U.S.

2013

Uncertainty in a Time of Transition

Richard C. Burke Ivanovo State University October 2013

Whats life like in America today?

If you woke up tomorrow in the US,

what would you find?

outline

Where youd live What youd have What youd worry about What youd believe What youd be glad of What your college would be like

WHERE YOUD LIVE

Home

two-parent household own their home 66%

64%

average number of children 1.9 population under 18 23.5% births to unwed mothers 41% average age at first birth 25 years mothers with outside jobs 64% average income $50,000

How big is the U.S.?

Population in 2012
U.S.:

313,914,040 143,500,000

Russia:

9 cities over 1 million Land area

U.S.:

3.8 million miles2 / 9.8 million km2 6.6 million miles2 / 17 million

Russia:

km2

WHAT YOUD HAVE

Economic conditions

largest economy in the world highest income inequality in the developed world

The rich get richer

Low hopes for jobs and income

Social mobility and the American Dream

Material well-being

Americans buy lots of stuff

For

the majority of contemporary Americans, the essence of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness centers on a relentless personal quest to acquire, to consume, to indulge. . . .

Andrew J. Bacevich, The Limits of Power (2008)

America has long been like this

A native of the United States clings to this world's goods as if he were certain never to die; and he is so hasty in grasping at all within his reach that one would suppose he was constantly afraid of not living long enough to enjoy them.
Alexis

de Tocqueville (pt. 2, ch. 13)

happiness depends on what you own

Americans own

homes: cars:

67% 90% of households

cell phones: 91% (18-29 = 97%) computers: 75% (teenagers = 80%) mp3 player: 43%

Americans own

homes: cars:

67% 90% of households

cell phones: 91% (18-29 = 97%) computers: 75% (teenagers = 80%) mp3 player: 43%

Americans owe
$7,084 credit card debt per household (2013)

WHAT YOUD WORRY ABOUT

America leads the world . . .

people in prison guns

2.4 million 17.9%

300 million

spending on health care GDP

Costs of health care

Total Health Expenditure per Capita, U.S. and Selected Countries, 2008

Do-it-yourself

Politics in America

divided non-productive irresponsible reliance on partisan news sources

American exceptionalism

belief that U.S. is fundamentally different that U.S. is morally superior, morally right believed God favors the US

conviction 20%

WHAT YOUD BELIEVE

Religion

83% of Americans follow some religion

78.4%
51.3% 23.95% <0.3%

are Christian
Roman Catholic

Protestant Russian Orthodox

many benefits can mean inflexible certainty

2013

47% strongly agree that the Bible contains everything a person needs to know to live a meaningful life.

Will Jesus return in the next 40 years?

Evolution

WHAT YOUD BE GLAD OF

Good news about America

racial progress womens rights gay rights other minority rights

but

not workers rights

environmental awareness

Sports

American football baseball basketball automobile racing hockey soccer, softball, field hockey, tennis, volleyball, swimmingpopular to do more than to watch

Highest paid public employees

WHAT YOUR COLLEGE WOULD BE LIKE

If you wake up in America

Youll want to go to college

College in America

gateway to financial success numbers

2,774 1,721

four-year institutions two-year institutions

students
20.3 14.6

million students total million students full-time

(2010)

College basics

4 years 18-22 years old often away from home pre-college credit transferring

Small colleges and large

teaching or research personal or anonymous class size majors available faculty emphasis on teaching or research

Choosing a college

the search campus visits national tests: SATs or ACTs looking for a good fit getting accepted: April 1st

Paying for college

up to $60,000+ per year average family pays about $20,000 financial aid

merit based need based

loans jobs

Coursework

120 credit hours to graduate

40

courses education: 10-20 courses

3 main parts of the curriculum:

general major: other:

12-24 courses 2nd major, minor, electives

What courses to take

choose among options

general major all

education

else

some choice in when you take a course lots of choices for students who want them

English major at Lynchburg College

needed to graduate

124 hours

general education 51 hours English courses 36 hours total specifically required 87 hours remaining 37 hours

courses involve

lecture and discussion group work, in and out of class multiple assignments range of assignments

Lots of assignments25 here

In class

careful preparation student participation developing course-related skills as well as content (essential facts) emphasizing intellectual exploration often rather informal

Out of class

reading writing doing exercises or problem sets online research, simulations, calculating, videos, etc. posting online, sending emails, etc.

Other characteristics

academic advising course support co-curricular activities parents not involved

College life

assume that it will be fun, pleasant dormitory living / campus area living campus organizations fraternities and sororities volunteering: making a difference college sports

Other common activities

music: live and downloads Netflix binges drinking sex spring break traditions

General attitudes

brains dont matter much seeking jobs, not wisdom expect four good years often stressful can create loyalty entry to adulthood

What the future holds

What the future holds We dont know.