2008 Woodie Awards
Study Habits of Yeshiva Students
New Study Sheds Light on Student Behavior
Gadi Dotz
Issue date: 12/6/04 Section: Features
- Page 1 of 2 next >
Reaching for that cup of coffee so you can stay awake to study? If you're like most college students in this country, probably not.
According to the recent National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), in which over 160,000 freshmen and seniors from 472 schools across the country participated, less than eleven percent of undergraduate students spend more than 25 hours a week preparing for their classes. In fact, forty-four percent reported studying less than ten hours a week.
Despite the trend to study less, however, students' grades do not seem to have suffered. According to the survey, over 80 percent of them reported receiving mostly A's or B's. The NSSE also rated what it calls undergraduate "engagement," or student participation in school activities and campus life. It found a significant improvement in students' overall college experience, with almost 90 percent giving it a "good" to "excellent" rating.
The NSSE measured aspects of student life in order to provide colleges with an idea of how their students behave in and outside of the classroom. The study showed that very few students attended cultural events outside of school, and that most undergraduates used television as their primary news source rather than newspapers or magazines. Also, many students reported that they did not discuss their assignments or reading outside of class with either peers or faculty. Additionally, a significant number of undergraduates reported that they spent no time exercising.
So where does Yeshiva stack up in relation to other colleges across the United States? It's anyone's guess. Yeshiva College did not participate in the NSSE study, and even if it had, the NSSE does not disclose information about individual schools.
The Commentator conducted a small survey of ten random Yeshiva students to determine if the NSSE's findings were relevant to students at Yeshiva, particulary since they must balance a dual curriculum.
According to the recent National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), in which over 160,000 freshmen and seniors from 472 schools across the country participated, less than eleven percent of undergraduate students spend more than 25 hours a week preparing for their classes. In fact, forty-four percent reported studying less than ten hours a week.
Despite the trend to study less, however, students' grades do not seem to have suffered. According to the survey, over 80 percent of them reported receiving mostly A's or B's. The NSSE also rated what it calls undergraduate "engagement," or student participation in school activities and campus life. It found a significant improvement in students' overall college experience, with almost 90 percent giving it a "good" to "excellent" rating.
The NSSE measured aspects of student life in order to provide colleges with an idea of how their students behave in and outside of the classroom. The study showed that very few students attended cultural events outside of school, and that most undergraduates used television as their primary news source rather than newspapers or magazines. Also, many students reported that they did not discuss their assignments or reading outside of class with either peers or faculty. Additionally, a significant number of undergraduates reported that they spent no time exercising.
So where does Yeshiva stack up in relation to other colleges across the United States? It's anyone's guess. Yeshiva College did not participate in the NSSE study, and even if it had, the NSSE does not disclose information about individual schools.
The Commentator conducted a small survey of ten random Yeshiva students to determine if the NSSE's findings were relevant to students at Yeshiva, particulary since they must balance a dual curriculum.