Choosing the undergraduate program in the economic downturn

Motivation is the special characteristic of human activity that leads toward preconceived goals. Motivation and needs are basic dynamics in the person's behavior and foundation of learning and training for each activity and profession. This paper gives brief theoretical approach to motivation in general, students' motivation, and theories on profession choice. It addresses the important question on how potential students in Bosnia and Herzegovina attend to absorb and store data in order to make logical and rational decisions when choosing the undergraduate program and what motivates them. Quantitative research was conducted for analyzing the motivation and needs for the undergraduate program selection. Survey was conducted among students who completed high school education in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The main goal of this study is to determine the level of individual motivational factors as predictors for selection of the degree program. Four hypotheses were defined and confirmed by the research. Several factors are identified as potential motives: clearly defined life goals, level of student's curiosity, aspiration, creativity, achievement and socialization. Research aim was accomplished through the quantitative analysis of affirmative answers to the survey question, specially designed for this purpose. Authors had used a random sample for questionnaire, and those results were processed, analyzed and a conclusion was given in the accordance with the research objectives. Regression and correlation indicators showed good and very good motivation of high school students for vocational training. Their career's goals have slightly higher values than their motivation to achieve these goals. In the time of the economic downturn, it is difficult to predict what professions are going to be popular. The overall trend is moving toward the practically oriented skills, and away from the theoretical and philosophical ones. Theoretical, practical and economic contribution of this paper is in the knowledge of the relevant factors of motivation and need in the process of selection of carrier, and therefore success of studying and future career.