Students prefer higher education to workplace
Pam Gray
Issue date: 4/16/09 Section: Culture
As seniors prepare for graduation, they must consider what to do in their lives after college.
"A lot of students wait until their senior year to start thinking about a job in their major, but it is important to start networking and thinking about that job the first day you arrive on campus," according to Donna Cooper, a counselor in the counseling and career planning center.
"Students should make sure to remember that their professors are one of their greatest assets because of the professionals they know," she said.
Brittany Hunger, a Memphis senior, said: "I am already working as a phlebotomist at Parkridge Hospital and I plan on continuing to do that until I go back to school to pursue my dream of becoming a pediatrician."
Amanda Patel, a Mubai, India, senior, said: "Many students are planning on continuing their education and are glad to do so since jobs are harder to find right now."
Patel said she plans to go to graduate school after graduation, but may end up looking for a job.
"If I don't get into [graduate] school, I will have to look for a job, and I am concerned about the lack of jobs at this time," Patel said. "I have considered having to start at a lower salary if necessary in hopes that when the economy turns around I will be able to make a better wage because I stayed with the company through the lean times."
Mary Stone, a Chattanooga senior, said: "As far as a job search after graduation, I am planning taking a year off and then I am going to pursue my master's degree."
DeAngelo Sears, a Memphis sophomore, said: "I am planning on going to medical school after I graduate with my [Bachelor of Science] degree in biology, so I am not concerned about looking for a job right now."
Jessica Owensby, a Rockville, Md., sophomore, said: "[Graduate] school is a necessity for me because I want to pursue my doctorate in education, so luckily a job search is not necessary right now."
"A lot of students wait until their senior year to start thinking about a job in their major, but it is important to start networking and thinking about that job the first day you arrive on campus," according to Donna Cooper, a counselor in the counseling and career planning center.
"Students should make sure to remember that their professors are one of their greatest assets because of the professionals they know," she said.
Brittany Hunger, a Memphis senior, said: "I am already working as a phlebotomist at Parkridge Hospital and I plan on continuing to do that until I go back to school to pursue my dream of becoming a pediatrician."
Amanda Patel, a Mubai, India, senior, said: "Many students are planning on continuing their education and are glad to do so since jobs are harder to find right now."
Patel said she plans to go to graduate school after graduation, but may end up looking for a job.
"If I don't get into [graduate] school, I will have to look for a job, and I am concerned about the lack of jobs at this time," Patel said. "I have considered having to start at a lower salary if necessary in hopes that when the economy turns around I will be able to make a better wage because I stayed with the company through the lean times."
Mary Stone, a Chattanooga senior, said: "As far as a job search after graduation, I am planning taking a year off and then I am going to pursue my master's degree."
DeAngelo Sears, a Memphis sophomore, said: "I am planning on going to medical school after I graduate with my [Bachelor of Science] degree in biology, so I am not concerned about looking for a job right now."
Jessica Owensby, a Rockville, Md., sophomore, said: "[Graduate] school is a necessity for me because I want to pursue my doctorate in education, so luckily a job search is not necessary right now."
