05.28.09 | Five Ways College Has Changed
In the wake of the changes in the economy and the increase in students going to college, the face of college campuses has changed along with the times. Student’s have more options and flexibility for classes such as hybrid classes and getting their degree online. There have been changes that range from different majors offered to increased tuition, to a change in administration at many colleges across the U.S. Outlined below are the 5 top changes that are being seen at colleges and universities throughout the states:
- Demographics: There are more students over the age of 25 than ever before; recent surveys suggest 40% of the student population is over the age of 25. Also the female to male ratio is said to be 60-40.
- Community College & Proud of It: gone are the days when you do whatever it takes to get into that prestigious school. People don’t want to burden themselves with debt anymore, especially in an uncertain economy. There is also less judgment on where a person has a degree from when searching for a job. It’s the degree that matters, not really where the degree is from. (no including if you went to an IVY league school..that tends to make a difference).
- Internet in the Classroom: Many professors have moved away from note writing on the blackboard and turned to planned out PowerPoint presentations, online videos and displays, and even using an online plagiarism tool to scan student’s work for plagiarism (watch out kids!).
- Online Classroom Influx: The number of students getting their degree in the comfort of their own home has increased dramatically over the past 5 years…so to has the legitimacy of these degrees. This change has allowed many people to continue to work full time and still earn a degree.
- Purchase a college: These days parents and adult students are looking at college as a personal purchase…something they buy. If they aren’t fully satisfied with any aspect of it (grades, professor, administrative issues), the consumer speaks up and fights to change it. If a school is disorganized and run poorly, a student will transfer out instead of pushing through it. Hey…your paying for it, so you might as well be satisfied. This also has forced colleges to do everything possible to make the consumer/student content.
What about you? Share your experiences by leaving a comment…or add ones I didn’t write about. If you are a returning student I would love to hear your comparison of college now as opposed to 5 or 10 years ago.
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Cool.
May 28th, 2009 | #
the online classes have taken over!
May 28th, 2009 | #
I like that schools are being forced to offer better education for the money. It’s alot to pay and not get what you went for. Also, the online sounds like a good summer pickup option…
June 1st, 2009 | #
nice
June 1st, 2009 | #
I’m 25yrs old and I just finished my first year of Bachelor. Relieved little bit cuz there are more people like me.
June 2nd, 2009 | #
Cool but i think that powerpoint presentations doesn’t teach you better than the teacher explaining it.
June 2nd, 2009 | #
Thats pretty cool
June 2nd, 2009 | #
I agree I think I may do online as well
June 3rd, 2009 | #
I agree with the online class statement!
June 3rd, 2009 | #
I know on-line classes are growing in popularity and they have many benefits but they will never take the place of an in class setting. You have more contact with the teacher and fellow students. For some (including myself) the structure of a specific class time is better than the irregular log on whenever you feel like it of on-line classes. It keeps me from being lazy, lol.
June 3rd, 2009 | #
Very useful…thanks.
June 4th, 2009 | #
COllege has really changed throughout time since technology is advancing.
June 4th, 2009 | #
College has changed dramatically in the past ten years. More online classes, more people attending classes and people have a desire to earn more money to get out of debt faster.
June 4th, 2009 | #
I agree!
I think that in today’s world, people have the opportunity to do nore things than in the past. Like mentioned in the article, it has gotten to a point where we don’t even have get out of our house to get a college degree. Also, having the privilege of getting a university level at a community college price is worth it.
June 4th, 2009 | #
i liked all the info
June 4th, 2009 | #
i liked it a lot
June 4th, 2009 | #
all those are dead on. and school is definitely a great ‘investment’.. it may cost a lot now but it will be well worth it later!
June 4th, 2009 | #
i agree that the statement says that since your paying for your school that you should def get your moneys worth and be satisfied
June 4th, 2009 | #
Perfect explanation, this is a great ‘investment’ it will be worth it in the long run
June 4th, 2009 | #
Great information.
June 5th, 2009 | #
I have more options for obtaining a degree than my parents did when they graduated from high school.
June 5th, 2009 | #
the online classes are really convenient
June 5th, 2009 | #
enough said
June 5th, 2009 | #
the evolution of education
June 6th, 2009 | #
I did not realize so many people were over the age of 25 that are going to college
June 6th, 2009 | #
I think that is so true. Its so much more you can do these days. Its also true that paying so much for school will be worth it.
June 6th, 2009 | #
I like that we have more options available to us than ever before
June 7th, 2009 | #
I agree there are alot of students that go to community college and enjoy it.
June 8th, 2009 | #
My Grandma went to school at fifty.
June 8th, 2009 | #
It’s good that so many more people are taking advantage of the community college system. It’s a good investment in the future
June 8th, 2009 | #
I’ll be taking my 1st on-line class in July and I’m looking forward to it. I was attracting to this type of learning,cause it’s alot more affordable.
June 8th, 2009 | #
In todays evolutionary education, many people has the oportunity to take advantage of the education sytem and have theri degrees.
June 9th, 2009 | #
sweet.
June 9th, 2009 | #
interesting
June 9th, 2009 | #
cool
June 9th, 2009 | #
sister is still in school at 30. she has done everything sort of method available and has changed degrees four times. Having settled on something she enjoyed, she is about to graduate and feels amazing for having gone back to school.
June 9th, 2009 | #
I truly believe that nothing beats a campus schooling. Online schooling I suppose has it’s place for those too busy with life to commit to classes, but honestly I think the only way to really learn is hands on. You just can’t get that online.
June 10th, 2009 | #
I love power point presentations. I feel the help guide the teachers. It’s when they rely too much on them that problems arise. I dislike online courses a lot. It seems to cold, un-motivated for me. I enjoy being in the classroom and learning from the professor themselves.
June 10th, 2009 | #
Well, I wouldn’t really know how college was like back then, but I do know that it’s a lot more easier now than before.
June 10th, 2009 | #
that what up
June 10th, 2009 | #
I am totally agree with you university/colleges have changed so much for the last 5-10 years. I came back to school after working in the real world for awhile, I like the ways university/colleges structure now better than 5 or 10 years ago. I have to say technology is making every possible now days….rock on…
June 10th, 2009 | #
this is real interesting
June 10th, 2009 | #
great information…
June 11th, 2009 | #
online classes can be a bit overwhelming if you dont remember them and have all the work to do that you forgot about.but i really enjoy them because you can do them at your own time in your own home.
June 12th, 2009 | #
Getting an college degree is a life-long investment. Though college is high, I would advise that if it takes you get loan go ahead.
June 12th, 2009 | #
Interesting.
June 13th, 2009 | #
i think this is great information…others should read it
June 15th, 2009 | #
this is very interesting.
June 16th, 2009 | #
I agree with a lot of this. I’ve seen it in my own college experience!
June 16th, 2009 | #
I think this article primarily addresses the internet aspect of college nowadays. Yes online classes have changed the face of college campuses and I believe that more people (the older generation) are taking time to go back to school and earn additional/first degrees. But I don’t think this form of learning will overcome the physical classroom. Being in the classroom is just as important as being in the field. Plus social interaction is a big plus in the work force; we may be an internet based generation, which makes us faster paced. But we can’t eliminate good old fashioned social interaction with convenience – we’re not designed to fully function without it.
June 17th, 2009 | #
I agree with this, 100%!
June 20th, 2009 | #
A few months ago I heard about this lady who graduated from college–at 94 years old! Before that there was a man on a community college basketball team who was well into his seventies. lol
June 21st, 2009 | #
Life long learning is what it’s all about.
June 22nd, 2009 | #
This is all very true. I am a student at UF and all of these changes are true, except I’m not sure about the online degree part.
June 22nd, 2009 | #
This is so true! i agree 100%..
June 24th, 2009 | #
Very interesting info. Thanks
June 26th, 2009 | #
Very interesting info
June 26th, 2009 | #
this is really helpful, especially to people who havent attended college yet
June 27th, 2009 | #
This is ture professors are getting very technical these days the college Im going to is in the middle of the “growing green” process
June 27th, 2009 | #
This is very true. But I don’t think that taking online classes will ever really teach a student as well as learning in the classroom does. And powerpoints can be really helpful. Its not like the teacher is just making you read the powerpoint. He’s explaining too.
June 28th, 2009 | #
Nice article! Professors are using technology (internet discussions)more nowadays for class and tests and many people are going to college now (esp. people over 25).
June 29th, 2009 | #
Good info and so true!
July 2nd, 2009 | #
yo, if I am paying for it i will want to get my moneys worth and with this in mind, remember the sky is the limit.
July 4th, 2009 | #
The way to go is on-line distance learning. With this you receive a quality education with leading institutions in the field, without leaving your back yard.
July 5th, 2009 | #
You know, I still think prestige and name is a huge deal. It’s an unfortunate fact but the status you gain from saying “I graduated from Harvard/Brown/Princeton/etc” is far greater than the status you gain from admitting you received your degree online.
This really, obviously, gets to me. Especially, since the colleges of prestige are so horribly expensive that they are rarely accessible to those who may be qualified intellectually, but are hindered by their financial circumstances.
July 8th, 2009 | #
Very informative
July 8th, 2009 | #
My college experience has been a rocky one. It started off great and went down hill. First, my financial aid didn’t come through and I had to pay out of pocket. That was rough since I didn’t have a job yet and being young I made the worst decision of my life to use my credit cards to pay for my classes. Never use your credit card to pay for your education, if you can’t pay the balance back within a year.
July 10th, 2009 | #
My teachers are using more power point presentations which are better to me than just lecturing at the front of the class.
July 15th, 2009 | #
Education in most important
July 15th, 2009 | #
I just wish that the US would offer waaaay more help for students who are going abroad and would stop boxing scholarships for monorities.If you want kids to come to your university, at least offer a bit more help than what FAFSA can.
July 15th, 2009 | #
education is very important in pursuing a career now
July 22nd, 2009 | #
Cool, cool. I like it.
July 25th, 2009 | #
I agree with what was mentioned above about the 5 ways college has changed. It truly has…since technology has upgraded, colleges are able to pass out more opportunities to students and they also have to ability to make more decisions. Whats going on today is greater than what was being done in the past. Education is very important and its good to see that more progress is being made.
July 28th, 2009 | #
Very true….all except the 25 and older, could be the school I attend….
July 31st, 2009 | #
ITS AMAZING. I SEE HOW EDUCATION IS REALLY NEEDED
August 5th, 2009 | #
yeah I agree. In order to keep up with the economy now, education is essential.
August 7th, 2009 | #
True. Everything with higher education is changing rapidly. College is becoming more convenient especially with online courses.
August 8th, 2009 | #
wow.
August 14th, 2009 | #
I agree that college has changed immensely and I think that online courses will make it easier for people to get their degrees without having to pay so much money.
August 17th, 2009 | #
OMG!!!
August 21st, 2009 | #
Funny how 5 seemingly small things can change college so much…
August 24th, 2009 | #
I prefer a college campus but I will think about an on-line class or two in the future.
August 25th, 2009 | #
the female to male ratio is pretty good but i think it could get better
August 28th, 2009 | #
this is so true. In my school so many student have given college a second thought because of the price. Even cal state’s are more expensive
August 29th, 2009 | #
college is really expensive.. wow.
September 12th, 2009 | #
I am an older returning student. While online instruction is my preference, I don’t believe the younger, traditional students will opt for hybrid instruction in huge numbers. They need the social component – let’s face it – that’s one of the main reasons they’re there! Plus – there’s self-discipline issue when it comes to study! But for the “older” returning student, online instruction seems a better fit.
September 15th, 2009 | #
Well i have not started college yet. I have one more year. But from what I hear, there has been a lot of changes. And online college courses are very big now!
September 24th, 2009 | #
community college is awesome. You save so much money and the resources provided at my community college are just as good at my current four year university if not better in many ways. (I miss my free printing!)
October 1st, 2009 | #
Sad how people pay for a school for its prestige vs its actual ability to teach.
October 8th, 2009 | #
One other way that colleges have changed is their annual tuition. Especially for out of state students. I would reccommend that both college and high school students should apply for as many scholarships as possible. As for me, I’m dependent on scholarships and a job, because my parents willfully stated that they will be able to donate a wopping $0 for my college education.
October 11th, 2009 | #
This is very helpful
October 13th, 2009 | #
I AGREE WITH YOU TYLER
October 14th, 2009 | #
This is interesting because I don’t really pay attention to how college changed over the years.
October 14th, 2009 | #
I don’t want to get my degree online
October 15th, 2009 | #
IM EXCITED ABOUT COLLEGE !
October 29th, 2009 | #
That is so true….. out there are so many diff ways to get a degree now….Cant wait to go to college
October 30th, 2009 | #
Great stuff.
October 31st, 2009 | #
College has gotten more expensive. Nowadays students are being forced to take on part-time or even full-time jobs to get an education.
November 2nd, 2009 | #
Personally, I learn much better from an actual teacher than a computer screen. I also believe you have to do what is necessary to get through college so if that means picking up a class or two in the summer to get through college quicker by all means do it. It is cheaper afterall.
November 3rd, 2009 | #
I can’t tell any major changes since I’m only a freshman at UIC at Chicago. However, there are more online class courses than I had anticipated.
November 3rd, 2009 | #
I really don’t like online classes
November 3rd, 2009 | #
Thank goodness for online classes
November 4th, 2009 | #