McCormick senior Stina McConkey has her future set.
After graduating next June, McConkey plans to continue her education and eventually get a Master’s degree in business – but not before joining the work force for a couple of years.
“I plan on going into consulting for two years and then at that point get my MBA,” McConkey said. “To go to one of the elite schools, you need work experience.”
McConkey is by no means unique. Seventy percent of graduates from the Northwestern’s class of 1994 reported that they have received or are currently pursuing a post-baccalaureate degree, according to a 2004 survey by NU’s Department of Analytical Studies and Data Warehousing.
The majority of NU alumni wait a year or more after graduating before entering graduate school, said Lonnie Dunlap, director of University Career Services.
“Our best guess is that about 50-55 percent (of NU students) begin their graduate studies at least one year after graduation,” she said.
Dunlap explained that professional schools prefer students to gain work experience in their desired field before continuing their studies.
“Work experience also may increase the students’ chances for funding of school,” Dunlap said. In some cases “employers will sponsor and financially support the graduate work.”
Depending upon the academic discipline, a student who has work experience can be a more attractive applicant when applying to graduate schools, Dunlap said.
For the 20 percent who seek a higher degree immediately after attaining their undergraduate degree, NU provides several advising resources. Gregory Cera, assistant director of the Academic Advising Center, is one of these resources.
“Usually, students start to come in late sophomore and junior years,” Cera said.
According to Cera, the most popular professional programs among NU students include medicine, business and law.
Trends show that most students do not continue their professional education at NU, Cera said.
“There is currently a general conception that one should pursue a Ph.D. at another university,” Cera said.
A survey conducted by Educational Directories Unlimited, Inc. found that people seek graduate education at a wide variety of ages. Twenty-nine percent of those who enter graduate school are between the ages of 23 and 28. Twenty-four percent are 36 to 50 years old.
According to the poll, 48 percent of respondents desire graduate degrees for advancement in their careers. Nineteen percent consider the additional degree a means of personal fulfillment and gratification.
University Career Services invites students considering a professional degree to attend the Chicago Graduate and Professional School Fair, which NU will cosponsor with 11 other universities. It will be held Oct. 28 from 1 to 5 p.m. at the University of Illinois at Chicago. More than 200 schools will participate.
Reach Jasett Chatham at [email protected].
