Young Americans Still Somewhat Optimistic Despite Bleak Economic Outlook

A new poll released by Young Invincibles, a non-partisan, non-profit youth organization that seeks to expand opportunity for all Americans ages 18-34, and Demos, a non-partisan public policy research and advocacy organization, reveals some startling statistics about young Americans in the current economy.

In a press call Wednesday, pollsters said this latest poll is the most comprehensive look at how young Americans view the current economy and the future.

Despite bleak findings, young Americans appear optimistic about the future.

Of the 872 young people ages 18-34 polled, 48 percent believe that their generation will be worse off than their parents’ generation. Only 22 percent expect a better economic standing for their generation. Interestingly, it was whites who were the most pessimistic; 55 percent expect worse conditions than their parents and a mere 12 percent believe their generation will be better off. Despite these views, few have given up the hope of achieving the “American Dream.” 77 percent of young people believe they can personally achieve the American Dream, and this belief held equally across the races polled.

Only 51 percent of the participants in the poll believe that all Americans have an equal shot at being successful. 31 percent believe that you are born into one economic group and are likely to stay there. Men were more optimistic on this front than were women.

13 percent of those polled are completely unemployed and only half of young workers have seen increased earnings over the past four years.

The press call focused on the fact that graduation rates are low with a national average of around 55 percent. Aaron Smith of Young Invincibles pointed to the fact that student debt is climbing at alarming rates. Two-thirds of students today have some student loan debt, compared with just one-third in the 90s. Student loan default rates are at 9 percent.

Smith also pointed out that the United States now ranks only 12^th in the world for having associates degrees or higher education.

The study also asked the political affiliations of the participations. Democrats held the advantage here. 40 percent said they identified as a Democrat, only 23 percent identified as a Republican, and 18 percent identified as Independents.

The young people polled showed strong agreement in the policies Congress should be focusing on. Number one on the list was job creation and growing the economy. Also among the top priorities was making a college education more affordable and making post-high school education and training more affordable.

This poll data could have implications for the 2012 election. 66 percent of participants said they were ‘very likely’ to vote in the presidential election Here, Republicans held a slight advantage. 76 percent said they were likely to turn out, compared to 66 percent of Democrats and 55 percent of Independents.

U-M wants smaller class size

Bad news for seniors applying to the University of Michigan next year: admissions wants smaller class size.

According to annarbor.com, U-M seeks to enroll approximately 5,970 students next year. That’s less than the 6,251 and 6,496 admitted in 2011 and 2010 respectively. Despite the fact that the number of students accepted is going up, getting in is getting tougher. The number of students applying has also gone up also, so U-M admissions rates (those applied v. those accepted) are actually falling.

Because of its switch to the common application, U-M expects a record of over 40,000 students to apply.

This year, there are over 27,000 undergraduates enrolled at U-M, but admissions wants to see that fall to somewhere around 25,000. The easiest way to do that is to take fewer students for next year’s freshman class.

We think we’re immune

College students (and perhaps all of us) suffer from “it won’t happen to me” syndrome.

In recent months, Ann Arbor has experienced an increase in crime. After six sexual assaults in the month of July, the FBI was called in to help the Ann Arbor Police Department with an investigation. The University of Michigan’s Department of Public Safety also hired a new safety director. So far, no leads have been developed (or have not been made public). Move-in welcomed a new slew of crimes, including one which happened right on the Diag, the center of U-M’s campus.

Despite this news, no one on campus seems worried.

I’ve received countless warnings to “be careful” from my parents, my friends parents, administrators, counselors, the list goes on and on. But honestly, I roll my eyes and say “I know!” Sure, students here are a little concerned. After all, it’s not everyday that the FBI comes to town. Must be a big deal, right?

But even when we know the victims of these crimes, as some of my friends do, we still don’t really think it will happen to us. And anyway, why live scared?

While students may not be taking the crime wave seriously, U-M’s response to the crisis has been scattered. Students on campus receive email updates about all the attacks that have occurred. Emails are received with the subject line: CRIME ALERT.

Some of these alerts are just silly. For example, one crime alert I received described the suspect (who may or may not have been armed) as a black male, possibly bald or with dreadlocks. [Emphasis added].

It’s hard to take things seriously when it is so plainly obvious that the university has no idea what’s going on. Bald and dreadlocks are quite possibly the two least similar hairstyles a person could have.

Another recent crime alert had the description of the suspect as four fraternity brothers who stole a watch:

1) White male, 20-21 years, 6’2″-6’3″ wearing a white baseball hat with Greek letters worn backwards and a polo shirt
2) White male, 20-21 years, 6′, wearing shorts and red polo shirt
3) White male, 20-21 years, 6’1″, wearing shorts and shirt
4) White male, 20-21 years, 6’1″, with dark brown or black hair

Most students that talked about this crime alert laughed it off as some fraternity brothers goofing around.

I’m not trying to diminish the severity of the attacks, which I’m sure were awful for the victims. But most students on campus think nothing will happen to them.