Are professors at all universities seeing big drop in college preparedness?

[Anonymous]

This question is for the college professors among us: Are professors at all universities seeing a big drop in college preparedness among undergraduates ? I have heard that that is the case at some very strong universities. I presume this is related to the Pandemic.

If so, what areas are undergrad college professors seeing the biggest skill set weaknesses in? Is it technical academic skills or social skills or both?

What if anything, do you think high school students should be doing to be better prepared for college ?

Thanks in advance

[Anonymous]

Could also be TO and weaker admissions standards for “prestige” universities. It’s not just the pandemic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Could also be TO and weaker admissions standards for “prestige” universities. It’s not just the pandemic.

TO has nothing to do with weather a student is prepared for college.

I would say I have not seen a major change. If anything, students seem better prepared overall. There are still a few that I was would have been required to talk a basic writing class. The one area I do see a difference is the extent to which students want to turn in work late. There doesn't seem to be the same priority for deadlines.

[Anonymous]

Whether, not weather!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Could also be TO and weaker admissions standards for “prestige” universities. It’s not just the pandemic.

TO has nothing to do with weather a student is prepared for college.

I would say I have not seen a major change. If anything, students seem better prepared overall. There are still a few that I was would have been required to talk a basic writing class. The one area I do see a difference is the extent to which students want to turn in work late. There doesn't seem to be the same priority for deadlines.

OP - ok that’s encouraging thanks. Glad it is not all gloom and doom!

Will encourage work in writing skills and handing assignments in on time.

Thanks for taking time to respond thoughtfully.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Could also be TO and weaker admissions standards for “prestige” universities. It’s not just the pandemic.

OP - I had vaguely wondered whether that was part of it.

[Anonymous]

The New Infantilism began around 15 or 20 years ago. Students barely read anymore. And it's gotten worse with social media "discourse" becoming so important. They're more interested in Tiktok than Tolstoy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Could also be TO and weaker admissions standards for “prestige” universities. It’s not just the pandemic.

TO has nothing to do with weather a student is prepared for college.

I would say I have not seen a major change. If anything, students seem better prepared overall. There are still a few that I was would have been required to talk a basic writing class. The one area I do see a difference is the extent to which students want to turn in work late. There doesn't seem to be the same priority for deadlines.

“Nothing to do with weather (sic) a student is prepared…” I started to question whether or not a college professor wrote this, but then I realized that only an academic would write something this stupid. Based upon this and the grammatical errors in your post, it is clear that we should not place any weight upon your judgment regarding the preparedness of students for college (fake academic or not).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Could also be TO and weaker admissions standards for “prestige” universities. It’s not just the pandemic.

TO has nothing to do with weather a student is prepared for college.

I would say I have not seen a major change. If anything, students seem better prepared overall. There are still a few that I was would have been required to talk a basic writing class. The one area I do see a difference is the extent to which students want to turn in work late. There doesn't seem to be the same priority for deadlines.

“Nothing to do with weather (sic) a student is prepared…” I started to question whether or not a college professor wrote this, but then I realized that only an academic would write something this stupid. Based upon this and the grammatical errors in your post, it is clear that we should not place any weight upon your judgment regarding the preparedness of students for college (fake academic or not).

The PP corrected it immediately after. A lot of people do speech to text for forums and sometimes there are quirks. Regardless, plenty of people make homonym writing glitches when they are writing in informal settings because they are "talking" their thoughts rather than writing them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Could also be TO and weaker admissions standards for “prestige” universities. It’s not just the pandemic.

TO has nothing to do with weather a student is prepared for college.

I would say I have not seen a major change. If anything, students seem better prepared overall. There are still a few that I was would have been required to talk a basic writing class. The one area I do see a difference is the extent to which students want to turn in work late. There doesn't seem to be the same priority for deadlines.

“Nothing to do with weather (sic) a student is prepared…” I started to question whether or not a college professor wrote this, but then I realized that only an academic would write something this stupid. Based upon this and the grammatical errors in your post, it is clear that we should not place any weight upon your judgment regarding the preparedness of students for college (fake academic or not).

NP. You've never made a typo in an anonymous internet forum? This isn't exactly formal writing and there's no edit function.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Could also be TO and weaker admissions standards for “prestige” universities. It’s not just the pandemic.

TO has nothing to do with weather a student is prepared for college.

I would say I have not seen a major change. If anything, students seem better prepared overall. There are still a few that I was would have been required to talk a basic writing class. The one area I do see a difference is the extent to which students want to turn in work late. There doesn't seem to be the same priority for deadlines.

+1 My colleagues at T20 schools, SLACS, and public R1 universities report the same behavior I have observed since the pandemic. The majority of students are academically prepared; however, there has been an increase in the number of students who can't meet deadlines, ask to redo assignments, struggle with mental health, and chronically skip class.

I'm at a public R1, and our DRW rates have slightly increased since the pandemic; there is some evidence that some TO students are struggling in gateway math courses and had to repeat a course or switch majors. However, this is not a significant number of students compared to pre-TO data. Retention rates amongst TO students haven't decreased, and they are on track to graduate and not negatively impact our 4- or 6-year graduate rates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Could also be TO and weaker admissions standards for “prestige” universities. It’s not just the pandemic.

TO has nothing to do with weather a student is prepared for college.

I would say I have not seen a major change. If anything, students seem better prepared overall. There are still a few that I was would have been required to talk a basic writing class. The one area I do see a difference is the extent to which students want to turn in work late. There doesn't seem to be the same priority for deadlines.

“Nothing to do with weather (sic) a student is prepared…” I started to question whether or not a college professor wrote this, but then I realized that only an academic would write something this stupid. Based upon this and the grammatical errors in your post, it is clear that we should not place any weight upon your judgment regarding the preparedness of students for college (fake academic or not).

DP: what's your point? The OP asked what professors are witnessing on campus. You seem to look down on academics. Who should give their informed opinion on student preparedness for college?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Could also be TO and weaker admissions standards for “prestige” universities. It’s not just the pandemic.

TO has nothing to do with weather a student is prepared for college.

I would say I have not seen a major change. If anything, students seem better prepared overall. There are still a few that I was would have been required to talk a basic writing class. The one area I do see a difference is the extent to which students want to turn in work late. There doesn't seem to be the same priority for deadlines.

+1 My colleagues at T20 schools, SLACS, and public R1 universities report the same behavior I have observed since the pandemic. The majority of students are academically prepared; however, there has been an increase in the number of students who can't meet deadlines, ask to redo assignments, struggle with mental health, and chronically skip class.

I'm at a public R1, and our DRW rates have slightly increased since the pandemic; there is some evidence that some TO students are struggling in gateway math courses and had to repeat a course or switch majors. However, this is not a significant number of students compared to pre-TO data. Retention rates amongst TO students haven't decreased, and they are on track to graduate and not negatively impact our 4- or 6-year graduate rates.

How do you know this? My husband and I both faculty at universities and neither of us are privy to any of this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Could also be TO and weaker admissions standards for “prestige” universities. It’s not just the pandemic.

TO has nothing to do with weather a student is prepared for college.

I would say I have not seen a major change. If anything, students seem better prepared overall. There are still a few that I was would have been required to talk a basic writing class. The one area I do see a difference is the extent to which students want to turn in work late. There doesn't seem to be the same priority for deadlines.

+1 My colleagues at T20 schools, SLACS, and public R1 universities report the same behavior I have observed since the pandemic. The majority of students are academically prepared; however, there has been an increase in the number of students who can't meet deadlines, ask to redo assignments, struggle with mental health, and chronically skip class.

I'm at a public R1, and our DRW rates have slightly increased since the pandemic; there is some evidence that some TO students are struggling in gateway math courses and had to repeat a course or switch majors. However, this is not a significant number of students compared to pre-TO data. Retention rates amongst TO students haven't decreased, and they are on track to graduate and not negatively impact our 4- or 6-year graduate rates.

How do you know this? My husband and I both faculty at universities and neither of us are privy to any of this.

Chair of the department and serve on the faculty senate executive committee.

[Anonymous]

Yes they are.

The older generations always look at the young shaking their heads.

This time is no different.

Maybe when there was less progress, like in the middle ages, it was different. But I doubt it.

It’s tough getting old and being surpassed. That will never change.