VOL. 23, NO. 23	MAY 20, 1998

ith their new bachelor’s degrees, Columbia undergraduates are reaping the rewards of a booming economy as they seek jobs after graduation, according to the University Center for Career Services. And for the first time in recent years, teaching is attracting larger numbers of graduating seniors.

  The Class of 1998 at Columbia College received job offers on average for $45,000 in yearly compensation, up $3,000 over last year, said Eileen Kohan, executive director of career services. Yearly compensation averaged $49,000 for graduates of the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, she said.

  Among Columbia College seniors who landed jobs, financial services firms on Wall Street, management consulting companies and non-profit institutions led all career fields. Consulting, computer and telecommunications companies recruited the highest number of engineering students.

  While a complete picture of the future plans for the graduating class at Columbia College based on senior surveys is not yet available, preliminary figures show 37 percent have jobs after graduation and 23 percent plan to attend graduate or professional schools, Kohan said. The rest are either taking a year off, traveling, are in the midst of job hunting, or have not yet begun their job search. Among engineering students, 65 percent have received job offers and 17 percent will continue their education.

  “It’s been another terrific year for the job market for our students,” said Kohan. “Employment is way up.”

  She said larger numbers of Columbia College students will become K through 12 teachers this year, a development she attributed both to an expected shortage of teachers nationwide and rising salaries in the field. The average entry level teaching job pays about $25,000.

  In addition to traditional entry-level jobs as research assistants, copy editors, stock broker trainees, assistant financial analysts, paralegals, and publishing, advertising and public relations assistants in New York City, Columbia College graduates landed jobs in sports marketing, new media, television production and information technology. A number of Columbia students reported out of the ordinary plans, including one who will become a police officer in Los Angeles and another who will be an actor in Pennsylvania. One lucky student will start off as a $60,000-a-year vice president of a new media company.