Does money really matter when seniors look for jobs?

The decision of what career to pursue is one of the most important faced by seniors as graduation looms. While many believe that today the pursuit of ones' passions takes a backseat to the pursuit of riches, this is not always the case.

Although financial concerns like salary certainly contribute to career choices, it is not always the most important thing on the minds of graduates. Although financial stability is clearly a valid concern, high salary may be subservient to the prospect of a truly fulfilling job.

In general, students agree that Tufts grads gravitate toward jobs that spark their interest and seem fulfilling, rather than merely jobs with high salaries.

"I would say that most Tufts students choose their career based on what interests them and what they are passionate about," senior Laurie Cormier, an environmental engineering major, said. "Most people I know at Tufts are passionate about their majors and want to put what they have learned into practice, even if that means a low paying job."

Career Services Director Jean Papalia said emphasized the individual nature of career decisions and the criteria used to make them. "The link between money and career choice is as individual and diverse in nature as our population at Tufts," Papalia said.

According to Papalia, Tufts grads end up at jobs on both ends of the salary spectrum. High numbers of students serve in the Peace Corps, but "on the other hand, we regularly see students land jobs on Wall Street in highly paid positions," she said.

Education, a field not known for its high salaries, claims many Tufts graduates every year. In 2003, the education field drew the highest percentage of graduates than any other.

According to a survey of last year's seniors, among those who had already accepted positions education raked in 14.8 percent.

A study conducted earlier this year by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) concluded that teachers begin with an average starting salary of $27,317 per year.

The average starting salary for liberal arts majors as a group is slightly higher, at $30,153.

While engineering is known as a major that will likely bring financial rewards in the future -- for example, computer engineers have an average starting salary of $53,117 -- money is not always the driving force behind an engineering graduate's career decisions.

"I never thought about the money," Cormier said. "I still don't know what I can expect to make next year. I know its enough to get by and that's all that matters to me right now. Having a job that I love doing is more important."

Junior Joe Schipani, a chemical engineer, agreed. "Financial reasons had and continue to have little to do with my choice of field," he said.

"I get the impression that most Tufts engineers are passionate about their field and will make career choices based on their interests more so than money," senior Dan Keesing , an electrical engineering major, said.

Still, for some, money plays a very important role in their career choice. "Nearly all of my friends cite financial reasons for their choice in major or career first," Schipani said.

Financial concerns are real and become increasingly overwhelming as students look past graduation.

Senior and Child Development major, Lisa Fishlin wants to continue the community service work she has done at Tufts throughout the rest of her career. But she said that though she valued a fulfilling job, financial issues would definitely play a role in her job choice.

"While I would like to say that my job search does not focus on salary, I do need to find a job that will be able to cover my rent and other expenses."

Early years in the job market may be a time for some to take an exciting job with a lower salary, Cormier feels. "At this point in our lives, we can afford to make decisions based on those intangible qualities," Cormier said. "In the future, we may end up having to settle for a less fulfilling job in order to pay the bills."

"I think money is probably a big factor in a lot of people's decisions to go [or not to go] to [grad] school," Cormier said.

Graduate school decisions also incorporate monetary factors. "Research indicates that average earnings for individuals with advanced degrees are higher than those with bachelor's degrees," Papalia said.