Читать книгу Colleges of Distinction 2010 - 2011 Guide - Tyson Schritter - Страница 6

One of the problems with U.S.News & World Report annul survey of colleges is that it measures a college’s quality largely by SAT scores and high school grades. But if you think about it, these are indicators the college had nothing to do with.

Perhaps a better way of measuring a college’s quality would be by studying “outcomes”-what happens after students graduate? Indicators of successful outcomes include the acceptance rate into graduate or professional schools and the percentage of seniors getting employment in their chosen fields soon after they graduate.

Ultimately, successful outcomes are linked to the alumni who in a real sense, are the “product” of a college education. What kinds of professions did they enter? Have they distinguished themselves in these professions?

This is how Colleges of Distinction measures successful outcomes.

While entering students are not expected to know right away what their major will be or what they want to become in life-freshman and sophomore years should be largely reserved for experimentation and discovery-it is too often the case that by senior year students still don’t know what they want to do.

Colleges of Distinction are especially good at orienting students, right from the beginning, to what they might become in life. They often begin this process by introducing freshmen to the Career Services Office during orientation so that they know what resources are available to them.

Sophomores are then encouraged to consider employment-related internships and externships. Tied closely to these programs are career counseling seminars that help students orient themselves to career possibilities, workshops for resume writing and mock interviews, and career fairs where firms can meet future employees.

By senior year, students enrolled at Colleges of Distinction not only have a fairly good idea of what they will do in their first job, but are well on their way to submitting resumes and having interviews.

For those who plan to go on to a graduate or professional school, the same Career Services Office, working with pre-professional advisors (especially pre-med and pre-law) will give advice about available scholarships and the various exams necessary to get into graduate, medical or law school. College professors, of course, having all gone to graduate school, are an excellent source of advice on master’s and doctoral programs.

At most Colleges of Distinction, more than 85% of those seeking employment after graduation will find well paying jobs with advancement potential within six months of graduating. Similarly, 20% or more of the graduating class will go directly to graduate or professional school. Sixty percent will have gone on for further education within six years of graduation. Finally, the “product” of Colleges of Distinction-the ultimate outcome-are alumni. Perhaps the major goal of these colleges is to prepare the future leaders of our society-the business leaders who keep our economy strong, the political leaders who govern us, the professional leaders who impact our lives in many ways and on a daily basis. Colleges of Distinction are especially strong in the number of these leaders who attended these institutions. These people not only give of themselves to society in general, but also support their institutions in various ways, including new graduates get their first job.

In the first place, education should not-indeed cannot-be seen as preparation for only one career. Because of the massive changes we are seeing in society, created in large part by advances in technology, current college graduates will have as many as six or seven entirely different jobs or careers before they retire! Therefore the best preparation for a rapidly hanging and utterly unpredictable future is a liberal arts and sciences education. Why? Because liberal arts and sciences provide students with three basic and universal skills that are at the core of any successful career: intellectual flexibility, the ability to communicate effectively, and the skills to engage in life-long learning.

How is this done? Colleges of Distinction require students to take a wide variety of courses in the social sciences, humanities, and natural and mathematical sciences, in addition to majoring in a liberal arts or vocational discipline. The result is a graduate who has the intellectual tools to adapt to the shifts and changes we can expect in the 21^st century.

Colleges of Distinction prepare their students not only for the first job, but also for the last job!

Before You Visit

 Arrange a visit to the Career Services Office. Make a list of questions to ask about internships and other career exploration opportunities.

 Ask if there are recent alumni available in your area with whom you can speak about the school.

When You Are On Campus

 Ask your admissions counselor about graduation rates, employment rates, and similar issues.

 Ask students about their plans for the future. What is the school doing now to help the achieve their goals?

 Ask staff in the Career Services Office or the Alumni Office how alumni help current students.

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A Checklist for finding….

Successful Outcomes

Doing your Homework

[ ] What information does the school provide about employment-related internships and externships? How many internships can a typical student take?

[ ] What professional development does the school offer students? Does the school offer resume support, mock interviews, career fairs, and other employment support?

[ ] What are the employment rates for graduates within 6 months of graduation? Within one year?

[ ] If you are considering graduate or law school, does the school provide information about rates of acceptance and give examples of schools to which graduates were accepted?

[ ] What is the school’s rate of alumni giving? Rates of 30%or more are generally considered fairly strong.

[ ] If the school publishes an alumni magazine, ask for a copy with your admissions packet. How important and well-organized does the alumni association seem to be? Are alumni involved in student life? Do they provide a network for students seeking employment?