The main objective of this study is to determine the factors that affect the students' choice of higher education program and their situations of preferring teacher education programs. The sample of the study consisted of 100 students studying in the twelfth grade of the public schools in the central districts of Kahramanmaraş. In the research, interview method, that is one of the qualitative research methods, was used. Content analysis method was utilized to analyze the data obtained through

more »

... terviews. According to the findings of the data analysis it was concluded that the most of the high school students' personal characteristics, interests and abilities could be effective in their selection of higher education program. In addition, it was found that the opportunities of employment and financial gain that the university provides for its students, universities' opportunities of scholarship, dormitory and overseas education, the image and reputation of higher education programs on the society and the academic staff of the university could be effective on the choice of higher education program. However, it was concluded that most students' families and friends wouldn't be effective in their choice of higher education program. It was found that most of the students would not include teacher education programs in their choices due to various reasons such as seeing the teaching profession as a difficult and very demanding profession and finding it difficult to teach the same subject again.