2002 Graduates Spooked by Economy Flock to Graduate Schools
Sour job market and getting into grad school tops on the list for over 10,000 students graduating this May
CHESTER, PA, February 28, 2002 -
Earning an undergraduate degree is a great achievement. Yet the Class of 2002 will be leaving college this May not just with diplomas, but also with anxiety about the future, reveals a recent survey by GradSchools.com, (www.gradschools.com), the leading online source of graduate school information. With an uncertain economy and job prospects hard to come by, many graduates are opting to go back to school rather than enter the stagnant job market.
"Not finding a job after graduation" was the greatest fear (30%) of new college graduates, followed by "not getting into graduate school (23%). In third place was "being able to get admitted to the school of my choice" (13%) followed by "having to pay off student loans"
The Class of 2002 is also concerned about balancing graduate school with a job (7%), not being able to afford their own apartments after graduation (3%) and being laid off or fired from a job that they like (2%). Only one percent cited workplace security in the wake of September 11 as a concern. Over 10,000 students participated in the survey while visiting Gradschools.com.
"It's clear that this year's college graduates are fearful of the impact the current economy may have on their immediate future," says Mark Shay, president of Gradschools.com. "Many of their concerns - such as finding a job, getting into the program they want and being able to afford the tuition, having to work while attending grad school and being able to afford a place to live - are tied directly to the economy."
Respondents were also concerned about balancing work and grad school with their personal lives. "Balancing a job and family duties," "Balancing children and school," and "Balancing raising a family, full-time work, and schoolwork" wrote three different respondents. Others are concerned about finding fulfillment in their professional lives. "Discovering I hate my chosen profession," wrote one. "Not working in a field I enjoy" wrote another. "Waking up at 40 and realizing I hate my life," chimed in a third.
Finally, there were concerns about finding the right graduate school. Some cite fears about jumping into the wrong graduate program, while others are worried about finding scholarships. One respondent expressed his concern about "not finding a graduate school that offers a M.S. in Genetics."
They can address some of those issues with the help of GradSchools.com, which offers a comprehensive online directory of graduate programs. It provides in-depth and current information on over 25,000 graduate programs in the U.S. at no charge to prospective students.
"When students graduate from college, they're faced with a lot of important decisions, which can seem overwhelming to a young adult," says Shay. "Yet they can take comfort in our survey, which shows that they're far from alone in their fears about life after graduation."
To research graduate programs throughout the United States, visit www.gradschools.com. For an interview with Mark Shay of Gradschools.com, please contact Matt Ulmer at 484-766-9200 or email mulmer@edudirectories.com.