New Zealand tertiary students expect to be receiving high salaries and view their mums as the coolest people in their lives, according to a recent Colmar Brunton poll.
Colmar Brunton is New Zealand’s most notable market research company, and was established in 1981.
The poll of 220 New Zealand tertiary students surveyed opinions on a wide range of matters, from expected salaries after university to sources of news.
It appeared that more than a fifth (22%) of those surveyed expect to be earning over $100,000 by the age of 30 while three-quarters anticipate earning at least $60,000. This is out of step with Statistics New Zealand’s recording of the average yearly income for those with a bachelor’s degree or higher at just over $57,000 per year.
Colmar Brunton youth specialist and qualitative research director Spencer Wills said the findings came as no surprise given annual fee increases. “Today’s students are ambitious and now expect a high return on their studies.”
However this ambition proved unrealistic to some, including politics student Josh who predicted, “some students have high expectations. The others will be getting BAs.” Lottie, a communications student, personally hoped to be “earning nothing” by the time she was 30 and would rather be utilising her degree as a full-time mum.
The poll suggested students retain their family ties, with 15% of respondents viewing their mum as the “coolest person in their lives”, ahead of their favourite musicians and actors. Dads, however, trailed behind in sixth place with only 6% of the votes...
Students unrealistic, possibly Oedipal
