Program Selectivity in Vocational Education and Training: Effects on School Completion and Mental Health *

Abstract

We explore how merit-based admission systems affect students entering their preferred vocational program versus a lower-ranked one, focusing on educational and mental health outcomes. Using ranked lists from applications and registration data, we apply a Regression Discontinuity Design (RDD). Our findings suggest that admission to a preferred program can have both positive and negative effects, shaped by peer dynamics. Since program rankings reflect individual preferences, which may not align with selectivity, admission to a preferred program can either raise or lower the peer group's GPA. Our results suggest that individual preferences play a complex role in merit-based admission systems.

Keywords: rank, merit-based admissions, preferences, vocational education, mental health, school completion I00, I21, I24

JEL Classification: I00, I21, I24