While it's become an article of public faith that almost all high school graduates should go to college -- because a college degree is critical in a knowledge economy -- it turns out that many colleges are doing a lousy job of helping their students finish. According to this article in USA Today about an AEI study, 4-year colleges in the US only graduate 53% of their students in 6 years. While people with "some college" often do better than those with just high school diplomas on the job market, the big payoffs come from the degree, which means that about half of people who start college will leave -- thanks to expensive tuition and loans -- perhaps no better than they started.
What's most fascinating about this is that some similar colleges do much better than others. As AEI and USA Today noted:
"•Among schools that require only a high school diploma for admission, Walla Walla University and Heritage University, both in Washington state, reported graduation rates of 53% and 17%, respectively.
•Among colleges that require high school grades averaging a B-minus or better, John Carroll University in Cleveland and Chicago State University in Illinois graduated 74% vs. 16%, respectively.
•In the "most competitive" group, Amherst College in Massachusetts and Reed College in Portland, Ore., graduated 96% vs. 76%, respectively."
These are not minor differences, and suggest that low graduation rates are not inevitable. They may also shed light on why some gifted students don't make it through college.
Over the years, I've talked to a number of grown-up gifted kids, who tend to have varying outcomes. Some, obviously, become smashingly successful. But for many, college seems to be a turning point. If students have coasted through high school, then the more difficult college curriculum can be unnerving. Being around other smart kids is often a relief for isolated gifted kids, but some perceive it as a challenge to their worldview. One young man once told me that the people around him didn't understand him -- and that was why he had to leave school. Add in the complexities of trying to afford college or get in the right classes, and graduation rates can coast down.
Since there are always going to be reasons not to follow through with something, this would suggest that as young people and their parents look for the right college, all things being equal, you should choose the one with the highest graduation rate. People respond to cues around them, and when almost everyone graduates, failing to do so becomes a less viable option.
Thursday, June 04, 2009
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8 comments:
Or... Let me offer an alternative suggestion, as a former "gifted kid" from a family of former "gifted kids," most of whom didn't make it through college.
Many gifted, particularly creatively gifted, don't fit well in academia. Just making it through HS can be hell. But let's say you get yourself into college and start a course of study. Partway through something else sparks your attention, and you go pursue that instead. That's typical for a gifted person.
In my family, most of us didn't graduate from college. However, many have made our own way and are more financially successful than many college grads. As for me, I made substantially more money BEFORE I went back to school to finish my degree--I now teach for less than half of what I used to make.
Perhaps many gifted college students find that they are more content learning on their own than in the stifling halls of academia.
What role is social class playing in these numbers. The article compares graduation rates a John Carroll - $37,000 a year private Catholic college with minority enrollment of 9% to Chicago State a fairly low cost state university with 90% minority enrollment.
It makes sense students who do not have family financial support are more likely to drop out of college. It doesn't take a lot to imagine the many obstacles that may stand in the path of success for a student who may be the first one in their family to go to college.
I trust you & your readers have read the study, "A Nation Deceived." Their website has an incredible collection of anecdotes, many of which will directly address your question.
Short version for me -
Despite enrollment in complete gifted coursework (GATE 3rd-12th), I was rarely challenged and was permitted to completely coast through school.
Went to a UC campus and was thoroughly jarred by my total lack of preparedness. I had NEVER had to "study" at home during HS; it was a foreign concept. As such I was woefully ill-prepared for college-level coursework. Interestingly, I did excel in lit/writing/science, which were the only areas with challenging teachers in HS.
The lack of challenge in HS math crippled my desire for science, as I didn't have any real math instruction for the last 1.5 years of HS. That's a heck of a way to start a college career with a desired emphasis in science.
Dropped out after two quarters into freshman year. Have been self-employed ever since with reasonable success & considerable satisfaction. Not too many regrets.
I now have a child who, at age 8, makes me look "average" by comparison. She's already skipped one grade and could probably skip one or two more in most subjects.
My number one concern is that she be challenged throughout school by appropriate coursework. Challenged, without undue frustration. Teachers just want to give her more of the same to keep her busy. Argghh. That's not challenging - that is punishment.
How were transfers taken into account in these statistics?
Reed, Swarthmore and UChicago are commonly considered to be the most difficult colleges, but higher numerical credentials are required to gain entrance to Amherst. So it seems natural that students with higher credentials and easier workloads would graduate at higher rates.
To those who dropped out:
What are you doing now and what steps did you take to get there?
I recently decided to drop out of college to develop a lot of my passions and figure out which one will end up being my career, life ambition, or dream. I couldn't be happier with the decision and now that I have made it I feel like my creativity is no longer on the back burner. It is an excellent thing if you're certain you want to do it and have a bit of confidence about it.
Cheryl, I am glad to know that I am not alone. I am not lazy, but I have found that learning from class only makes up for a small fraction of what I learn. It seems opposite than most.
What a variety of people and ideas this world has to offer.
I think if they are gifted kids then they will find their own ways and get succeed with out college education
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