Perception and Expectations of Students Entrants in Nutrition

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the expectations of students entering the nutrition courseof the USP School of Public Health regarding the course itself, university professors,field of activity and the factors that influenced them to choose that course. 75 enrolled students from both the morning and the evening courses took part in our study. The results show that entrants are mainly women aged 19.9 from the state of Sao Paulo. Going to the movies is their main cultural activity and they use public transportation to get to the university. Entrants expect a university course to ensure their entry into the labor market. 42.6% of all freshmen intend to work in the clinical area and their reasons are related to personal interests, wages and the challenges of that field. The main factors that influenced the choice of the course were their affinity for that field and their personal interest. The results also indicate that the job profile is not clear to students. Academic training must engage with the expectations of entrants to satisfy students and obtain social recognition of the profession, as well as of its different possibilities of action.