Gen Z is thinking that current universities may not meet their needs because the world is changing so fast, but the education system has yet to adapt. What are the reasons why Gen Z is thinking that universities may be just an option, not the main path anymore? Find the answers in this article.
If we look back to the past, maybe to the generation of your parents or grandparents, we will find that university is not the finish line or station that everyone must pass. But as time passes, the population increases, the labor market is overflowing, and the competition in the working world increases, causing each person to add something called a degree or certificate to themselves in order to become a better choice than others or to stand out more than others.
“University can be a place where you can discover yourself.”
Before your feet stepped foot on the university campus, you were once a child who dreamed of a bright time that was a time of change in your life. Starting as a freshman in the university campus who could live freely and had the opportunity to discover yourself. But then something happened that made everything not go as you had dreamed, which was “COVID-19”.
Rushil Srivastava was a college student who was forced to take classes online due to the COVID-19 pandemic and faced a daunting online campus community. He realized that college was not what he had hoped for after all. And he wasn’t about to waste time. Srivastava dropped out of UC Berkeley to major in computer science shortly after enrolling.
“The world is evolving rapidly, and so is the university experience.”
Soon after, Srivastava decided to launch a startup designed to help people find jobs more easily. At the same time, most of his friends were starting their final year of college. Some were still getting ready to find jobs, and some seemed to be doing better than others. But it was clear that the world was evolving at a rapid pace, and people were scrambling to keep up so they wouldn’t be left behind. The college experience, too, has changed rapidly with time.
“The cost of education is running faster than the salary you receive after graduation.”
Srivastava is one of the many Gen Zers who are skipping college. The survey found that 4 million fewer teenagers will enroll in college in 2022 than in 2012. Many are struggling with costs. From 2010 to 2022, college tuition rose by an average of 12% per year, while overall inflation rose by an average of 2.6% per year. Today, the average cost of attending a four-year public university is $104,108, while the average cost of attending a private university is $79,046.75. While the average income of a college-educated millennial has remained steady for the past 50 years, the majority of graduates are saddled with debt after graduation. This financial hole has left millennials with lower values than previous generations.
“In times of economic uncertainty, college is being used to prepare for the only achievable goal: getting a good job.”
As the gap widens between what’s needed to be invested and what future returns are achieved, and the uncertainty around this is starting to shift attitudes among Gen Zers, they are the least likely to attend college compared to any other generation. According to a 2014 Pew Research survey, 63% of Millennials valued college education and planned to attend further, and among those who have graduated, 41% said they thought education was very useful in preparing them for the workforce. The results are similar when we look at Gen X and Boomers.
“This change is a better path to future work.”
Nora Taets enrolled at Lowa State University. She started with a major in entrepreneurship and a minor in psychology because it sounded like a fun way to think. But as she took those classes, she found that she might be less appealing to potential employers, who might think that if they hired her, she might be the one to take over their company. With that in mind, she switched to marketing instead, to make it easier for her to find a job in the future. Focusing on a single job is changing everything that colleges teach.
“The pandemic has forced students to think broadly about their lives and careers,”
In addition to regular coursework, many teens are devoting their free time to expanding their career prospects. They decide to attend conferences, trainings, or workshops to gain a better understanding of the current economy. They often enroll in online courses to graduate faster or further develop their skills. While planning may seem distant and premature for high school seniors heading off to college, it’s now a common question, and one that could be a life-changing one for the pandemic.
“The value of the humanities is diluted”
The value of the humanities in broader culture has been diluted by the social distancing created by the COVID-19 pandemic, says Richard Saller, a professor at Stanford University. Studying literature and the humanities has become increasingly popular among students who don’t necessarily need to make money immediately after graduation. That’s because most students who choose to go to college as a way to boost their expected salary after graduation tend to gravitate toward subjects that are more job-prone, more broad, and more marketable than those they enjoy but are more specialized in.
“I feel so tired from trying to graduate from university.”
Online learning is ruining the college experience for many students, with some opting for a lifetime of distance learning at university to save money. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, one-third of all university teaching took place online, either through pre-recorded lectures, video tutorials or digital reading materials. And now some schools are taking advantage of the situation to shift to online-only, as they look to make it faster and cheaper in terms of cost.
Conclusion
For Gen Z and many teenagers, even though college hasn’t changed much to your liking, try to find a path that will give you the confidence to reach your goals. In your studies, you may get fed up with your professors, or your course just doesn’t feel right. If you ask yourself why you are studying for a degree at all, why you want to meet new people, then you are more likely to find yourself in a university.
Take a hard look at the essence of college. Think of it as an opportunity to find what you’re looking for. This kind of attitude will appeal to Gen Z, a generation known for challenging the status quo. This shift in perspective will encourage more informed choices about life and career goals.
“Give yourself the opportunity to explore new paths, and you will find that the essence of your college experience will still be of great use to you in your future life.”
Reference:
‘The world is rapidly evolving’: How Gen Z is rethinking the idea of college
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