Your college investment – career placement

Asking questions about academic programs, research opportunities, athletics and campus life are all central to exploring and choosing the right college. It can be difficult to focus on what might come after college when you haven’t even begun. However, career placement statistics will help you understand how a college supports students to prepare for their careers and graduate school.

You can find career placement data online by searching for “career development” or “career” on each institution’s website. If you’re visiting campus, be sure to ask for this information — many admissions offices will have a report that outlines where recent graduates ended up, including top industries they chose, specific companies and organizations they work for, and graduate schools they attend. Some questions to ask:

• What types of resources do you have to support students’ career preparation — including internship placement, resume and interview advice, job search, and graduate school admission?
• How active is your alumni career network?
• What percentage of graduates are placed in jobs or graduate school each year?
• What are the top industries that your graduates pursue?
• What is the average starting salary for graduates?

As you and your family plan to invest in your education, learning about career placement will help you understand the success of a university’s graduates. It will also help you see the paths you may take, whether you plan to study in a professional program or pursue a degree in a subject like English, philosophy or art — and how you can begin building your future from the time you set foot on campus.