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Pop culture has shaped the way a lot of us think about college and higher education. If movies and University courses will be so demanding that you'll constantly be pulling all-nighters, pounding coffee and energy drinks in order to stay awake to cram for your next big test, right?
On this episode of Misconceptions, host Justin Dodd breaks down these higher-level myths. If your professor is 15 minutes late, are you really allowed to leave? How important is picking the right major in college? Does everyone join a fraternity or sorority? And what about the whole "freshman 15" thing?
Grab your books, and let's dive in.
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0:00
From Animal House to Pitch Perfect
0:01
pop culture has shaped the way a lot of us think about higher education. If movies and TV are to be believed
0:08
college courses will be so demanding that you'll constantly be pulling all-nighters
0:12
pounding coffee and energy drinks in order to stay awake to cram for your next big test
0:17
In reality, only 20% of college students report staying up all night on a weeknight just once a month
0:23
which honestly is still way too much for this sleep-loving guy. I'll take a B- before I lose my beauty rest
0:29
Thank you very much. Hi, I'm Justin Dodd, and that's just the first of several collegiate misconceptions we're here to debunk today
0:35
From how much majors matter to the freshman 15, we've got a lot to cover, so misconceptions class is now in session
0:42
And no, I'm not taking attendance, and yes, you can be on your phones. I'm a cool professor
0:47
Let's get started. The major you pick in college determines your career
0:59
I make videos for a living and I majored in theater history. According to Bloomberg, more than half of college graduates over the age of 25 do not work in their field of study
1:10
This isn't just due to choosing a highly specific or competitive major, although those reasons are totally valid
1:16
It tends to speak to the job market overall, which can force job seekers to take whatever paying gig they can land, especially if those student loans are coming due
1:25
and many people are living this right now. It's no surprise that new grads were hit especially hard during the pandemic
1:31
And then the scramble for entry-level jobs snowballed as more graduates entered the workforce
1:36
and found themselves competing for the same jobs as those who graduated the year before
1:41
The good news? Many employers, as high as 93% of them, are less concerned about what you majored in
1:46
and more concerned that you've developed skills such as critical thinking, communication, problem solving
1:51
Now, that's not to say that you can be a fine arts major and go get a job as a neurosurgeon
1:57
But overall, what it says on the piece of paper from your college is not as important
2:01
as the fact that you have it. And even that is starting to change
2:05
You have to have amazing SAT or ACT scores to get in Good test scores never hurt anyone and they definitely help with scholarships so we not exactly saying it time to stop studying But if you losing sleep thinking you going to miss out on your dream school because your points don measure up well maybe you can breathe a little bit easier
2:25
During the pandemic, many high school students missed out on testing or weren't able to get proper test tutoring because of social distancing measures and in-person school shutdowns
2:35
As a result, many colleges made submitting ACT and SAT scores optional
2:40
Columbia University then became the first Ivy League to scrap this admissions requirement
2:45
Other top schools that have gotten rid of or have extended suspensions include
2:49
William & Mary, Johns Hopkins, Stanford, and Northwestern. Proponents of the test-optional movement say that, among other things
2:57
ditching scores helps to expand diversity and gives opportunities to those who have been historically unable to apply
3:03
For example, Cornell reported a 50% increase in the share of first-generation college students in 2022
3:10
Even so, other schools such as MIT are reverting back to pre-pandemic test requirements
3:16
The reasoning, MIT explained, is that standardized testing actually helps them identify students who are clearly qualified
3:22
but may have lacked access to advanced courses and enrichment opportunities in high school
3:28
So, are test-optional applications here to stay? Only time will tell. But for now, you can give your number two pencil a well-deserved break and not worry so much about getting that $1,600
3:39
If your professor is more than 15 minutes late, you can leave. This long, persisting myth is kind of like the five-second rule of academia
3:47
As with the five-second rule, however, there doesn't seem to be much basis in fact
3:53
Some colleges have even gone on record to confirm that a tardy teacher does not mean students are off the hook
3:58
In 2019, Choate's dean of students said it doesn't exist. Total student myth. The associate provost at Kansas State was in agreement, stating
4:08
it is the professor's responsibility to be on time to class, but there is not a time limit
4:12
to when students can leave. California State University Fullerton and the University of
4:17
Alabama have also issued statements. While this is only a handful of schools
4:22
we think it safe to say that the majority of colleges do not have official 15 policies So sorry to be the bearer of bad news Everyone has an epic spring break If you not having a tubular spring break in Cabo
4:37
South Padre, or Daytona Beach, are you even a college student? Contrary to popular belief
4:42
yes. Not every student in college has the means or desire to travel during that week off in
4:48
February or March. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, nearly 16 million
4:53
students across the U.S. are enrolled in undergraduate programs. In 2023, Forbes reported
4:59
that a mere 1.5 million students travel for spring break every year. Now, if that seems low to you
5:05
other studies show that 25% of students traveled for spring break during the pandemic in 2021
5:10
which increased the 35 to 40% of students in 2023. While all of those numbers vary quite a bit
5:16
one thing is clear. The spring breakers are in the minority. That means most students are spending
5:21
their spring breaks working, studying, hanging with family. So while it may seem like everyone
5:26
you know is going to a beach to escape the cold winter months, try not to get FOMO. Not everyone
5:32
is partying it up. All students graduate in four years. The term super senior, also sometimes called
5:39
a victory lap, can be used to describe someone who takes more than four years to graduate a
5:44
four-year program, like a bachelor's degree. But it's hardly rare. In 2019, 19% of college students
5:50
graduated in either five or six years compared to 41% who graduated in four. But before you say
5:57
college kids are spending way too much quality time with red solo cups when they should be studying
6:02
think again. Some of the reasons experts cite for becoming a super senior include financial
6:06
hardship, changing majors, attending high schools that didn't prepare them for college
6:11
having personal challenges, and being unable to register for the right classes at the right time
6:16
While it's becoming quite common to extend your college career, it probably isn't the most financially sound decision, especially if you're in the U.S
6:24
The longer it takes to earn your degree, the more student loan debt you're likely to rack up
6:29
Everyone joins fraternities and sororities. An estimated 750,000 students across the U.S. are part of Greek life at their colleges
6:38
a small number compared to the 16 million enrolled in undergraduate studies And not all campuses are created equal At some schools especially in the South more than 50 of enrolled students are involved in Greek life
6:51
Other colleges hover around 5% participation. And not every school even offers the opportunity
6:57
A few with no Pan-Hellenic options at all include Princeton, Notre Dame, Boston College
7:03
Vassar, and Rice. Though that's not to say they don't have underground options or
7:07
different social club frameworks. So should you join Greek life? Like anything, there are pros
7:14
and cons. While incidents of hazing and excessive partying continue to hit the news cycles
7:20
Gallup polls have also shown that Greeks tend to have more success getting jobs right out of
7:24
college, have better well-being and engagement at work, and feel more supported overall. Though
7:30
little work is done on whether that's more to do with joining the Greeks or the type of people who
7:35
join Greeks. So pick your poison. Join a frat or join the college sketch comedy team. Take a guess
7:42
which I picked. Every student experiences the freshman 15. The freshman 15 is both true and
7:49
false. In case you're not familiar, the freshman 15 is the idea that freshmen gain 15 pounds by the
7:55
end of their first year in college, usually due to things like not making healthy choices in the
7:59
dining hall and exercising less. The idea itself is true. Multiple studies have shown that freshmen
8:05
do tend to gain weight that first year precisely for the reasons mentioned, but it's very rarely
8:10
15 pounds. One study observed an average of a 2.7 pound increase, with men gaining more than women
8:17
Even if there is a little bit of truth to it, it's time to scrap the shame behind the freshman 15
8:21
anyway. Return first appeared in a 1989 issue of Seventeen magazine, likely with no scientific
8:27
evidence attached to the 15 pounds at all. It's just that freshman 15 is more alliterative and
8:33
catchy than the freshman 2.7. And really, our collective obsession with weight is toxic and
8:39
dumb anyway. Let freshmen worry about literally everything else that they have to worry about
8:57
Please let us have this. I'll see you next time
#education