With the rise of unemployment in our country, some researchers are also seeing a rise in maturity levels of college freshmen. According to the recent “American Freshman” poll, 85.9 percent of first year students in the United States said that being able to land a job is the most important reason for attending college.
According to an article by Larry Gordon on MCT Campus Wire, this is the strongest response to the question in 40 years and is sharply higher than the 70.4 percent in 2006 before the recession began. Most of the editors at The Outlook think otherwise.
The first year at college is still a wakeup call for most students. It’s the year during which they are re-establishing themselves within their social circles and figuring out who they really are. It’s the year of big transitions and big changes in a student’s life which essentially makes them more focused on dealing with those changes, than landing a job after college. They are more concerned with being accepted by their new friends and finally being able to have “freedom” away from parents or guardians. To most first-year students, freshman year is about testing boundaries, when they should be focused on attaining their degree.
The majority of us had to take general education classes that are usually filled with first year students. We came to a conclusion that their attitude really takes a long time to snap into college mode. Most of the students still treated the coursework with a high school attitude. Several of them were more concerned with where the party is the upcoming Thursday rather than the paper due on that same day.
On the other hand, some freshmen are realizing the effects of the failing economy on their careers because of professors. A lot of professors are opening students’ eyes to the situation in our country and urging students to get involved with leadership groups on campus in order to enrich their resumes. But are these students listening? Most of the students that want to get involved are juniors or seniors, who suddenly seem to have a wakeup call.
Some freshmen are aware of the bleak economy and how competitive the work force is getting. While interviewing the incoming freshmen during New Student Orientation, one of our editors realized that a lot of the students were very set on their goals. They seemed to have it all figured out and had concrete plans of what they wanted to achieve.
Through observation, we realized that college freshmen at the University are aware of the status of the economy and have a stronger set on their goals, but are no different with their mindset than past classes. Their focus is still on their transition and being accepted, and of course, where the party is this weekend. They still don’t realize the importance of enriching their resume right from the start of their college career.
Correction:
To the Editor:
In the article regarding “books@monmouth” in the January 25 issue, it is stated that on the website “a tax of seven percent is included on purchases from the University bookstore.” Sales of required textbooks in the state of New Jersey are exempt from sales taxes, therefore no tax is charged on them in the University Store. If the website is adding the seven percent, it will be overstating the actual retail at the store in price comparisons.
Bill Rainey University
Bookstore Manager
Editor’s Note: The Outlook regrets any misunderstanding this information may have caused.