The impact of a precollege intervention, the Junior High Washington Gateway Academy (JHWGA), on early adolescent aspiration and motivation for a college education was measured. JHWGA provided an intensive week of activities in career planning, self-concept improvement, and study skills. Specific research questions were: a) did participation in this program increase career readiness, self-concept, productive study habits, aspiration, and motivation to prepare for college? b) What percent of the variance in aspiration to and motivation for college in early adolescent's career readiness, self-esteem, and study could explain habits? However, two regresses (study habits and career readiness) were discovered to be highly correlated .Only one regresser for the motivation model (study habits) was found to be significant. Specific research questions were: a) did participation in this program increase career readiness, self-concept, productive study habits, aspiration, and motivation to prepare for college? b) What percent of the variance in aspiration to and motivation for college in early adolescent's career readiness, self-esteem, and study could explain habits?
             Using survey research, a questionnaire was developed with five scales (career readiness, self-esteem, study habits, aspiration, and motivation). Questionnaires were sent to 301 West Virginia students in Grade 8 who had been JHWGA applicants in 1996. The 265 (88%) who responded were divided into two groups: a participant group consisting of 104 students who participated in the 1996 program and a comparison group consisting of 161 students who did not attend the 1996 program.
             Group differences, group selection, and lack of normal distribution may have affected data results. The two groups being measured were found to be unevenly matched with JHWGA participants having significantly lower grades than the comparison group. Based on this information and the low variance in d...