This research paper investigates whether or not students placed on academic probation react appropriately to Burton R. Clark's "cooling out" process--a process designed to encourage students to match their levels of aspiration with their abilities and interests--by changing to an alternate major. Using a sample of 1000 Cerritos College (California) students, the following results are noted: (1) students on probation and those doing passing work showed no significant differences in frequency of major change; (2) only one-third of the students initially selecting a transfer major changed to a terminal major after being placed on probation; (3) almost as many probationary terminal and transfer students changed to a more difficult major as selected an easier one, with the majority failing to change majors at all; and (4) the proportion of students seeking terminal majors declined over time. This reluctance of students to accept more realistic goals is seen as a major cause of high attrition rates and failures to earn Associate of Arts and Vocational degrees in the junior colleges. Probable causes of this reaction, according to existing research, include family and social pressures, the student's preconceived association of certain levels of prestige with different majors, and ineffective remedial instruction and guidance programs. [Because of marginal reproducibility of original, this document is not available in hard copy.] (JO)