialization, internalize beliefs, values, norms, and skills in order to create a distinctive identity for themselves within their social life wherein the role of education looms large. Because the selected field of study is perceived as a type of capital, it permeates throughout their lives and can bring them actualization if selected properly.