What's On Students' Minds
Part-time jobs, financial aid, political engagement and more are on students' minds these days, as evidenced by the annual "American Freshman" survey released earlier this year by the University of California in Los Angeles' Higher Education Research Institute.
Some highlights from the study include:
- 43% of students view financial aid as very important or essential to their choice of a college - this figure was the highest it has ever been in the 36 years the question has been asked
- More than 49% reported that they will need a job this year to help pay expenses
- The class of 2013 is "increasingly liberal and politically engaged" compared with students in recent years
- Students identified that it's difficult to find a part-time job to help pay for college expenses and that they are worried that the economy might not improve before they graduate
- 51.4% of current first year students said it was important to develop a life philosophy
- 76.8% said it was very important or essential to do well financially
- 35.6% said they frequently discuss politics
What's on your student's mind? Consider having this important conversation soon to find out.
Source: The LA Times (1/22/09)