Where do we go from here?

Following up on my last post about graduation, I thought I would write really quickly about what types of careers my friends have gone on to in their first year out of JMC. I feel like I have a unique perspective as a fifth year senior in Madison. A large majority of students graduate from the college in four years, which means this year I've been able to see how many of my friends have launched their career paths right from my facebook newsfeed. Here's a little sample of what some of my friends have gone on to do in their first year after graduation (I included the person's major at the end of the line):

• Pilot in the US Air Force (IR)
• Staffer for MI Governor Rick Snyder (PTCD)
• Elementary School Teacher with Teach for America in Detroit and Houston (SRP)
• Staff Member at a non-profit in northern Michigan (SRP)
• Campus Coordinator for a Boston non-profit (CCP, IR)
• Student teacher at a mid-Michigan high school (PTCD, Secondary Education)*
• Accounting staff member at Goodyear Tires (SRP, Accounting)
• Community & Volunteer Organizer at a non-profit in Detroit (SRP)
• Economic Analyst for the State of Michigan (IR, Economics)
• Project Manager at a political consulting firm in Washington, D.C. (SRP)
• Graduate School at University of Miami, Ohio (PTCD)
• Cast Member at Walt Disney World (IR)
• Corps Member with City Year Detroit (SRP)
• Tax Associate at a national accounting firm (IR, Finance)
• Staff member at Georgia-Pacific (IR)
• Staffer at the MI Department of Community Health (SRP)

*My friend who is student teaching is fulfilling this requirement for the MSU College of Education

This is just a sample of my friend network (this list is slightly SRP-heavy because I'm friends with many more SRP majors - that's my major as well). As you can see, there's no cookie cutter career path for Madison grads. My friends have gone on to work for campaigns, political offices, lobbying firms, giant corporations, small non-profits, public school, and everything in between. As for myself, I am going to work for a public accounting firm in Detroit. 

In my opinion, the most important part of a Madison education are the critical thinking, reading, and writing skills students gain throughout their time here. Those are skills that are transferrable to any job in any industry. My critical thinking and communication skills helped me the most in my two accounting internships. If you're able to sell yourself and those critical skills in a job interview, you could literally go anywhere in the world! 

For more examples of careers chosen by JMC grads, feel free to check out the Careers section of the JMC Website! This page has awesome graduate reports, collected by our dedicated career consultant, which break down the students who go to on to graduate school, law school, and the work force. It includes many examples of positions held by recent JMC grads as well as salary and geographic information. 

Becky 

Senior

SRP & Accounting

Graduate School

Applying to graduate school is something few think of when they begin their career at Michigan State University. Most students are overwhelmed with their new environment, new roommate, and the rigor of the classes. I was no different in my first year at Michigan State. Yet, now, as a senior, I am in the midst of applying to graduate programs and the once far off possibility of going to graduate school is now very much real.

About 40% of Madison alumni go directly into a graduate or post graduate degree program. The number is even higher when you look two years after graduation. Why is this? As I sit, looking over my application materials, I immediately realize why I am seeking another degree and why so many of my peers will do so as well. The rigor, support, and desire to learn that Madison students gain in their time here, is something few students are able to say they gained. James Madison College has prepared me greatly for graduate school.

From my first day in James Madison College, much was expected of me. My professors held me to a standard that seemed incredibly high. I was expected to write at a level that most university seniors will be at the time they graduation. As a freshman, I was incredibly nervous as writing at that level seemed incredibly difficult and something only professors were capable of achieving. Yet, now as I begin writing my graduate school essays, writing is something that is second nature and easy. Because of the expectations that Madison placed on me, I know going into my graduate applications that I am a step ahead of others applying because of my own skills at writing and that my professors are looking them over.

The relationships that I have with my professors are also a great asset to have when applying to graduate schools. Not only do they read over my application materials, but they are more than willing, rather they are excited, to write me letters of recommendation that truly speak to my academic abilities and how I was prepared for a graduate degree.

Coming to Madison was one of the best decisions I have made. I have been taught how to write well and have relationships with professors that are enhancing my application materials and truly speak to my academic abilities. Few undergraduate students have relationships with their professors like Madison students.

Stephen H.

Political Theory and Constitutional Democracy, 2014