My son has also been surprised by how half-hearted many of the other students are. They clearly plan to live at home and study as a long-term occupation.
Discussion
I think many of them are also pushed by their parents into this "life". And that's the deal between them. Sickening.
Especially in Germany, Switzerland and probably other countries too we have apprenticeships as a very valuable alternative to a university with ways to earn higher degrees later on.
Many parents "demand" that their "geniuses" have to go studying. Therefore the state lowers the entrance examinations to accommodate their donors and voters. This weakens the whole higher educational system and then we are wondering where the "smart" people have gone.