American Notes YOUTH, PART 1

Reports that greed is dead are greatly exaggerated, according to a nationwide survey of college freshmen. Seventy-six percent of 210,000 students declared that being financially well off is an "essential" or "very important goal" in their lives. Just 39% placed a premium on creating a "meaningful philosophy of life." That was the lowest proportion in the 22-year history of the annual survey, sponsored by the American Council on Education and the Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA.

Yet 8% of the students said they intend to become teachers -- the highest number since 1982. "Teaching careers have regained attractiveness because of all the attention focused on education," explains the study's director, Alexander Astin.