Abstract
The article addresses the internal determinants of students` educational decisions in the context of their high school achievements. The primary objective of the study was to analyze the relationship between the self-perception of abilities and the chosen field of study (humanities vs. engineering). The research was conducted using a diagnostic survey method on a sample of N=1180 students. Statistical analysis revealed that the key predictor of choice is the process of social labeling by teachers (p=0.349). From the perspective of Educational Transactional Analysis (ETA), this process is interpreted as a mechanism for shaping an individual`s educational script through a system of strokes (recognition signs) provided by the teaching staff. The results indicate that the choice of study profile is not merely a function of grades but a realization of an established educational identity, where external attributions transform into internal script mandates.