Editor's Note: In this second in a two-part series, we examine where recent graduates are living and where graduating seniors are looking for their post-college plans. The first part examined the cost and benefits of a Taylor education.
By Ally Horine | Echo
Senior Jonathan Brooks already knows where he is going after graduation. After an interview in October, he was offered a job with McGladrey Accounting in Elkhart, Ind.
Most seniors aren't as lucky. A majority of them still have no idea where life after graduation will take them. Also, not all students are looking for full-time jobs immediately. Some are interested in taking a gap year, while others think about graduate school or post-graduate internships.
Sara Wainscott ('14) decided to move to Chicago after she was offered an internship with public relations agency Weber Shandwick.
"There are quite a few benefits to the post-graduate internship," Wainscott said. "I would guess that the majority of recent grads, including myself, don't actually know what their dream job is, and a post-grad internship gives you a sort of trial period to figure that out."
Deciding where to go and what to do after graduation is easier for some than others. According to a recent article by Forbes, the unemployment rate of recent graduates under the age of 25 was 16.2 percent-more than double the national average.
Fortunately, Taylor students have a slightly better track record. A school's level of success is defined as the percentage of former students enrolled in graduate school or employed in either part-time or full-time positions. According to a survey of 2013 graduates provided by the Calling and Career Office, 64 percent of respondents had full-time jobs six months after graduation. Another 15 percent went to graduate school immediately after college. Nine percent had part-time employment, and only 3 percent were still seeking.
This puts Taylor's success rate at 97 percent, meaning they are well below the national average with only 3 percent unemployment.
While finding a job is no easy feat, perhaps an equally difficult task for seniors is deciding where to relocate. One popular city is Chicago and its surrounding areas. Lauren Harvey ('14) is one of many graduates who currently working near the Windy City.
"I moved to the Chicago area because there are so many Christian nonprofits located around this area, which is what I wanted to go into after graduation," Harvey said. "It was nice to be able to move somewhere new-because I am not originally from the Chicago area-and know that I have Taylor friends to live with and help with the transition process."
While Chicago is a popular place for many Taylor graduates, they aren't the only ones interested. A recent study published by City Observatory, a think tank devoted to data-driven analysis of cities, states the population of 25-34 year olds with a four-year degree in Chicago increased by 54.9 percent, or 26,849 people, from 2010 to 2012.
Many move to the Chicago area in hopes of holding onto their Taylor community. For those looking to stay in-state, Indianapolis is another common option. Sarah (Heath) Ketchum ('13) moved there after graduation and has enjoyed it since.
"I see (Taylor) friends of mine at least once or twice a week and run into random Taylor people around town at least that often," Ketchum said. "Lots of Taylor grads live in the Indy area and it is really easy to get in touch with them. Many are involved in different churches, clubs or missions in the city, and have a great community."
While leaving the Taylor bubble can be difficult, some students opt to find careers or attend graduate school in unfamiliar places. Daniel Meier ('14) decided to pick up and move to the West Coast to attend the Seattle School of Theology and Psychology to pursue a masters in counseling.
"Living in and attending school in Seattle has been so beneficial to my exploration of my own story," Meier said. "I have understood facets of myself that I didn't know existed. Moving somewhere new and going to grad school is as much about learning about yourself as it is learning about new content."
Landing the perfect job in the perfect place might not happen on the first try, but everyone seems to find it eventually, often discovering something about themselves along the way.
"I don't really know where I want to end up-still don't," Brooks said, "I am more excited about my opportunity at McGladrey than the physical location of my job for next year. I would say don't be too picky about the location for your first job, it's a job, go for it and make the best of it."
