59% Proportion of 10th-graders in 1990 who said they expected to graduate from a four-year college.
80% Proportion of 10th-graders in 2002 who said they expected to graduate from a four-year college, attributed to increased encouragement from teachers.
Time, 21 February 2005, Pg. 19That increase in the number of kids who think that they will graduate from college is pretty interesting. Last year I volunteered at a Saint Paul’s Arlington High School one day to discuss technology careers with a few classes of Juniors. I would guess that at least 25%, and more like 35% could barely act like they cared about their future. The ones that weren’t asleep were more interested in reading other material than finding out what a real job was like. Good luck graduating from an institution with that level of enthusiasm.
There are way too many kids going to college today! Especially kids that aren’t qualified. Academic standards have been lowered and there is way too much financial assistance out there.