The relevance of this research stems from the need to enhance linguistic support for career guidance activities in agricultural universities, taking into account the actual motivational attitudes of students.

   In the context of the modernization of the agro-industrial complex, the importance of not only technical training but also a clear understanding of the underlying meaning-making processes that guide young people in their career choices is increasing.

   The aim of the study is to identify and describe a semantic model of professional self-determination among agroengineering students through the analysis of their motivational statements, with the intention of applying this model in career guidance practices.

   The empirical part of the study employed an adapted open-response test of principal career-motivating factors, conducted among students of P.A. Stolypin Omsk State Agrarian University. Semantic analysis of the students’ verbal representations revealed ten key semantic clusters, which were grouped into three meaningful blocks: a value-semantic core, a block of rational-pragmatic meanings, and a block of socio-contextual meanings associated with career choice. These clusters form a semantic model that reflects the meaning structure of professional choice. The semantic approach allowed professional self-determination to be interpreted as a verbal manifestation of personal meanings. The results obtained may be used to develop career guidance strategies that speak the language of prospective students’ values, interests, and expectations.