This paper analyzes the determinants of choosing a technical study at
university level and of staying in it. We find that - in The Netherlan
ds - there is little correlation between the probability of a student
choosing a technical study and the probability of completing it. This
implies that a substantial number of technically talented people choos
e non-technical studies. Especially female students and students from
high income families are unlikely to attent a technical study but thes
e students are relatively successful in such studies. A large part of
these technically talented students are attracted to medical studies a
nd law schools, where they are no more likely to persist than other me
dical and law students. This finding is predicted by the tournament mo
del in which rewards are based on relative performance instead of abso
lute performance.