EDUCATION : Recession Found Affecting Student Choices : 1991 freshmen were more likely to pick a school for its cost. Survey shows rise in liberals--and smokers.

A greater proportion of 1991 college freshmen than in the past consider themselves politically liberal, choose schools according to costs and financial aid rather than academic quality and look toward careers in medicine rather than business or law, the 26th annual American Freshmen Survey shows.

They also drink less beer but are continuing to smoke more.

About 210,000 freshmen at 430 colleges and universities nationwide were polled. The results showed that, compared to last year, more plan to work while in school and a greater proportion of them expect to pursue doctoral degrees.

Beyond specific attitudes, the survey also found some striking trends.

“The one thing that stands out most is how the economic and social situation has affected students, not only their career and major choices, but also how they picked colleges,” said Eric L. Dey, associate director of the Cooperative Institutional Research Program, co-sponsor of the study with the American Council on Education.

POLITICAL TREND: Contrary to many recent reports of a growing conservatism among young people on college campuses today, the survey found the percentage who categorized themselves as politically liberal or far left rose for the second straight year, to almost 26% from about 24%. At the same time, the proportion of conservatives, or far-right students, continued to decline, to 20% from 23% in 1989.

“Students are starting to feel insecure. They hear how hard it is to get jobs, they see the work environment of their parents. And today’s freshmen are the children of the generation of the ‘60s and ‘70s and somewhat reflect the politics of their parents,” explained David Merkowitz, president of the American Council on Education.

The survey also showed the percentage of freshmen who frequently smoke cigarettes increasing again, after declining by nearly half between 1966 and 1987.

The percentage of students reporting they frequently or occasionally drink beer continues to decline, from a peak in 1981, and is now down to 57.3%, the study found. “Students today are only slightly more likely to drink beer than those who entered college in the mid-1960s,” the report said.

In the current economic climate, students are opting for so-called safe careers, occupations for which they think demand will be steady, rather than others that are higher risk, Dey said.

For example, careers in health and medicine are increasingly popular choices among freshmen. Student interest in majoring in these fields rose for the fourth straight year and reached a record level of almost 13% in 1991, compared to 7% in 1987. Nursing careers also reached a record high level of popularity, at 5% in 1991, up from 2% in 1987--an all-time low.

Dey said the emerging interest in the health fields is part of a larger, growing trend to altruism among younger people. Today’s freshmen seem to be more optimistic about their ability to influence society, the survey found. The report cited a steep drop in the number of students agreeing that “an individual can do little to bring about changes in our society,” from a peak of 47.9% in 1975 to 31.3% last year, the lowest point ever.

ECONOMIC EFFECT: The poor state of the nation’s economy may be dissuading students from entering business. The percentage of those studying for business careers was the lowest since 1975, according to the survey. Interest in business fields doubled between 1966 and 1987 (from 11.6% to 25.6%), but only 15.6% of 1991 freshmen planned to work in business, compared to 24.6% four years before. Student interest in business-related majors also declined to 18% in 1991, from 27% in 1987 and 21% last year.

Interest in law degrees also dropped off for the third year, to 4.4%, from a record high level of 5% in 1988.

The number who said concern for their financial future swayed their decision to go to college reached an all-time high. Three-quarters of those surveyed said a very important reason for them to go to college was to be able to make more money, but in selecting a school, more were basing the choice on cost .

More than at any time since the last recession, in 1982, students said difficulty of finding a job was a “very important” reason for attending college. The percentage who said they would have to work to help pay for college rose for a second year, and the percentage expecting to work full-time while in school rose for a third straight year, to almost 5%.

What Freshmen Think

More freshmen are identifying themselves as liberal and are citing financial reasons for choosing a college, a survey found.

Changing political views of college freshmen.

Liberal/Far left: 1991--25.7%

Conservative/Far Right: 1991--20.3%

Characteristics cited as very important in selecting a college.

‘81 ’86 ’91 Offered financial assistance 15.4% 21.5% 27.8% College has low tuition 17.7 22.4 27.7 Wanted to live near home NA 18.8 21.4

Source: 26th Annual American Freshman Survey