Class of 2017 First Destinations Snapshot
A knowledge rate of 70% was achieved for the Class of 2017 (388 respondents, N = 553).
Status / PercentageEMPLOYED / 74%
Working Full-Time / 60%
Working Part-Time / 8%
Interning Full-Time / 4%
Volunteering / 2%
CONTINUING EDUCATION / 19%
UNEMPLOYED & SEEKING EMPLOYMENT / 6%
OTHER
Includes respondents who selected “Interning Part-Time”, “Unemployed and Not Seeking Employment”, and “I would rather not answer” / 1%
A Sampling of Employers Selected By the Class of 2017:
AIG
Albany Molecular Research Inc.
Americorps
Barclays
BET (a subsidiary of Viacom)
BNP Paribas
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Brigham & Women’s Hospital
Cambridge Isotope Laboratories, Inc.
Chubb
City Year
Dana Farber Cancer Institute
Deloitte
Earth Law Center
Essence
Goldman Sachs
Grey New York
Horizon Media
HSBC Global Banking and Markets
IBM
Intuit
KPMG
Massachusetts General Hospital
Mount Sinai Health System
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
New York Islanders
New York Psychiatric Institute
NYC Dept. of Education
NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation
Philadelphia Phillies
PURE Group of Insurance Companies
PwC
Rockstart Games
Second City Theater
Success Academy Charter School
Syracuse University
The Child Mind Institute
Traveler’s Insurance
United States Air Force
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Weil, Gotshal & Manges
Yale School of Medicine
Yelp
How Do We Compare?
Peer Schools 2016 – 2017 EmploymentEmployed
Amherst College
Amherst, MA / 74%
Bates College
Lewiston, ME / 86%
Colgate University
Hamilton, NY / 80%
College of the Holy Cross
Worcester, MA / 79%
St. Lawrence University
Canton, NY / 78%
Union College
Schenectady, NY / 70%
Skidmore College
Saratoga Springs, NY / 74%
Skidmore'sliberal arts education prepared me well for the interdisciplinary world of marine biology, and more specifically, aquarium husbandry. I frequently call upon my arts background when designing an exhibit, and utilize my biology training when creating a sea jelly culture. My diverse interestshave the opportunity to collide in my profession. The CDC was an incredible asset during my initial application process, as well as, now when I am looking to explore new career adventures. (In fact, I am meeting with Lauren Sisson next week!) The CDC helped me create confidence through polishingmy application, resume, and interview skills. This confidence has helped me network and create new opportunities that forward my career. I am so grateful for everything the CDC has helped me accomplish.
-Isabella Gaw
Employment: Salary Overview
60%of those who reported employment shared salary information. Below is a summary of findings of those reporting Full Time Employment:
Salary Range / Respondents / Percentage of Respondents$9,999 or less / 4 / 5%
$10,000 – 19,999 / 10 / 2%
$20,000 – 29,999 / 14 / 16%
$30,000 – 39,999 / 34 / 27%
$40,000 – 49,999 / 32 / 21%
$50,000 – 59,999 / 16 / 17%
$60,000 – 69,999 / 10 / 6%
$70,000 – 79,999 / 3 / 5%
$80,000 – 89,999 / 2 / 1%
$100,000 or more / 1 / 1%
The median salary for the Class of 2017 was $40,000 – 49,999.
My Skidmore experience provided me with a foundation built on a diversity of perspectives, philosophies and practices. This unique foundation prepared me for my career by not only instilling critical business fundamentals but also helping to develop creative processes to tackle cutting edge issues that the work force faces today.
-Ryan Haig
Employment: Industry Breakdown
Industry classification codes are those used by the US Department of Labor.
Industry / Respondents / PercentageEducation and Training / 43 / 17%
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics / 39 / 16%
Arts, Audio/Video Technology and Communications / 32 / 13%
Business Management and Administration / 29 / 12%
Marketing, Sales and Service / 27 / 11%
Finance / 20 / 8%
Human Services / 14 / 6%
Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources / 11 / 4%
Health Science / 11 / 4%
Law, Public Safety, Corrections and Security / 10 / 4%
Government and Public Administration / 6 / 2%
Hospitality and Tourism / 6 / 2%
Architecture and Construction / 1 / Less than 1%
The following industries experienced an increase in representation in the Class of 2017, from the Class of 2016:
1
- Architecture and Construction
- Business, Management and Administration
- Education and Training
- Finance
- Hospitality and Tourism
- Human Services
- Marketing, Sales and Service
- Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
1
The industries bellows witnessed a decrease in representation from the Class of 2017 from the Class of 2016:
1
- Arts, Audio/Video Technology and Communications
- Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources
- Government and Public Administration
- Health Science
- Law, Public Safety, Corrections and Security
1
Key Findings:
- Every industry experienced a shift in reporting from the Class of 2016 to the Class of 2017.
- Arts, Audio/Video Technology and Communications, which historically has reported closer to 20%, experienced a drop of 9% to 13%. This field in the past has recorded weak starting salaries, and a smaller population selecting this field would impact the median salary reporting for the class.
- Education and Training continued to represent strongly within this class, even with lower levels or no reported participation in international educational programs such as UCETAM, JET, EPIK, and French Teaching Assistants, as well as the discontinuation of Skidmore Teach in China.
- Business, Management and Administration, as well as Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics both experienced increases. These fields historically are strong performers in salary, which raises the median of the class.
Continuing Education
On average, 15% - 21% of Skidmore graduates elect to continue their education after graduation. Within 5 years, this number increases to 45% - 55%. Skidmore graduates find themselves more likely to immediately continue education:
Amherst College
Amherst, MA
/ 16%
Bates College
Lewiston, ME
/ 10%
Colgate University
Hamilton, NY
/ 16%
College of the Holy Cross
Worcester, MA
/ 14%
St. Lawrence University
Canton, NY
/ 19%
Union College
Schenectady, NY
/ 22%
Skidmore College
Saratoga Springs, NY
/ 19%
A Sampling of Institutions and Programs Selected by Class of 2017 Graduates:
1
Boston University, Education
Brown University, Biostatistics
Colgate University, Secondary Education
Columbia University, International Social Welfare & Policy
Columbia University, Mathematics of Finance
Dartmouth College, Engineering
Duke University, Law
Emory University, Nursing, Women’s Health
Glasgow University, Battlefield Archaeology
Harvard University, Landscape Architecture
Indiana University, Mathematics
London School of Economics, Development Studies
Northeastern University, Sports Leadership
Rochester Institute of Technology, Metal and Jewelry Arts
Rosalind Franklin University, Podiatric Medicine
Tufts University, Water Resources Engineering
University of Colorado, Boulder, Physical Chemistry
University of Maryland, Physical Therapy
University of Pennsylvania, Nurse Practitioner Pediatric Acute Care
University of Rochester, Finance
Wake Forest University, Business Administration
Washington University in St. Louis, Audiology
1
I am currently enrolled at Columbia University’s School of Social Work. I attended the CDC Graduate and Professional School Expo to meet the admissions directors for social work schools and ask questions that I was unable to find on the websites. I also got an application waiver from NYU, which saved me tons of money! Meeting Debbie Lesperance from Columbia was so important because she remembered me after that when we were communicating via e-mail. After I was accepted to Columbia. she was the one who I contacted to request more scholarship money and she approved it! I was also able to ask her in person for an application waiver which she gave to me through e-mail so it was not as obvious as NYU’s waivers. Because so many students apply to these schools, I think it is helpful for admissions directors to know us in person so that they can put a face and personality to the name on paper.
-Shannon Gunter
Experiential Education
86% of respondents reported completing at least one internship prior to graduation, a 10% increase from the Class of 2016. 56% reported 2 or more.
87% of respondents reported their internship as “Very Helpful” or “Helpful” in preparing for their post-graduate career aspirations.
A Sampling of Internship Sites Selected by Class of 2017 Graduates:
1
3Arts Entertainment
Albany Molecular Research Inc.
Ayco Company
Barclays Center
Bellevue Hospital
BNP Paribas
Bose Corporation
Boston University
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office
Calvin Klein
Cambridge Associates
Cengage Learning
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Chubb
Columbia University Medical Center
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Discovery Communications Inc.
Earthos Institute
EUSONIA Studios
HSBC Global Banking and Markets
IBM
JP Morgan Chase
Kate Spade & Company
Larchmont Animal Hospital
Latin American News Digest
Lincoln Center for Performing Arts
Mass Audobon
Massachusetts State Senate
Microsoft
Mount Sinai Health System
National Infectious Diseases Laboratories
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
New York Daily News
New York State Council on the Arts
Northfield Mount Hermon School
Notre Dame University
NYS Department of Labor
Planned Parenthood
Ropes & Gray LLP
Safe Horizon
Saratoga County Opportunity Council
Scholastic, Inc.
Seder & Chandler LLP
Senator Chuck Schumer
Silver Hill Psychiatric Hospital
Sirius XM Radio, Inc.
Smithsonian Institute
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
The Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston
The New York Times
The Trust for Public Land
Trident Fantasy Films
Twentieth Century Fox
United States Environmental Protection Agency
USA Hockey
Vienna Austria Center for Social Innovation
WallachBeth Capital
Weill Cornell Medical Center
Wilkinson Ecological Design Company
World Civic Orchestra
World Policy Institute
1
Satisfaction
Despite decreased hiring projectionsand deflated salaries reported by employers in the NACE Job Outlook 2017 report, respondents from the Class of 2017 have reported higher direct relationships between their academic majors and career goals from last year’s class:
- 87% rated their current occupation as related to their area of study, an increase of 6% from the Class of 2016, and an 11% increase from the Class of 2015.
- 81% rated their current occupation as related to their career goals.
Thispositive correlation is all the more impressive, as the Class of 2017 reported valuing the relationship between their academic major and professional status at the same percentage as the Class of 2015.
- 75% of respondents viewed the relevance of their current occupation to their area of study as important, a 3% increase from the Class of 2016.
The valuing of the relationship affirms that the positions are indeed in support of the students’ academic interests or career goals, and not a shift in attitude from the Classes of 2016 and 2017.
The Class of 2017 is more satisfied with their current occupation,
feel that their current occupation is related to their area of study,
and is related to long-term career goals at a higher rate than the Class of 2016.
Additionally, the Class of 2017 participated in experiential education at higher rates than the Class of 2016 (a 10% increase), which could be positively affecting the class’s ability to find and obtain positions in their fields of interest.
At Skidmore, I was a psychology major and dance minor, but the CDCis the entire reason that I found my employment after graduation at the BET network.
-Jazmine Paredes
Navigating the post college life can be somewhat a mammoth, and the transition may seem scary, if not impossible. This was my reality at some point in college, and I was overwhelmed by how much I didn’t know, and how much I ought to know or ought to have figured out. It took a lot of resources from Skidmore (faculty and staff), to help me clearly layout the path ahead of me. One of the resources — which goes unnoticed and underutilized — is the CDC (Career Development Center) which was instrumental in helping me draft my resume, hone my interviewing skills, and enhance my elevator pitch. Skidmore has a wealth of resources that, when utilized, can land anyone on their next career dreams; be it jobs, or entrepreneurship venture.
-Thabang Maphothoane
1