I think the best of the youngsters who go through school these days have an independence and an ability to speak for themselves that I never acquired through my schooling (1955 through 1966). What worries me is the paucity of factual knowledge they seem have.
I know there's a lot of emphasis on not imposing our view of the world on the next generation because after all "there are no real facts, it's all opinion". Well as far as I'm concerned Geography where kids don't learn where the continents and the countries are and where the major mountain ranges and rivers are, isn't Geography. Ditto History, if you don't get a sense of the overall sweep of what's gone on in the world since people started writing down what happened round about them. Maths seems to have escaped to a degree, but English has suffered greatly. No emphasis on spelling, vocabulary, reading and writing for information or appreciation of the beauty that exists in a language well spoken.
Thankfully the best of our children realise the deficiencies for themselves and go looking for better sources. Unfortunately the others come away with their ignorance and shallowness apparently validated by a certificate that isn't worth the paper it's written on.
I think most mature students would stand a great chance of making the grade in a modern university - but be prepared for lots of arguments!