Crossword Genius

What students want to be study­ing, having dropped Latin? (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

earning

'what students want to be' is the definition.
(students might want to be earning money)

'studying having dropped latin?' is the wordplay.
'studying' becomes 'learning' ('learn' can be a synonym of 'study').
'having dropped' is a deletion indicator.
'latin?' becomes 'l'.
'learning' with 'l' taken out is 'EARNING'.

(Other definitions for earning that I've seen before include "Realising" , "Receiving in return for work" , "Gaining by working" , "Gaining by work" , "Getting" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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