Have College Freshmen Changed?

Longhaul
Tue, 12 Oct 2010 13:56:49 +0000

I think it is definitely different now, but in my personal experience it has ALL to do with economics.

My grandparents provided room & board for my parents until each was out of high school. By 15 or 16 my parents were financially responsible for all clothes, cars, etc.

My parents wanted me to have a beter and easier life. They saved and were able to provide for my college. I had friends whose parents weren’t as well off and some friends paid for their own college. Today, I can’t imagine any teen in my town able to pay for 4-yr full time college on their own. The costs are 20 times higher!

My kids have lived thru our ups & downs of jobs. While my parents generation retired from the same companies they began work for at 17 or 18, my generation has not had that security. You can be sure I’ve instilled a fear in my kids that job loss is real.

Combine all my experience and fears which I project, I wouldn’t be surprised if my kids would consider it irresponsible to get an apartment out of college.

Things move faster for this generation, but not necessarily in a forward motion.