College Isn’t What It Used to Be: How the Experience Has Changed Since the ’90s
College has always been a time of growth, challenge, and transformation—but the experience today is drastically different than it was just a generation ago. If you're a parent who attended college in the 1990s, you might be surprised by just how much has changed—and why supporting your student today may look different than it did back then.
Whether your child is heading to UNC Chapel Hill, another North Carolina university, or a college out of state, understanding how the college experience has evolved can help ease guilt and strengthen your connection.
1. The Cell Phone Shift: Staying in Touch Is Constant—But Not Always Connecting
In the 1990s, once a student moved into their dorm, they might call home once a week from a hallway payphone. Today’s students carry their phones with them 24/7, and staying in touch is just a text or FaceTime away.
While this makes connection easier, it also makes staying in a comfort zone easier. Rather than pushing themselves to meet new people in person, some students default to texting high school friends or scrolling social media—trading real-time relationships for a digital safety net.
2. The Social Media Mirror: Constant Comparison Is the New Norm
Social media creates a curated feed of highlight reels—perfect outfits, friend groups, events, and dorm décor. For a homesick or anxious student, this constant stream of “everyone else is doing great” can be overwhelming.
Back in the day, if you were having a rough week, you weren’t bombarded with other people’s perfectly edited college experiences. Today’s students need to navigate a much noisier, comparison-driven environment—and that’s not easy.
3. Academic Expectations Have Evolved
Remember spending hours in the library with highlighters and stacks of books? Today, students are expected to produce multimedia projects, interactive presentations, and professional-grade work—often on tight timelines. The pace is faster, and the tools are more complex, from collaborative online platforms to AI tools like ChatGPT.
Students are still writing papers and studying for tests, but the skills expected of them now include design, digital communication, and often even video editing.
4. Financial Pressures Are Higher Than Ever
The cost of college today is significantly higher than it was in the ’90s—and that’s not just tuition. The lifestyle expectations around food, clothing, and social events have grown too.
While previous generations might have lived on ramen noodles and thrifted hoodies, many students now feel social pressure to keep up with expensive outings and brand-name purchases. It’s more common than ever for students to feel like they’re falling behind financially, no matter their background.
5. Time Management Isn’t a Given Anymore
Many of today’s college students grew up with packed schedules—sports, clubs, tutoring, and more. Once they arrive on campus, they’re suddenly met with unstructured time and few external rules. This can lead to stress and burnout as students try to figure out how to balance their freedom with responsibility.
In the ’90s, we were used to navigating downtime and figuring things out without an app or planner telling us what came next. Today’s students are still learning how to manage their time independently—and that takes practice.
6. Sleep, Screens, and Constant Stimulation
College students have always struggled with sleep, but the rise of smartphones and streaming services has added a new layer of difficulty. Instead of falling asleep after a late-night chat with a roommate, many students are up scrolling, watching, or gaming into the early morning hours.
This constant stimulation can lead to exhaustion, anxiety, and emotional burnout, especially for students already navigating big life changes.
7. College Feels More High-Stakes Than Ever
With rising costs, competitive internships, and resume-building starting in freshman year, students often feel immense pressure to “make the most” of every opportunity. That stress can leave them feeling isolated or discouraged—especially if they’re not sure where they fit in just yet.
Parents feel it too. With so much invested, it’s natural to want to help your student succeed in every way possible.
And Yet… Some Things Haven’t Changed at All
What hasn’t changed? That proud, tender feeling parents get when they watch their child grow into themselves. That mix of pride, love, and awe when they see their student overcome a challenge or find their community.
So if you're texting more often than your parents did, sending the occasional care package, or reminding your child that they’ve always been brave and resourceful—you’re not overstepping. You’re evolving with the times.
Being there from afar doesn't mean you're holding them back. It means you're cheering them on.