The New York Times talks a bit about a new study of college-bound youth:
The researchers found that college-bound youth were less likely to be involved in criminal activity and substance use during adolescence than kids who weren’t headed for college.
But college attendance triggered some surprising changes. When male students enrolled in four-year universities, levels of drinking, property theft and unstructured socializing with friends increased and surpassed rates for their less-educated male peers.
I have to question the use of that word “surprising”. Is there anyone out there who finds this even remotely surprising?
At least we now have hard data showing that college kids drink and waste time hanging out with friends. This will, of course, be useful when explaining why these same students aren’t passing. 🙂
It’s a completely flawed analysis – “educated” kids go wild in a college environment (no parents, lots of parties, freedom), more so than their “less-educated male peers” in a non-college environment (read: parents basement playing videogames and standing at the corner of the Quicky-mart trying to get some random dude to buy them a six-pack).
How about they toss these “less-educated male peers” in a frat house and see what happens. Then that would be a fair comparison.
It’s like doing a study on gangs and coming up with the conclusion “If you’re in a gang you’re more likely to commit a crime than if you’re not.”
UPDATE: just read the article. Sociologists. Bowling Green State University. ‘Nuf said.