Statistics about career choices made by the Class of 1994 seem to refute the notions of the disorientation and tumultuous behavior characteristic of Generation X.
Career Services recently released a study reporting that out of the 85 percent of graduates who responded to a survey last June, 62 percent sought full-time employment, 24 percent planned to attend graduate school, 1 percent intended to travel, 6 percent expressed other interests, and the remaining 6 percent were still undecided.
The Career Services report showed that these statistics are consistent with those of previous classes. In addition, no significant discrepancies existed between genders and ethnicities.
Due to "programs that work to increase the awareness of students of color to opportunities in graduate school," an equal percentage of minority students expressed an interest in full-time employment and graduate studies programs as did white students, Bill Wright-Swadel, director of Career Services, said.
But of those who sought full-time employment, only 47 percent had accepted jobs by graduation. Another 9 percent were pending acceptance, 28 percent were still seeking jobs and 16 percent were delaying the search process.
Of the jobs secured by graduation, 56 percent were in business, 11.4 percent in education, 9.8 percent in law and 4.7 percent in health.
Starting salaries ranged from $8,000 to $65,000 with the mean being $28,625, according to statistics from the 177 students who reported their expected first-year salaries
According to Wright-Swadel, the low-end salaries generally represent students with internships, while the large salaries represent students who had previous professional experiences that led to high-paying jobs.
Of the 278 students who applied to graduate school, 211 were accepted and planned to attend, and the remaining 67 either deferred admission, were awaiting a decision or had been rejected.
Although the percentage of graduate school rejection is extremely low, Wright-Swadel attributes the few rejections to goal-oriented students who apply to a minimum number of the most competitive schools.
Law, arts and sciences, engineering, medicine and management, respectively, were among the most sought after graduate study programs, the report stated.
Wright-Swadel emphasized that although law and medicine continue to attract a large percentage of the graduating class, the arts and sciences study programs are also popular.
Although only one in four students in the Class of 1994 entered graduate school directly after graduation, it is estimated that at least 70 percent will attend within the next five years, a trend he said is consistent with past years.
In previewing the Class of 1995, Wright-Swadel said more students are taking advantage of the recruiting system and he said he anticipates an increase in the number of students who will have secured employment by graduation.
An increasing number of members of the Class of 1995 are also expressing an interest in medical school.
"I would predict that the careers people choose once they leave Dartmouth would run the gamut," said 1995 Class Dean Lisa Thum.
Thum emphasized the multitude of opportunities available to students and said she foresees that the Class of 1995 will take full advantage of them.
