'93 Seniors Go to Work, Despite Market

Despite expectations that seniors avoiding a tough job market would seek graduate study, the percentage of seniors going to graduate school increased by less than four percent between 1992 and 1993, according to a report released by the Office of Career Services (OCS).

But OCS officials said the increase does not accurately reflect the difficult job market for graduating seniors. The graduate school percentage had stayed basically the same for the past five years, according to the report.

The report attributed this year's small increase, to a "desire to have a break from academic study."

That view is borne out by recent graduates such as Adina Astor '93, who is currently serving as in two-year business analyst program at a general management consulting firm, while she ponders future academic work.

"Working is a great way to get a look before committing to a graduate school," Astor said yesterday. "I could even apply to law school."

Slightly less than two-thirds of Astor's class reported plans for immediate employment. The most popular choice of employment was in business, followed by science and technology. More than 13 percent of the class has not chosen a vocation.

"Almost one in five students are still planning to work or study abroad," said Martha P. Leape, director of OCS. "That's an option that many people aren't aware of, and that many of their classmates are taking."

Leape said the report noted a significant increase in the percentage pursuing medicine as a career. While 13.2 percent of the class of 1992 expressed interest in medicine as a career, 15.2 percent of the class of 1993 were similarly inclined. In contrast, overall interest in law as a profession decreased by almost one percentage point.

The percentage of men planning immediate graduate study continued to be higher than the percentage of women. And for the first time in five years, a smaller percentage of women than men expressed interest in academic careers.

Nearly three-quarters of the class of 1993 was involved in some form of public service, more than double the participation rate of members of the class of 1983, when students were first asked about their involvement in public service.

Leape said the report's findings should remind current undergraduates to be aggressive in their search for a job. "It's important that undergraduates think in terms of internships and getting work experience, so that when it comes time to apply for a job they have experience related to what they want to do," Leape said.