5 ms·

NONE of those theories are the reason. And frankly, I find it worrisome none of these guys can even come close. Studying methods becoming more efficient? C'mon,

by Towle_ 16y ago

NONE of those theories are the reason. And frankly, I find it worrisome none of these guys can even come close. Studying methods becoming more efficient? C'mon, dude. There's a great scene in the movie Orange County (Colin Hanks, Jack Black, others) where the main character, a high school senior, is arguing with his mother, who's worried about the prospect of him leaving home. Shaun: "But I have to go to college." His mother: "Why?!" Shaun: "BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU DO AFTER HIGH SCHOOL." These days, most of us are not going to college to learn anything. We're going because that's what you do after high school.

ilovecomputers 16y ago
Your reasoning is based on a movie clip. However, I have a hunch that there are statistics that can back up your claim. My hunch, of course, is based on my current personal experience with undergraduate life, which indeed seems to be a large body of students taking college for the sake of taking college.
webspiderus 16y ago
having finished undergrad this June, I completely agree
Groxx 16y ago
Backed up by this data:[1] 1960 1981 HS Grads 41.0% 69.7% <4 College 16.5% 32.1% >=4 College 7.7% 17.1% (all numbers are cumulative (college-bound are also HS grads), and for people 25+ years old from the entire population) A higher percentage graduated college in 1981 than entered college in 1960. A person was twice as likely to enter college. Meanwhile, in 2009, we had:[2] HS Grads 86.7% Some College 55.6% Associates+ 38.5% Higher degrees 29.5% (I separated Associates, as I believe those are often <4 years, but just to include it. Same data set & methods.) Not directly comparable, I'll grant you. But the trend continues. Assuming Bachelors+ == 4 years or more, nearly as many people had 4 years or more as entered college in 1981. And look: the college-entry rate has nearly doubled again. Even with grade inflation, I'd say things are improving overall, despite (because of?) the lowered hours. [1]: http://www.census.gov/population/socdemo/education/p20-390/tab-11.pdf http://www.census.gov/population/socdemo/education/p20-390/t... (contains more years + more data) [2]: http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/education/cps2009.html http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/education/cps20... ("both sexes" excel link)

by Towle_ 16y ago

ilovecomputers 16y ago

Your reasoning is based on a movie clip. However, I have a hunch that there are statistics that can back up your claim. My hunch, of course, is based on my current personal experience with undergraduate life, which indeed seems to be a large body of students taking college for the sake of taking college.

webspiderus 16y ago

having finished undergrad this June, I completely agree

Groxx 16y ago

Backed up by this data:[1] 1960 1981 HS Grads 41.0% 69.7% <4 College 16.5% 32.1% >=4 College 7.7% 17.1% (all numbers are cumulative (college-bound are also HS grads), and for people 25+ years old from the entire population) A higher percentage graduated college in 1981 than entered college in 1960. A person was twice as likely to enter college. Meanwhile, in 2009, we had:[2] HS Grads 86.7% Some College 55.6% Associates+ 38.5% Higher degrees 29.5% (I separated Associates, as I believe those are often <4 years, but just to include it. Same data set & methods.) Not directly comparable, I'll grant you. But the trend continues. Assuming Bachelors+ == 4 years or more, nearly as many people had 4 years or more as entered college in 1981. And look: the college-entry rate has nearly doubled again. Even with grade inflation, I'd say things are improving overall, despite (because of?) the lowered hours. [1]: http://www.census.gov/population/socdemo/education/p20-390/tab-11.pdf http://www.census.gov/population/socdemo/education/p20-390/t... (contains more years + more data) [2]: http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/education/cps2009.html http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/education/cps20... ("both sexes" excel link)