Brandeis University recently published the results of an independent study in which they investigated the impact participation in FIRST Robotics Competitions has on later education and career choices. They found that, compared to non-FIRST students with similar backgrounds, that FIRST students are:
1) More than 3 times as likely to major specifically in engineering.
2) Roughly 10 times as likely to have had an apprenticeship, internship, or co-op job in their freshman year.
3) Significantly more likely to expect to achieve a post graduate degree.
4) More than twice as likely to expect to pursue a career in science and technology.
Nearly 4 times as likely to expect to pursue a career specifically in engineering.
Additional details on the study can be found here.