Frosh women: more liberal, work and value general ed.(education)(survey)

Today college serves as a necessary stepping stone before a more specialized professional education.

Students are beginning to realize that their future occupation may have nothing at all to do with their undergraduate major. As the time between getting a degree and a well-paying job increases, their expectations are changing, especially for women.

According to the 39th annual survey by UCLA's Higher Education Research Institute of 289,452 incoming first-year students at 440 four-year schools, women are more likely than men to see college as an opportunity to expand their general knowledge.

Taken in the fall of 2004, the survey found that 70.2% of women and only 57.6% of men chose to attend college to gain a general education and appreciation of ideas.

Students rated these objectives as top or low priorities:

 
Raising a family                                75.1% 
Being very well off financially                 73.6 
Helping others who are in difficulty            62.4 
Creating artistic work (painting, sculpture)    15.6 
Writing original work (poems, novels, stories)  15.1 
Becoming accomplished in performing arts        15.1 

Difference in objectives