Is it true that college students today have too many responsibilities to BE students?

I don’t think any of those situations are new. I went to college mare than 20 years ago and worked an average of 3 part time jobs through my entire career to pay for it.

i agree with syz and dont think college students have too many responsibilities, but today i think the courses are more demanding/ difficult than “20 years ago”.

I think the base education you receive in high school does not prepare you for college the way it did in the past. High schools have to deal with too many social and psychological issues that detract from academics. And I think the idea of college has been sold to students and parents as the only option, when in reality, many student would benefit from better and more accessible vocational and associate degree training. Education is beneficial to all, but not everyone is interested in academics. We need all kinds of skills to make the economy work.

@AlfredaPrufrock i totally agree. besides the social aspect i regret spending 5 years and thousands of dollars for a piece of paper

Too many responsibilities? Seriously? I mean this is LIFE.

When I went to college (graduated < 8 years ago) I worked and
also had a kid. I graduated in the top 3% of my class running pre-med…

I agree with AlfredaPrufrock that high school does not prepare us- I spent 2 extra years catching up on my math and language skills at a JC before I went on to a University. But I still put my studies above my work and found the time. Sure sometimes I lost sleep but it was well worth it. Yes- my family came first but still- I did it. Oh- and yes- I missed out on a lot of partying because I needed to study. But in the end I did reach my goal.

I think it all boils down to this- NOTHING in life worth having comes easy. The struggle brings rewards. The sacrifice brings rewards.

Sure there are goals that do not require a formal education but if your goals DO require a formal education it can be done. Dreams can be achieved. All you need to do it take the first step and keep walking. Eventually your goals are met. It may take longer but it will happen.

In answer to the question – it is all about priorities.
With the current economy it is becoming a privilege to even attend a college.
For those who do want to be students, despite the hurdles of jobs and family they can achieve their dreams

I would agree with Alfreda. i think there were only 2 teachers that i had in high school to prepare me for anytype of college experience.

Not so much as college-age students are ill- or under-prepared for the rigors of full-time study. Like syz mentioned, I too paid my own way working up to three jobs while carrying a “full load” each term. It took me almost seven years to earn my Bachelor’s and another two to earn my Master’s but I persevered and took ownership of my learning experience (notice the difference in word choice). Being a responsible adult is a pre-requisite for college life IMO. I know that sounds “hard ass” but if you don’t kick your own from time to time you don’t come to realize the privilege you have.

@sndfreQ KUDOS! (and lurve!)

I think part of college is the understanding that you have to do a balancing act. Their is no class that teaches you that you can’t party all the time and you have to set aside some time to get your work done. I also worked while going school. I had to keep my grades up in order to keep my scholarship otherwise their was no way I could afford school by myself. I also think that schools now require many classes before your actual major and implement many rules such as having to take summer classes that make it almost impossible to graduate in 4 years. If your lucky and took AP classes in high school and were smart enough to start your college career early it helps a lot.

I don’t think college has become harder. I think that kids rely much on their parents or parents do not let them become adults and grow up. Which is something that starts much before you step into that first college class.

I think that it is hard to speak of college students as a generalizable group, especially in this day and age where many, many students are “non-traditional” (over, say, age 22). I have been a teaching assistant at two very different schools. The first school was a large, urban, not very selective state school with almost 100% commuters. The second school is an smallish, suburban, expensive private school with mostly residential students. Many of my students at the first school had substantial outside committments such as raising a fanmily and working full-time. At the second school, most students do not have those kinds of committments. Some have work-study jobs for a few hours a week, but other than that, their time is free for extracurriculars, studying, or partying.