Class of 2022 Finding Early Success

The annual First Destinations report conducted by the Center for Career Development found 92% of graduates from 2022 were either employed or continuing their education nine months after graduation.

Washington College graduates continue to find employment or be enrolled in graduate or professional school within nine months of graduation. The Class of '22 had the second highest level of employment in the last five years at 71% employed, with another 21% enrolled in continuing their education. The other 8% were working in temporary positions, still seeking employment, participating in gap year experiences, volunteering, or deferring graduate school acceptances.

“The main point that stood out is the resilience of the class who endured a pandemic and its effects on their undergraduate experience,” said Nanette Cooley, executive director of the Center for Career Development. “This report shows how effectively our students gain the experience and skills needed to be successful in today’s workforce and for advanced study.”

Data from the report is shared with the National Association of Colleges and Employers, but it is primarily used to help the Washington College community—prospective families, recruits, students, faculty, admissions staff, the Board of Visitors and Governors, and senior leadership—gauge how the College is doing in providing value to students in preparing them for life and work after graduation.

Alumni from the Class of ’22 are employed in 15 states and the District of Columbia, and 23% reported getting their jobs through career center resources, College faculty or staff, or connections made through internships or externships. Some of the employers where the Class of ’22 found work include the American Red Cross, Johns Hopkins University, JP Morgan Chase, the National Institutes of Health, and the State of Maryland.

The students enrolled in further studies include six respondents who directly entered law school and three who are in medical school. Some of the schools where College alumni are enrolled in graduate studies include American University, Columbia University, Georgetown University, Towson University, and the University of Pittsburgh.

In addition to information on employment and graduate studies after leaving Washington, the report provides an overview of the Class of 2022’s internship and experiential learning experiences while studying at the College. Of the 227 Class of ’22 graduates surveyed, 130 completed internships (51 students having done multiple internships), and graduates also reported having taken advantage of other experiential learning experiences—job shadowing, practicums, research, student teaching—while at Washington College. Some of the organizations hosting interns included Accenture, Environmental Engineering and Management Associates, Lincoln Financial, the National Aquarium, and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency.

All of the information—employers, graduate schools, internships and experiential learning experiences—is broken out by major as well, making it useful for the Center for Career Development as it works with current Washington College students. 

“Often, the report is used with first year students and sophomores in career coaching sessions who are undecided about what career options may be available to them if they decide to pursue certain majors,” Cooley said. “The reports provide insight on options they may want to explore or consider.”

Cooley’s role leading the career center and its data gathering for the First Destinations report  provides her with a unique vantage point from which to consider both students’ experiences at Washington College and where they end up after graduation.

“Washington College students are well-positioned to pursue lives of purpose and passion based on the skills and competencies gained throughout their undergraduate experiences in and out of the classroom,” Cooley said. “Curricular requirements including senior capstone projects, leadership roles, experiential learning programs, research opportunities and study abroad provide a competitive advantage for our graduates in today’s dynamic job market.” 
 
Were you in the Class of ’22? Excited to share where you are now? Submit to our Class Notes so your fellow Washington College alumni know about your success!