Thursday, August 28, 2008

This Year's College Freshmen Class

Each year Beloit College distributes their Mindset List and this year's was just released. The Mindset List gives a glimpse into the worldview of the nation's 18 year olds and the world they grew up in. The complete list for the class of 2012 can be found here, but here are some things that stood out to me:


  • GPS satellite navigation systems have always been available.
  • Coke and Pepsi have always used recycled plastic bottles.
  • Shampoo and conditioner have always been available in the same bottle.
  • Gas stations have never fixed flats, but most serve cappuccino.
  • Electronic filing of tax returns has always been an option.
  • Universal Studios has always offered an alternative to Mickey in Orlando.
  • WWW has never stood for World Wide Wrestling.
  • Films have never been X rated, only NC-17.
  • Students have always been "Rocking the Vote.”
  • Clarence Thomas has always sat on the Supreme Court.
  • Schools have always been concerned about multiculturalism.
  • IBM has never made typewriters.
  • The Tonight Show has always been hosted by Jay Leno and started at 11:35 EST.
  • They may have been given a Nintendo Game Boy to play with in the crib.
  • Authorities have always been building a wall across the Mexican border.
  • Macaulay Culkin has always been Home Alone.
  • Caller ID has always been available on phones.
  • The Green Bay Packers (almost) always had the same starting quarterback.
  • Soft drink refills have always been free.
  • They have never known life without Seinfeld references from a show about “nothing.”
  • Windows 3.0 operating system made IBM PCs user-friendly the year they were born.
  • 98.6 F or otherwise has always been confirmed in the ear.
  • Radio stations have never been required to present both sides of public issues.

    • This list always makes me feel old...

        2 comments:

        joe said...

        you forgot to add the Detroit Lions have always been a bad football team...

        scottmcrocker said...

        Yes, that may be true, but it would be kinda redundant to be posting that every year since the class of 1976 entered college.