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First Advisor

Adam Chamberlain

Abstract

The Bureau of Labor Statistics has shown that while unemployment amongst young college graduates is high, joblessness decreases as students pursue post-baccalaureate degrees. With national unemployment near eight percent, it is important for college students to consider what obstacles they may face when entering the workforce. Challenges may include sociohistorical factors like parental educational attainment, socioeconomic factors, and obstacles surrounding various forms of human capital. This study predicts the decisions Coastal Carolina University (CCU) students will make post-graduation based upon four elements: parental education, academic achievement, paid work, and faculty-student interaction. I surveyed a random sample of CCU students to assess future occupational and/or educational plans postbaccalaureate graduation. The results show that the four selected elements accurately predict whether CCU students plan to enter a graduate program or the workforce after graduation. Considering, then, that unemployment risks decrease as education beyond a bachelor's degree increases, CCU faculty have a unique opportunity to shape the economy by encouraging students to pursue schooling postbaccalaureate graduation.

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