College exmissions

[Anonymous]

Just starting our college search and haven't done any tours yet. Do colleges publish info about where their graduates go? What percent go to grad school, where, and in what disciplines, what parts of the country they end up working in, in what fields, what employers recruit there, etc? It seems like on the websites they list famous people who went there, but I am more interested in where my son, who probably won't be famous, is likely to end up. Is there a polite way to ask these sorts of questions without seeming obnoxious to the admissions people?

[Anonymous]

In the colleges we have visited the admissions people have not gone into such detail with regard to where their graduates end up. They usually stick to the percentages of graduates who got jobs within 6 months and went on to graduate school. They will talk about the Job Counseling Office that will help with internships and resume writing. They will also indicate that companies come recruiting, but few have given names of the actual companies. It also depends on the college whether they will give more detailed information. I found that the ones who have very strong internships programs or programs that actually build internships into the program are more willing to give specifics - probably because they have them available.

[Anonymous]

Every college has a career center that keeps this info. It's perfectly appropriate to inquire. Once you get to the open house stage there is usually a panel on careers/outcomes and representatives from the career office are available to you.

[Anonymous]

The easiest way (for employer based outcomes) is to browse who visits during fall and spring career fairs and who does OCI.

Another way to get some sense is if your son has a particular interest in a field is to have him research on various boards related to the field to get a sense of what schools are considered 'targets' and what are not.

OP, i think it is fantastic you are thinking about things like this. After fit, this is one of the biggest factors in picking the 'right' school....something I overlooked myself.

[Anonymous]

I don't think colleges keep track of the detailed statistics you are looking for, but they definitely track % in grad school year by year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think colleges keep track of the detailed statistics you are looking for, but they definitely track % in grad school year by year.

Career Services most definitely does keep track for UG at top schools.

[Anonymous]

It's called "job placement," not "exmissions." They may be required to report placement stats to their accreditor.

[Anonymous]

http://www.thecollegesolution.com/whats-wrong-with-college-career-service-offices/

http://www.thecollegesolution.com/ending-college-stonewalling-on-grad-salaries/

http://www.thecollegesolution.com/measuring-college-grad-salaries/

http://www.thecollegesolution.com/check-out-this-college-scorecard/

[Anonymous]

Yes, in fact that was one reason I chose Lehigh years ago. Job placement is excellent, top relationships with big employers in NY/NJ/CT/PA area in particular.

I knew too many liberal arts grads who had NO IDEA what to do after graduating. Yes, Lehigh may not have been as pie-in-the-sky academic/intellectual as I would have liked, but the kids who got in ended up with great jobs or admissions to top grad schools.