Five great schools for career placement

With the rising cost of college and an increasingly competitive job market, your child’s upcoming applications should consider more than just their four year education.

While each of the following five schools are distinguished by their location, size and culture, they all maintain the necessary resources when it comes to career placement for recent graduates.

• Babson College. Just minutes from downtown Boston, Babson’s undergraduate education takes on a highly accredited business and vocational focus for students. In 2014, the college reported that 99% of the graduating class was either employed or enrolled in graduate-level studies within 6 months of graduation. For students interested in entrepreneurship, take note – 8% of 2014 graduates went on to start their own company within six months.
•  New York University (NYU). While NYU’s Stern School of Business receives much of the hype, its undergraduate program is also worth a look. 98% of Stern undergrads from the class of 2014 were employed or in graduate school within 6 months. These same students reported an average first-year salary of $67,250. Located in the heart of New York City, nearly 90% of the class of 2014 completed an internship prior to their senior year.
• California Institute of Technology (CalTech). Located in Pasadena, CalTech is recognized globally as a leading institution for STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics). With an impressive average first-year salary of $74,800 for recent graduates, CalTech provides the resources necessary for students to enter into highly specialized fields.
• Vanderbilt University. While Nashville may not have the same ring to it as New York, the city’s most prominent school is certainly up to par. Referred to as “the Harvard of the South,” Vanderbilt’s alumni network (like many southern schools) is thousands strong. With a loyal 15% of all current alumni residing in Nashville, the city is a hotbed for alumni-driven work opportunities. Coupled with a strong track record of success, it’s no surprise that the university reported on-campus recruitment activity from 106 different Fortune 500 companies in 2014.
• Georgetown University. Combining a community feel with the perks of a large research university, Georgetown’s location in the nation’s capital provides students (especially those studying government and politics!) with unique work opportunities off-campus. Of those surveyed from the class of 2014, just under 90% were settled with a job or in graduate school within six months. The school also maintains partnerships with 16 U.S. companies in the consulting and financial sectors who hire Georgetown undergrads on an annual basis.

Regardless of where your child applies, make sure they explore the resources provided by the career development center. Once on campus, encourage your son or daughter to acquaint themselves with the office and its staff members. These preliminary conversations can be a useful tool when it comes to summer jobs and internship planning into their latter years.