Is Liberal Arts college enrollment declining?

[JohnnyReb]

OK here's the deal and then a question or two. My son has of late been getting mail from several different colleges encouraging him to apply for entrance/acceptance at their schools. He has even had 2 personal telephone calls from 2 other colleges. Sounds great so far huh. ...and these aren't small, unknown or even fly bye night TV institutes either. 

Here's the facts. He's only in the eleventh grade but could graduate this year if I would let him....ain't gonna happen. I don't think his mindset is ready for college. He has not, that I know of, taken the PSAT, SAT or the other test (AT?), whatever that is. He has been in the advanced classes since middle school and made good grades but has not been a straight A student in all courses. All of these colleges have been LIBERAL ARTS colleges.

Now here's the questions. Are Liberal Arts colleges suffering a decline in applications? Have kids realized that not just any old degree is a guarantee of a high paying job? Is the economy drying up scholarships? Are student loans for certain lines of study getting harder to get? Recruiting geniuses and athletes I've heard of but recruiting ordinary students??????

Part of what brought this on was that he brought home a registration form for next years classes if he doesn't graduate this year. He had picked out his subjects and they were approved by his counselor.  We, meaning me & Momma, had a slight conflict with it. I want him to stay in JROTC for a forth year and final year "just because" and the Major over JROTC has said that if he continues in JROTC that he has big plans for him his senior year. Momma wants him to stay in marching band but that's an after school thing and does not take time out of regular school hours.

On his schedule for next year he has AP ENGISH 1 & 2, AP CALCULUS 1 & 2 which are college courses taken at a local college a mile away. He'll get college credit there and credit will be accepted at several other in state colleges. If I can get his Counselor to drop one course, high school GOV/ECON, and substitute instead the college level POL/SCI that's offered, he could graduate next spring with 15 hours college credits to the good. ...and then maybe he'd be ready for college.

[Zeus]

OK here's the deal and then a question or two. My son has of late been getting mail from several different colleges encouraging him to apply for entrance/acceptance at their schools. He has even had 2 personal telephone calls from 2 other colleges. Sounds great so far huh. ...and these aren't small, unknown or even fly bye night TV institutes either. 

Here's the facts. He's only in the eleventh grade but could graduate this year if I would let him....ain't gonna happen. I don't think his mindset is ready for college. He has not, that I know of, taken the PSAT, SAT or the other test (AT?), whatever that is. He has been in the advanced classes since middle school and made good grades but has not been a straight A student in all courses. All of these colleges have been LIBERAL ARTS colleges.

Now here's the questions. Are Liberal Arts colleges suffering a decline in applications? Have kids realized that not just any old degree is a guarantee of a high paying job? Is the economy drying up scholarships? Are student loans for certain lines of study getting harder to get? Recruiting geniuses and athletes I've heard of but recruiting ordinary students??????

Part of what brought this on was that he brought home a registration form for next years classes if he doesn't graduate this year. He had picked out his subjects and they were approved by his counselor.  We, meaning me & Momma, had a slight conflict with it. I want him to stay in JROTC for a forth year and final year "just because" and the Major over JROTC has said that if he continues in JROTC that he has big plans for him his senior year. Momma wants him to stay in marching band but that's an after school thing and does not take time out of regular school hours.

On his schedule for next year he has AP ENGISH 1 & 2, AP CALCULUS 1 & 2 which are college courses taken at a local college a mile away. He'll get college credit there and credit will be accepted at several other in state colleges. If I can get his Counselor to drop one course, high school GOV/ECON, and substitute instead the college level POL/SCI that's offered, he could graduate next spring with 15 hours college credits to the good. ...and then maybe he'd be ready for college.

Sounds like Mom & pop & son got a plan.

I think all Secondary education just like the rest of the country has been impacted by the down turn in the economy. My personal opinion on liberal arts colleges/universities whatever are hurting because folks are learning the vast minority graduates of liberal arts majors actually see moderate to good success in their chosen field, for that matter few actually end up working in fields they studied for. Doesn't mean their education was wasted just means it didn't take them as far as dreamt. just my 2 cents worth ok.

[Eupher]

Straight answer is - I don't know if liberal arts colleges are suffering declining enrollment. IF THEY ARE, I'd submit it's because of the following, perhaps in order of impact:

1.  Crappy economy.
2.  State universities offer the same degree program as liberal arts colleges for less money.
3.  Ditto, also due to more scholarships being offered by the state universities.

I've said for years that students seeking an undergrad degree don't have to worry too much about how that undergrad degree translates to the work force. No hiring authority really gives a shit where the candidate got their degree and only marginally what that degree was in -- only that the person HAVE a degree from someplace other than what's written on the back of a matchbook.

Strongly encourage kids to go to their local community college and get required courses out of the way -- it can be done at a fraction of the cost than attending even a state university -- and then transfer the credits when it's time.

[Zeus]

Straight answer is - I don't know if liberal arts colleges are suffering declining enrollment. IF THEY ARE, I'd submit it's because of the following, perhaps in order of impact:

1.  Crappy economy.
2.  State universities offer the same degree program as liberal arts colleges for less money.
3.  Ditto, also due to more scholarships being offered by the state universities.

I've said for years that students seeking an undergrad degree don't have to worry too much about how that undergrad degree translates to the work force. No hiring authority really gives a shit where the candidate got their degree and only marginally what that degree was in -- only that the person HAVE a degree from someplace other than what's written on the back of a matchbook.

Strongly encourage kids to go to their local community college and get required courses out of the way -- it can be done at a fraction of the cost than attending even a state university -- and then transfer the credits when it's time.

Good advice on the local community college. the trap there is quite often those credits only are transferable to the big brother or sister university of the CC.

The little community college here wasn't going to accept my university level credits until I went all the way to Dean of students to get it rectified.  Sure in my case a couple people had there head up their arses but how many people would have accepted that answer instead of being bullheaded like me and fighting it. I was also about 25 yr older than the avg student at the time.

[DumbAss Tanker]

Straight answer is - I don't know if liberal arts colleges are suffering declining enrollment. IF THEY ARE, I'd submit it's because of the following, perhaps in order of impact:

1.  Crappy economy.
2.  State universities offer the same degree program as liberal arts colleges for less money.
3.  Ditto, also due to more scholarships being offered by the state universities.

I've said for years that students seeking an undergrad degree don't have to worry too much about how that undergrad degree translates to the work force. No hiring authority really gives a shit where the candidate got their degree and only marginally what that degree was in -- only that the person HAVE a degree from someplace other than what's written on the back of a matchbook.

Strongly encourage kids to go to their local community college and get required courses out of the way -- it can be done at a fraction of the cost than attending even a state university -- and then transfer the credits when it's time.

It's not really that HS grads are becoming smarter about their career paths as a whole.  Today's colleges were built up to their present size and staff levels to accommodate the boomers and their first first round of kids, sustained by very large amounts of money dumped into student loan guarantees and (Especially in the Viet Nam era) VA benefits.  Now colleges are faced with a bit of a demographic crisis and a certain tightening of the free money for tuition.  Accordingly, they are recruiting A LOT more aggressively than when we were young to keep their seats filled and dough rolling in to support the tenured faculty and physical plant they've built up.