In the days of eight-track tapes and vinyl records, college freshmen hit the road to college with little more than a turntable and an alarm clock. Today's freshmen are decidedly more techno-laden.
NFO Research Inc. of Eden Prairie, Minn., surveyed 612 people - half who entered college in 1967, and the rest who started school last year. The survey was sponsored by the Best Buy retail chain. Here's a look at what they're packing into the family station wagon, er, van.
Q. Looking back to your freshman year, if you could only have one thing in your dorm room, which one of these would you choose?
Freshmen (1967) .. .. .. .. ..Freshmen (1997)
23% Typewriter .. .. .. .. .. 39% Computer/word processor
23% Alarm clock .. .. .. .. . 23% Stereo equipment
19% Stereo equipment .. .. .. 13% Television
17% Minirefrigerator .. .. .. 12% Alarm clock
12% Television .. .. .. .. ... 6% Minirefrigerator
Q: Indicate all the components of the stereo you took to college
Freshmen (1967) .. .. .. .. ..Freshmen (1997)
45% Did not have a stereo ... 72% CD player
41% Turntable .. .. .. .. ... 59% Radio
38% Radio .. .. .. .. .. .. . 58% Cassette deck
19% Big speakers .. .. .. ... 32% Big speakers
17% Eight-track player .. ... 24% Boombox
12% Cassette deck .. .. .. .. 16% Did not have a stereo
Q: How many music albums (CDs, cassettes, etc.) did you take to college freshman year?
Freshmen (1967) .. .. .. .. ..Freshmen (1997)
69% 0 to 10 .. .. .. .. .. .. 46% 10 to 50
28% 10 to 50 .. .. .. .. .. . 24% 0 to 10
4% 50 to 100 .. .. .. .. .. . 22% 50 to 100
Q: How did you primarily pay for college?
Freshmen (1967) .. .. .. .. ..Freshmen (1997)
34% Paid for it myself .. ... 31% Student loans
22% Parents paid for most ... 22% Parents paid for most
18% Parents paid all .. .. .. 21% Scholarships
15% Student loans .. .. .. .. 18% Parents paid all
12% Scholarships .. .. .. ... 10% Paid for it myself
Researcher in Minnesota surveyed 306 students entering universities in 1967 and 306 who began college studies last year.
Pub Date: 9/07/98