Fairly recently The Washington Post, in response to a previous story that noted the general decline in collegiate student study efforts, published another story that featured the universities in which college students study the most. Perhaps to the surprise of outsiders, but certainly to no surprise to its attendees, UW-Madison made it to the top of the list.
Having attended the UW for an entire academic year, I can conclude that, yes, UW students truly study a significant amount despite the university’s reputation as a party school.
According to the Post’s original article, college students in the early 1960s spent on average 24 hours a week studying. Today, students spend only 15 hours studying outside of class. It’s hard not to argue the significance of that drop.
Anyone can look at those numbers and conclude there must be something severely acute with this country’s higher-education system. Some students note that college seems easier than anticipated, as some students believe that they do not have to try very hard to obtain good grades.
Yet, the Post notes survey data that show UW freshmen spend 20 hours a week studying and UW seniors spend 18 hours.
In fact, UW-Madison is almost certainly a part of the top 10 percent of colleges in weekly study time, according to the National Survey of Weekly Student Engagement.
While certain majors require more “study” time than others, it’s clear that studying is seeded deep inside the collective UW consciousness.
That’s significant considering the author of the article could not find any other public university that ranked as high as UW in weekly study time.
However, certain characteristics of college today and today’s college student are, I feel, misconceptions.
I do not believe, as the article suggests, college has become a “part-time job.” Numbers may suggest one thing but reality points to something much different. Courtesy of technological advances, completing assignments and research undoubtedly takes a shorter time to complete. What was once a laborious process several decades ago has become something much more efficient and manageable today.
Moreover, due to massive tuition hikes at collegiate institutions, including both private and public colleges, students today work in order to pay their way through college. Many students work full-time while also taking a rigorous course load. Students also occupy much of their time with other activities, including clubs, organizations, fraternities and sororities, and other non-profit and volunteer work.
Basically, it’s hard not to call college students busy.
While there may be a general decline in the amount that college students across the country study, UW students most definitely have their work cut out for them. After all, finding the proper balance between academics and other activities is what makes a successful college student. I believe that many UW students find this equilibrium successfully.
Ethan is a freshman with an undeclared major. Please send all feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
