As the Class of 2001 enjoys its final semester, anxiety about what the future holds is quickly becoming a common sentiment among seniors. Despite these pre-graduation qualms, studies conducted by the University suggest that Tufts graduates fare quite well after they leave the comforts of their undergraduate campus.
The annual senior survey compiled by the Office of Institutional Research for last year's graduating class showed fifty percent of seniors had received at least one job offer by graduation, while over a third of those who had applied to graduate or professional school had already been admitted.
An estimated two-thirds of last year's seniors said they planned to work full-time after graduation, while around 20 percent planned on attending graduate school in the fall.
Director of Career Services Jean Papalia said that there has been a high rate of job offers and an equally high job acceptance rate in the past few years because of the strong economy.
"A larger number of people want to work before attending grad school," Papalia said. "It's a great economy so students can get jobs right out of college and then decide what kind of degree they want."
Careers in banking and finance were the most popular choices among liberal arts graduates. Not surprisingly, engineering professions ranked as the appropriate top choice for engineers. The computer and technology field proved especially popular; along with Internet design and development, the high-tech vocations offered the highest median annual salary, most in the $50,000 range. Computer science majors fared better financially than students from all other fields of study.
Economics majors came in second, as they typically accepted offers with annual salaries ranging from $45,000-$50,999.
Despite the surge in computer and Internet businesses in recent years, the failure of many dot-coms in the current market may affect the decisions of this year's graduates. "Recruiting hasn't slowed down at all, but the closure of these dot-coms, if anything, makes students more closely consider the risks involved," she said.
The effect of a student's undergraduate major on his or her career choice is difficult to gauge, particularly for liberal arts majors. But participation in internships can be a key determinant in a student's post-graduation plans and can also improve one's desirability as a worker.
"For most students it really isn't what you major in but what you want to do with that major," Papalia said.
Although students maintain that enjoyment within a field should be of primary importance, the popularity of high-paying jobs within the business and technology sector often draws the unavoidable correlation between job choice and salary. Most students admit that money does factor into their decisions.
"Salary played an important role in my job search because of the high cost of living nowadays," said senior Mike Tithe, an economics and English major. Tithe added that he targeted sectors of industries that still remain strong, like consulting and I-banking.
The popular international relations major has directed students towards a variety of career fields, from financial banking and consulting to health care and civil service. Tufts' emphases on study abroad programs and providing a global perspective have also influenced students' career paths. Although the senior survey reported that less than ten percent of respondents planned to work overseas directly after graduation, Papalia said that many graduates may eventually spend a limited amount of time working outside the country.
"A lot of students want to experience the international business aspect but not necessarily within the first six months after graduation," she said.
Many students, particularly IR majors, look to past abroad experience for direction. "I know I want to work outside the US at some point after college but a lot of that depends on next year," said sophomore Robina Bhasin, who plans to study in Chile in the fall. Many abroad candidates also hope to pursue an internship while overseas, which would offer a further glimpse into future work opportunities.
US-based companies have also increased domestic and international travel opportunities for employees. Alumnae Sarah Kim (LA '99), who works for the Yankee Group - a research and consulting firm in Boston - has attended events in Chicago, San Jose, and London over the past six months.
"Most of the trips are conferences and trade shows, and it's a great opportunity to gain new perspective and experience," Kim said.
Of the vast majority of the Class of 2000 who planned to remain in the US for work, over 70 percent accepted offers in the greater Boston area or in New York. Students cited a variety of professional and personal reasons as to why they remained in the Northeast.
"From a career point of view, there are a lot more opportunities for my field and my major here," said senior Leslie Kung, who studied biology at Tufts. "A lot of people that I know are still going to be in the area," she said.
Although most Tufts students choose to work upon graduation, 20 percent of last year's graduates enrolled directly into graduate school. Tufts' graduate schools, most notably Tufts Medical School, attracted the largest number of Tufts graduates, while Harvard graduate schools were also a popular destination.
The senior study projected that a large majority of students who accept a job straight out of Tufts are likely to pursue a graduate degree at some point in the future. MBA programs at business schools, however, often prefer applicants to have several years of work experience before graduate school, which contributes to the large career pool, according to Papalia.
Despite fear of an imminent downturn in the economy, Papalia does not foresee a significant decrease in the number of students who enter the work force immediately out of college.
"There will always be entry-level positions; nobody's putting on a hiring freeze as of now," she said.
Career Services holds a variety of recruiting events, panels, and workshops throughout the year to help seniors make post-graduate plans. The department has designated this week "Career Week," and among the many workshops planned are several that will bring Tufts alumni back to campus to speak with students.
Many seniors also look to family and friends to learn of job positions, which may facilitate the job search and make the working world more attractive for students. "Networking is something we really stress," Papalia said.
