Students have more or less maintained the same image over the decades. Coasting through their studies, wearing second-hand clothing and partying through the night are stereotypes that can still be seen in many colleges. However, that doesn’t mean that this image is relevant or accurate for all students, particularly in this era. It used to be that we inherited our parents’ family business or line of work, or progressed our way through a job until we reached a senior rank in management. Nowadays, however, people change career halfway through their life and become a student even in older age. With this in mind, what could be the realities of being a student in 2019?

On the job

Students have always had the reputation of being poor, except for those who maybe enjoy a wealthy relative’s trust fund. The lack of funds means that grants and part-time jobs are needed to cover the cost of ramen noodles and other foods to keep them going throughout their studies. This has always been the case, but now that tuition costs are only increasing, parents are far less likely to have the funds to cover the cost of their child’s day-to-day living. This is particularly the case when you consider that in the US alone, tuition fees have seen a 213% increase over a 30-year period.

On top of that, students are not necessarily fresh out of high-school. Older students who are changing careers may already have a job that pays their bills. This job may also be necessary to keep the family solvent while they re-qualify. There’s no shame in working throughout your studies. In fact, you are in plenty of good company. If you are footing the bill for your education, a part-time or full-time job could be the perfect way to enjoy a balanced and fulfilling lifestyle.

Online courses

It shouldn’t be assumed that being a student involves studying a three or four-year course at the age of 18. Nowadays, online courses provide a lot of flexibility for those who want to keep their old job going while they train for a new profession. Even something like criminology and policing can be studied online in a way that is specific to the country you are studying in. If you wanted to study a criminology degree in Canada while keeping down your nine-to-five, that would be entirely possible.

It’s no surprise at all that online courses have enjoyed a surge in popularity. The student demographic has shifted in recent years, meaning we are seeing students graduate at an increasingly older age. When you’re 18, you’re far more fearless and more likely to have your parents support while you take three to five years out of full-time work. This might be why the average age of the student has climbed to 27.5 years old. While first-year students at campus universities may all seem like fresh-faced 18-year-olds, this may be in part because older students are generally less visible. It’s estimated that half of students are in part-time study. This makes online courses the ideal solution for those who can’t afford to launch into a campus lifestyle the way they did when they were younger. Responsibility and lifestyle have seen education methods bend around students’ needs, rather than the other way round.

Application of technology

The use of technology is becoming increasingly interwoven with modern degrees simply because current students have grown up with it and are far more capable with their use of it. Nowadays, students are learning how to code in infancy as well as in high school, which means that by the time they reach adulthood, they already have an extra string to their bow – without even really knowing it. This, in turn, means that degrees can integrate this skill, and some of the more technologically-based subjects will have to adapt to this computer-savvy generation.

The decade of the multipotentiality

‘Multipotentialite’is certainly a bit of a millennial phrase, but is summarizes the attitudes of those who have many career options ahead of them. While studying, many students take up work that is related to another interest of theirs, perhaps with the intention of combining the two interests. This is often the result of being exceptionally gifted academically or having many interests. For example, if you took up a degree in criminology, and also volunteered in the local magazine during your studies, you would be able to combine the two later on seamlessly. Press releases and police reports would suddenly become much easier to comprehend. Or, while you study for a long-term career, you might keep up an extra interest in artwork and design – purely for your own benefit. This approach of keeping many doors open allows modern students to keep an open mind and maintain their enjoyment of hobbies and interests.

The increase in keeping doors open for new career opportunities might also be the result of developing technologies and industries. Nowadays, your degree might not be destined for a straightforward career path. Many students go into college fearing the prospect of a competitive marketplace once they leave. However, by gaining as much experience as possible, you will leave with a resume that looks far healthier than someone who only studied and partied. Applying your degree to any other qualifications or previous degrees could also help you to discover a niche that could make you a qualified expert.

Inclusivity

While the world still has some improvement to make in inclusivity across the LGBT+ and BAME demographics, there is certainly progress being made. Colleges are often renowned for being progressive places for self-expression, which has seen some universities excel at welcoming minorities and communities. While this is not consistent across all colleges, it is something that can be changed from within. It has been said that colleges should not wait for a governmental lead on inclusivity; it is something that should come from the institution itself. It means that regardless of the government’s current stance on any community, the university you study with still has the capacity to become inclusive. It gives societies and pressure groups a real opportunity to not only make a difference but make life much easier for students who want to be free to be themselves while they study. While no college is perfect, and there is still plenty more work to be done in this field, this makes colleges a far more enjoyable place to be compared to previous generations’ experiences.

Not the beginning of adulthood

The fact that many adults are now postponing their education, or are switching their industry up in later life, means that when adulthood truly begins is a tad blurred. Nowadays, students don’t leave university to fall straight into a family with children and a stable career. Many 18-29-year-olds feel as if they are trapped in a sort of flux in the sense that they feel as if they are not quite in adulthood. It is not surprising when you consider that newer generations of living with their parents until much later in life, as well as having children and marrying. If you decide to be a student in 2019, at whichever age, you may find yourself joining this ‘in-between’ demographic. It isn’t necessarily a bad thing; it just signifies that you haven’t yet put all your eggs in one basket. Keeping your career prospects at any age is a valuable mindset to have.

Some things never change

Whichever path you take to get your degree, you can trust that some aspects of being a student will absolutely not have changed. Being a student opens your mind up to new opportunities, new people, and a budget-friendly way of living that will make you a far savvier spender. While you will have ups and downs through your student experience (perhaps not getting a test grade you wanted or a bad semester), these will all shape you for the better as a student. Studying from home may help you to dodge some of these, but many campus residents will experience the inevitable:

• The feeling of jubilation when you finally receive your degree.
• Being prone to illness if you start at a campus university – stock up on cold and flu medication!
• The odd terrible roommate and squabble over relatively insignificant issues
• The nifty budgeting tricks you will need to implement to make the most of your food budget that week – toast may play a significant role here

Being a student in 2019 may be different from how it looked a few generations back, but many aspects are still the same. The stress of studying and late-night revision sessions are a reality whether you’re in a campus library or a single mother who is studying around her full-time job and family life. Being a student may not always involve a baggy cardigan and party lifestyle, but it should always include passion and a drive to succeed – whether that’s in the comfort of your family home or in the dorm of a student building.

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August 5, 2019