Beloit College's Annual "Mindset" List

Beloit College's annual Mindset List aims to "identify the worldview of 18-year olds in the fall of 2009." It is assembled by two professors who don't just list what happened in 1991, but help readers to understand the mindset of college freshman by listing " experiences and event horizons" of students.* It also isn't meant to make the reader feel old. It is a mix of both humorous and somber points of reference. A few of my favorites:

• They have never used a card catalog to find a book.
• Chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream has always been a flavor choice.
• Text has always been hyper.
• Bungee jumping has always been socially acceptable.
• American students have always lived anxiously with high-stakes educational testing. (not a favorite, but worth mentioning)
• The European Union has always existed
• The American health care system has always been in critical condition.
• Women have always outnumbered men in college.
• There has always been a Cartoon Network.
• They have never been Saved by the Bell.
• Official racial classifications in South Africa have always been outlawed.
• Nobody has ever responded to “Help, I’ve fallen and I can’t get up.”

And finally (although this wasn't on the list, it was mentioned in the Inside Higher Ed article) most college freshman have never lived in a world with Freddie Mercury, front man of the band Queen. I bet most college freshman are somewhat familiar with many of Queen's songs through ads their dominance as sports anthems. Or maybe college freshman would know Queen through their prominent role in the movie Wayne's World. Oh wait, Wayne's World came out in 1992. Wow, this article brings me back to my younger days!

ABOUT BELOIT COLLEGE

I had the opportunity to visit Beloit College this past April as a part of the wonderful Counselors Observing Wisconsin Schools (C.O.W.S) Tour, which also included visits to Marquette University, University of Wisconsin at Madison, Ripon College and Lawrence University. The tour allowed for in-depth visits at each of the five schools and gave me a great deal insight into the kinds of students that would be great matches for the schools. It was also my very first time to Wisconsin! My only complaint about the tour would be that I didn't get to experience any local Wisconsin cuisine.

I loved Beloit College! It had a beautiful campus and thoughtful students, and I can see it appealing to students applying to other smaller liberal arts colleges in the midwest like Lawrence, Oberlin, Kenyon, and Grinnell. A few quick things that really stood out to me about Beloit: their new Center for the Sciences building (LEED certified), the high percentage of international students, the ease with which students pursued their interests across numerous disciplines, and their amazing and funny director of admissions, Jim Zielinski.

*with the understanding that the students have widely varying backgrounds and the list is not meant to apply to all students and knowldege of these subjects is not meant to reflect upon students' preparatory education.