Hillsdale College emphasizes the comprehensive value of a liberal arts education. Yet many of its students question whether this scope of knowledge has adequately prepared them for the job market,and whether it will provide them with solid footing for a post-graduation career.
Encouraging new reports may quell some of the fears for 2004 graduation candidates.
The results of a survey released in early September by the National Association of Colleges and Employers state that employers plan to hire just over 13 percent more college graduates in 2004 to 2005 than they did in the previous year.
NACE is an organization that tracks trends affecting college graduates in the job market, and uses seasonal evaluations to review employers as a service to grads.
By region, the Midwest leads all others with an expected 26.4 percent increase in college hiring. For those looking outside the Midwest the results are also encouraging. Employers in the Northeast and West regions both predict a 14.9 percent increase, and employers in the South expect to increase their number of college hires by 5.9 percent (www.naceweb.org).
Joanna Wiseley, director of career planning, said career planning offers many methods to help students find jobs.
"The main focus is to provide the tools necessary for students to launch an effective job search campaign," Wiseley said.
"We hope to be at 100 percent placement; in the past we have been at 97 percent, with 21 percent entering into graduate school. We work with 190 seniors that are looking for jobs."
Career Planning helps with most of the preparation work for job placement, which entails resume reviews, building a network, and help with job search strategies.
But for many, the concern is with how the liberal arts background fares compared to the more specified career preparation received at many schools, and if it is favorable in job searches.
Wiseley said she is confident that the liberal arts teach many workable and transferable skills.
Senior Corrine Streck, who is planning to enter the field of nursing, agreed.
"Having a liberal arts education proves our adaptive ability in various situations and demands," she said.
John Reist, professor of Christianity and literature, also has firm ideas about liberal arts-that the humanities are basic, which is what the liberal arts core is about.
"The liberal arts college, without ignoring or derogating mechanics or training, seeks to liberate every faculty member and student to ask 'why?' about 'how?'" Reist said.
Reist added that the liberal arts are three-fold.
"It liberates us to ask questions; it allows you to be literate, speak and write, so that communication and community occur; and it makes you liable and responsible for who you are," he said.
"The liberal arts education makes us ask the big questions so that the secondary questions, 'how much money will I make?' are more humanly addressed."
Still, questions persist about the plausibility of such arguments in an increasingly specialized job market."
Senior Elysia Cook said, "I have not really prepared myself for any one specific job, and yet I think that Hillsdale has given me the tools to go out and try nearly anything."
Senior Dwight Silva echoed this.
"Having the ability to be active on a small campus has allowed me to develop socially and take an active leadership role in multiple organizations. I doubt this would necessarily be possible at a large school with a more specific degree program," he said.
Kevin Trepanier, director of career services at Adrian College, said it is up to the student to demonstrate the benefits of getting a liberal arts education to employers.
"Overall, liberal arts students are better-qualified and prepared for one of the most important things employers' value - communication and writing. But for highly technical careers like nursing or computer programming, they are less prepared," Trepanier said.
"I am currently applying to nursing schools, a field which has become highly competitive due to demand and interest. I have to set myself apart from the many other applicants, and Hillsdale is an excellent tool to do so," Streck said.
From a large university's standpoint, Judy Robinson, assistant director for career services at Oakland University, commented about students with specified majors compared to liberal arts students.
Robinson said that anytime someone majors in a professional type of school they are geared toward a specific goal. However, she said liberal arts students can be successful if they market themselves toward specific career areas.
"The liberal arts education is a wonderful way to prepare students for multiple career opportunities, but specific major students who prepare themselves that way also haven't closed doors on themselves either," Robinson said.
Robinson added that some fields require a certain major.
NACE released a list of starting salaries among majors, which are for new college graduates at the bachelor's degree level.
Business administration and economics/finance graduates received a six and three percent boost, with average pay as $38,254 and $40,630, respectively.
For marketing majors the average starting salary increased by two percent and is $34,712. Accounting majors start at $41,058, which increased one percent.
The most surprising increase was that of English majors, which rose eight percent to a starting salary of $31,113. Political science had a three percent increase to $32,296 and entry-level psychology majors received a two percent increase $28,230.
According to NACE, 66 percent of the disciplines surveyed reported an increase in pay. However, the starting salary for history majors fell almost five percent to $30,344.
"Although I am a history major, I am planning on working with disabled children after I graduate. The salary drop, I assume, does not affect that too much," senior John Daughtrey said. "I would like to teach eventually, however, and so when that time comes I will be more concerned about a salary drop."
Daughtrey also said that many history majors pursue a wide variety of careers that are not necessarily typical of the history field, so the salary drop may not have a significant effect, except on teachers.
NACE used its Job Outlook report as a tool to provide data about employers' hiring activities, including what they seek in job candidates and preferred recruitment methods.
Since 1956, the NACE has been the leading source of information about the employment of college graduates. For more information go to www.naceweb.org.