Two-Thirds of Millennials Are Not Established in Their Studies

By: Daniel Steingold | May 31, 2016

A new survey conducted by higher education authority Jeffrey J. Selingo was detailed in-depth within the Harvard Business Review.

Selingo, who conducted the research for a new book he’s releasing, found that there is a lot of variance in terms of work success and achievement for individuals in their 20s. This variance is more predicated upon one’s habits during college than the institution that they end up choosing.

Selingo places grads transitioning into the workforce into of three categories: Sprinters, Wanderers, or Stragglers.

Sprinters are those who advance or succeed in the workforce almost immediately after graduation. They make up 35 percent of graduates, according to Selingo, and they are generally very active and involved in college. 80 percent complete internships, 64 percent chose and kept an initial major, and many managed their student debt.

Wanderers are the 32 percent who take time to start their career, often going through the motions in college. Upon graduation, only about 20 percent actually work in their intended field.

Lastly, stragglers are those who still don’t have a degree in their mid-20s. This phenomenon is rather common, with 12.5 million individuals in their 20s possessing college credits, but no degree.

Selingo proposes that the solution to this epidemic is to take time to evaluate all options before enrolling in a four-year program. Community colleges or trade schools can be viable options, and for four-year students, it is essential to attain soft skills, such as critical thinking, problem solving, and the ability to work in teams.


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