Are seniors ready for the "real world"? Transitions, plans, and differences by major field

Abstract

Session presented at the 2015 Assessment Institute, Indianapolis, Indiana. A recent focus in higher education has been the lack of preparedness that graduates face upon entering the workforce. Coupled with criticisms of low income levels in certain major fields, institutions are looking to reconcile skill development and career advising. Utilizing new 2015 module questions from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), this presentation provides findings concerning the career plans of graduating seniors and their readiness to use a variety of skills and abilities. Several trends are also revealed when looking at the results by major field, suggesting the need for some curricular revisions and enhanced career services.