UWEC CERCA 2026

In this research, five students and I are investigating college students' recalled experiences of intellectual engagement during high school, and their own and others’ attitudes toward intellectualism during high school. In the context of intellectual engagement, we aim to fill in some of the gaps in the published literature about Advanced Placement, such as the rate at which students who take AP courses go on to take the AP Exams, and their reasonings for or against doing so. We will be investigating links among students' (1) high school likes and dislikes (e.g., intellectual boredom vs intellectual challenge); (2) experiences with advanced coursework (e.g., Advanced Placement); (3) recollections of their own and other students’ and teachers’ attitudes toward students with varying characteristics (smart, studious, athletic, attractive, popular); and (4) attitudes toward intellectualism and beliefs about the effects of grouping students by ability vs. age during high school.