 |
 |
Alexander Astin annual national survey of incoming freshmen students is published in this week's Chronicle of Higher Education. Among the vast variety of data, there is one particular question I like to follow from year to year. It deals with hours a week spent on various activities during the past year. One item among the list is "studying or doing homework". This year, 33.9% of over 252,000 students reported they spent 6 or more hours a week studying. This means, 66% spent less than 6 hours per week studying (most likely as seniors in high school for traditional incoming freshmen). According to the Chronicle, this compares to a response rate of 44% to the same item in in 1987, down 10% in ten years. Looks like we have our work cut out for us in giving freshmen as reality check. In another item I follow, 40.7 % of students replied that improving reading and study skills was a very important reason in deciding to go to college. Georgine Materniak Director University of Pittsburgh Learning Skills Center 311 William Pitt Union Pittsburgh, PA 15260 phone: (412)648-7920 fax: (412)648-7924 e-mail: [log in to unmask]