In some ways, 2008 isn’t all that different from, say, 1982, according to a study of 19,036 students from 370 schools, by the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

Eighty-seven percent of 2008 graduates expected to work more than 40 hours a week. Lo and behold, the exact same percentage, 87, of the class of 1982 also expected to work more than 40.

There’s more evidence that work/life balance isn’t any more important than it ever was. Nowadays, 40 percent of grads are willing to spend six or more nights away from home each month, for their job. Back when “Eye of the Tiger” and “Down Under” topped the charts, only 34 percent were willing.

In both generations, graduates rated family, health, happiness, and ethics as more important than the job. Not so for community, free time, and vacation — all of which were not deemed more important than the job, by both generations.