#Pandemic_generation

A growing body of research and firsthand reports suggests an unsettling pattern: students who leave high school with solid grades are arriving at university underprepared for the academic demands of college. A Slate parenting column that opened with a family’s struggle — where a daughter with strong high‑school marks lost her scholarship after a difficult first semester and a sibling now faces uncertainty — reflects a wider trend educators and researchers are sounding the alarm about (Slate advice column). ( There’s an Alarming Trend Happening at Our Kids’ High School. I Need to Stop It. )

Thai families are confronting a troubling trend: outstanding high school transcripts no longer reliably predict university preparedness. Global researchers and university leaders note that strong grades can mask real gaps in readiness, leading to course failures, lost scholarships, and crushed confidence once students begin higher education. The shift directly affects Thai families whose hopes for social mobility hinge on a demanding but predictable path through university study.

In Thailand, the pattern mirrors wider education trends. For decades, families invested heavily in academic excellence, viewing admission to a reputed institution as a passport to secure careers. When transcripts misrepresent readiness, consequences ripple through household plans and finances. Thai students now enter universities that question traditional GPA signals and increasingly emphasize broader evaluations to gauge true capability.