Beloit College’s Mindset List, published annually since 1998, aims to “identify the worldview” of 18-year-olds arriving at colleges across the country. The list is an eclectic (and faintly nostalgic) mix of cultural contexts for most new college students born in 1994.
“This year’s entering college class of 2016 was born into cyberspace and they have therefore measured their output in the fundamental particles of life: bits, bytes, and bauds,” says the Aug. 21 news release from Beloit College’s (Wis.) Mindset List for the Class of 2016. “They have come to political consciousness during a time of increasing doubts about America’s future, and are entering college bombarded by questions about jobs and the value of a college degree.”
Technology-related views this year for incoming freshmen include:
- They have always lived in cyberspace, addicted to a new generation of “electronic narcotics.”
- They watch television everywhere but on a television.
- A significant percentage of them will enter college already displaying some hearing loss.
- Having grown up with MP3s and iPods, they never listen to music on the car radio and really have no use for radio at all.
- If they miss The Daily Show, they can always get their news on YouTube.
- Before they purchase an assigned textbook, they will investigate whether it is available for rent or purchase as an e-book.
- Outdated icons with images of floppy discs for “save,” a telephone for “phone,” and a snail mail envelope for “mail” have oddly decorated their tablets and smartphone screens.
The complete Mindset List for the Class of 2016 is at www.beloit.edu/mindset/2016 and also on the official website at themindsetlist.com.
The official site also has a Guide to the Class of 2016 “prepared especially for counselors and teachers”; a daily quiz; the complete list of mindsets; a blog; and links to other venues including the book (The Mindset Lists of American History), public radio (Mindset Moments), Facebook (The Mindset List), and Twitter (@MindsetList).
