Fewer college freshmen reported spending time partying in 2012 than in any year since 1966, according to The Huffington Post. Last year, 33.4 percent of freshmen reported drinking beer, while beer drinking peaked in 1982 at 73.7 percent, according to the University of California, Los Angeles Cooperative Institutional Research Program's annual survey. Respondents were also asked how much time they spent at parties per week during their senior year of high school, and 37 percent reported that they had spent no time partying at all. These data contradict widespread beliefs that American students spend too much time partying and not enough time studying, according to The Huffington Post. Nearly 80 percent of the respondents characterized themselves as above average in their "drive to achieve."
An increasing number of students are taking virtual internships, which do not require an intern to set foot in the office, The New York Times reported. These internships, largely carried out through Skype and emails, have flourished in recent years. A survey of 303 companies by Internships.com revealed that a third of employers planned to offer virtual internships in 2013. Students who take advantage of these opportunities appreciate their flexible hours and can often fit internships into full-time academic or work schedules, according to The Times. Some researchers, however, fear that these jobs lack personal communication, will not teach young people the intricacies of office etiquette and will not allow interns to receive clear feedback from their bosses.
A paper published by the Center for American Progress suggests that colleges should emulate the National Football League's spirit of cooperation to improve their admissions processes and form a league to standardize admission and aid packages, The Chronicle of Higher Education reported. Recruiting top students using merit scholarships generally benefits privileged students and does not further institutions' stated commitments to accessibility and diversity. The paper suggests that colleges review their policies and collaborate more effectively with others to reduce the competitiveness of the admissions process, increase the accessibility of financial aid and increase social inclusion, according to The Chronicle. Universities should collaborate to establish standard deadlines for admission and reduce the exaggeration of facts and figures commonly shared with prospective students, according to the paper.
