More than words: Expressed and revealed preferences of top college graduates entering teaching in Argentina

School systems are trying to attract top college graduates into teaching, but we know little about what dissuades this group from entering the profession. We provided college graduates who applied to a selective alternative pathway into teaching in Argentina with information on what their working conditions and pay would be if they were admitted into the program. Then we observed whether they reported that they wanted to go into teaching and whether they did so. We found that individuals who received information about working conditions or pay were more likely to report that they no longer wanted to pursue their application to the alternative pathway but no more likely to drop out of the program’s selection process. This could be due to prominence effects. Students with higher GPAs were more likely to drop out if they received information on working conditions but not if they received information on pay.