Do you think college is tougher nowadays than it was 30 years ago?

Question

Sometimes I feel like my dad really couldn't understand how knee-deep I am from school. Do you think because of technology and the improvement of communications students have to cram bigger amounts of stuff into their brains as well as their schedule? I mean I'm no baby, I'll do what I have to do, but sometimes it really seems totally ridiculous, and my parents are on a different page with me when I discuss it with them.

Answer 1

As someone who actually started college in 1975, finished his bachelors in 1989, his masters in 1995, and just started again on his PhD, and thus have been in higher education in every decade since the 70s, perhaps I may be in a good position to answer your question.

I am finding it a lot easier today than when I was first in school. Research is much easier, thanks to technology. Writing papers on a spell-checking, grammar checking personal computer is a lot easier than it was on an unforgiving and unhelpful typewriter.

I am also finding that what is expected of students is less now than it was "way back when". (Despite the fact that I am now taking courses at a higher level than I was in 1975).

Of course it may also be that I am more appreciative of the value of education and the opportunity that I have and thus find it easier to avoid distraction. Late night keg parties don't have quite the draw for me today as they may have 30 years ago!

Good luck with your studies!

Answer 2

I often wonder what it would have been like to away to college 30 years ago. I mean, you wouldn't see 50% of students walking to class with an ipod in there ears or talking on their cell phone. So imagine actually having to talk to your roommate, or the person who is studying next to you at the library. I think that maybe we are missing out on some of the things older people experienced during college, such as making friends at your university because you didn't have a car to drive home to see your friends every weekend. Being able to do research on the web for books and journals versus going through a card catalog, having (as mentioned) spell-check and grammar correction on our computers, and all the networking technology (Yahoo, facebook, myspace) were a dream to people 30 years ago, and we take it for granted. I think the problem is that students have technology overload, between TV, cell phones, ipods, and internet. It probably wasn't easier 30 years ago, just simpler due to the limited options. And when you think about the LACK of technology compared to today, it must have been much harder to do the same amount of work. Your parents probably aren't "on the same page" as you because your experience is completely different, and they view your experience as easier than theirs.

Answer 3

From what I can tell school has gotten easier. More and more people are going to school. Therefore, the ability of the average student, or net ability is lower then it was 30 years ago when only the upper percent went to college. As a result of so many people going to school, the level of education has dropped.

Answer 4

I agree with you. Honestly, my parents immigrated from a whole other country, and they didn't have the opportunity to get a fair education. They expect so much from me, but I really do appreciate it because it helps motivate me to continue learning. They know what's best for me because they know how hard life is without a good education. Just keep pushing through =) you'll appreciate it in the end!

Answer 5

extra suitable than 30 years in the past, for many persons college wasn't a could. i'm from those days. My husband labored mutually as I stayed at domicile, yet we lived saving money from the 1st month of our marriage to deliver to college our infants. 30 years in the past, in case you hadn't a school degree you ought to no longer stumble on a job, two decades in the past you had to examine laptop, and in recent times, you have a grasp degree, communicate extra suitable than 3 languages and comprehend the thank you to apply all digital devises to get a job. on the different hand, mothers and dads could have the money for each thing because of the fact it extremely is our accountability, is us who had to have infants and issues are extra high priced daily. i did no longer circulate out to paintings with the intention to look after my infants yet at domicile we lived with out luxury and that i could no longer make a occupation, some people defined me as stupid because of the fact I stayed at domicile, yet i think of I did nicely. No debts, my infants finished college, they do no longer drink alcohol, they do no longer smoke and that they graduated with honors. To stay with convenience and deliver infants to college demands to demanding worker mothers and dads and loans.

Answer 6

went back to my 30 year homecoming -

what I paid in 3 years of college - these kids are paying every
semester - holy mackeral, batman!

that's some green!