Open Thread! What Advice Would You Give Gen Alpha About College?
Go? Don’t go? It’s complicated?
This substack pays a lot of attention to Gen Zers and their parents as well as millennials. But what about the next Generation—Generation Alpha?
Some are babies, but the oldest ones are 14.
What advice would you give to Gen Alphas and their parents about college?
(I’m especially interested, as my son is 10.)
College has long been the default “best” choice, but attitudes about higher ed have been shifting. So where does that leave Gen Aers and their parents?
What would you do if you were the parent of a Gen A kid?
Under what circumstances should Gen Aers pursue college?
What fields should they investigate or avoid?
What should they be doing or not doing now?
What types of colleges would you recommend?
What are the pros and cons of aiming for an elite college?
What are the best alternatives to college?
Fire away!
I was recently asked to sit on a panel for my high school alma mater about this very thing... so I wrote out my thoughts: https://hmm.vic.ooo/2025/01/23/on-choosing-a-college/
I am a retired college professor so I have put a lot of thought into this these past few years. I would recommend a gap year for many students, especially those that don't have a clear sense of what they want to do with a college degree. Travel might be great for those with means, but I think a service experience would be beneficial for many students. My father (also a college professor) thought everyone should work on a chicken farm for a year (he grew up on one and the experience helped him appreciate college more). Some students are ready for college at 18, but many are not. I saw these students struggle and wonder if they should have waited.
I know students who benefitted from large university campuses and others who loved their experiences at small liberal arts colleges. Heading for the elite colleges might benefit you with the connections you make, but there are benefits from other settings. I taught business at a very large, selective flagship university and at a small liberal arts college that took anyone with a heart beat. Both offered valuable experiences and challenges for students. I found that the students at the small college were given more room and encouragement to develop character and integrity. As an employer, I would not hesitate to hire them even if their GPAs and test scores were lower.
It may be hard, but I would encourage high school students to ask questions about whether they will have the freedom to disagree with their professors and their peers. Ignore the campus PR and go straight to the students. Some of my colleagues were great about encouraging debate. Others were terrible. It often depended upon the discipline.
So much to say, I'll stop there. I believe in the value of a higher education, but believe that there are other options that might better fit a students.