SELECTION AND ADMISSION TO HIGHER EDUCATION: INVOLUNTARY REJECTION BY GENDER? A MEXICAN STUDY IN A PUBLIC STATE UNIVERSITY PAPER

We present a comparative and correlational study of applicants and admitted students to higher education in the state of Jalisco, Mexico, with about 1,000,000 records in 10 years, by gender and region, in order to respond if the public university selection gives place to an involuntary rejection by gender. We study and analyze what women and men want to study, and compare the data vs. the results of the selection process and the University capacity. Preliminary results indicate that women select areas that are more demanded, so it is more difficult to get a place. On the other hand, men prefer the areas with less demand and more opportunity to get a place at the University. In addition, men choose those fields that have better salary after graduation (traditional engineering areas). The results are compared among 12 regions of the state of Jalisco to find similarities and differences in the preferences and selection of University students. The study's findings through this study may be useful in the design of public policies for higher education in the state of Jalisco, Mexico.