Survey Indicates College Students Studying Less than Professors Expect

A November 10, 2008 USA Today article reports that, according to a study recently conducted by the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), many college students (more than one-third of seniors and one-fourth of freshmen) indicate they receive A's even though they are frequently unprepared for class. While the study does not explain why students may not be studying (e.g., busy schedules, laziness, or the ability to grasp the subject matter without preparation), it does indicate that college students are not completing tasks expected by their professors. Among students surveyed, the average amount of time spent studying each week is about 3 1/2 hours; most college professors would expect students to study twice as much.

The article is available at the USA Today Web site.