LIFE AFTER WHEATON
The Undergraduate Class of 2020
CENTER FOR VOCATION AND CAREER
2 CLASS OF 2020 FIRST DESTINATION SURVEY RESULTS Dee Pierce M.A. '17 Director Center for Vocation and Career
3.3% Seeking employment or internship
In March 2020, life changed for our seniors. They left campus and finished their final semester in front of computer screens around the globe. Their graduation ceremony was cancelled and they didn’t have a chance to say goodbye to faculty and friends after nearly four years together. That summer, racial tension and social unrest shook our nation, making its imprint on our country in ways still unfolding. A divisive election, a virus that wouldn't retreat, and the resulting economic uncertainty caused many to wonder how this group of Wheaton graduates would manage to begin careers or start graduate school. And yet, they persevered and showed us what they are made of. As we began gathering information on this class, we became more and more hopeful. They were landing jobs. Maybe not easily or quickly, but with the help of the CVC, many ended up in places where they could use their Wheaton experience and the skills they had developed through their liberal arts education: research in public health institutions, analytical skills in financial firms, critical thinking and writing in law school or seminary or other graduate programs. They showed their care of others and their hearts for living out their faith in church and para-church organizations and other non-profits. The story is not over for our 2020 graduates. While many found roles that allow them to learn and grow, others are in roles that will help pay the bills and serve as a good stopgap while they wait for a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic to pass so they can pursue other opportunities. And the CVC will still be here. Ready to serve the Class of 2020 for two full years, with all of our resources at their disposal. Take a moment to see how their post-grad story begins. I’m confident you will be as proud of this class as we are.
Survey Methodology This survey is conducted according to guidelines from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), the professional association for college career services. NACE’s First Destination Survey captures information on how new college graduates fare in their careers within six months of graduation. The annual initiative provides clear, concise, and consistent data on the outcomes associated with a college education on a national scale (naceweb.org). In addition to providing outcomes for specific graduating classes, the First Destination Survey is designed to provide data trends over time to inform the discussion about the value of higher education. The standards and protocols allow collection of information from an electronic survey conducted by the Center for Vocation and Career, as well as job information from sources like LinkedIn.
96.7
%
of the class landed* within six months of graduation, compared to the national average of 85% in 2019 (NACE). * employed, interning, furthering their education, or pursuing other adventures of their choice
WHERE ARE WHEATON GRADUATES WORKING?
Organizations employing the class of 2020*
Top 13 Job Sectors
18.75% 15% 13.13% 11.25% 10.94% 5.31% 4.69%
2.81% 2.19%
HEALTHCARE
FINANCIAL SERVICES
RELIGIOUS WORK INTERNET & SOFTWARE
CONSTRUCTION & MANUFACTURING
4.38%
HIGHER EDUCATION
3.13%
K-12 EDUCATION
NON-PROFIT
4.38% 3.44%
BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
CREATIVE & MEDIA FIELDS REAL ESTATE LAW
GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC POLICY
Alumni Profile Liz George
Major: English Writing & Economics Landed: Financial Analyst at Amazon Liz George, who graduated with an English Writing and Economics degree, enjoyed the spiritual richness and intellectual challenges she discovered in her academic work at Wheaton. “I knew that I needed to establish strong spiritual roots,” she said. “I found that I was able to see the beauty of math in my Economics classes, and I learned more about the depth of the human experience in my English classes.” Outside of the classroom, George was involved with the swim team, the Writing Center, and Kodon, where she learned key skills such as being in a mentoring relationship and budget management. However, it was her internship experiences at Morgan Stanley and Amazon that helped her secure a job after graduation as a Financial Analyst at Amazon. Today, George works in a fast-paced environment where she is able to use the mathematical modeling and writing skills that she picked up during her time at Wheaton. She explained, “I am constantly communicating across teams. A liberal arts education really hones your communication skills, and that’s the top skill I use.” Her advice to current Wheaton students is to not fear post-grad opportunities, and instead see life after graduation as an opportunity for greater freedom.
Agecroft Partners Aldi Align Builders, Inc. Alliance Academy International AmeriCorps Archeon Group Athletico Physical Therapy Bellas Artes School of Music Bridge Investment Group Camden Property Trust CannonDesign Capital One CDW Charter Senior Living Chatham Financial Chicago Public Schools Chick-fil-A Christ Community Church Clapham School Colorado Christian University Compass Mortgage, Inc. CoreLogic Coyote Logistics Crown Pacific Dental Arts Cunningham Children's Home Diesel Radiator Co. Digistream Investigations Dzanc Books Edward-Elmhurst Health El Camino Academy Epic Eventide Asset Management Express Employment Professionals Fairfax County Public Schools
First Trust Portfolios Fisher Investments Five Q Garfield Produce Company
Genesis Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Girls Inc. of Memphis Global Immigration Associates, P.C. GNC
Hanley, Flight & Zimmerman, LLC Healthcare Logistics Management HoneyRock Hope and Peace International Hope Chapel Maui Hudson Legal Group IBM ICON Medical Network IIT Research Institute International Fellowship for Mission as Transformation Innovator Capital Management LLC Inova Health System Jackson Creek Senior Living
Jill's House John Hopkins Medicine Kansas Department for Children and Families Kast Media Kathleen T. Zellner & Associates, P.C. Kearney & Company, P.C. KeHE Distributors Kimberly-Clark LaSalle Network Laureate Wealth Management Lawndale Christian Health Center Legal Aid Society of Hawaii MDS Express Meddeas MedScribes Menard, Inc. Mercy Community Healthcare
Saint Louis Public Schools
Monarch Research Montecatini Eating Disorder Treatment Center Mortenson Construction Naperville Christian Academy National Securities Corporation Nationwide Credit Inc
Northwest Immigrant Rights Project Northwestern Medicine Northwestern Mutual Novus Media LLC Oak Hill Brands Corp Oak Street Health Our Lady of Lourdes Classical Catholic School Ozinga Pace Analytical LLC Parkside Church Passages Israel Pathways to Housing DC PCC Community Wellness Center Pediatric Dental Associates Group Performance Trust Capital Partners, LLC Philabundance Pittsburgh Fellows Point B Portland Art Gallery PrepNet Schools Property Management Unlimited Providence Bank & Trust Quantitative Systematic Strategies LLC Raytheon Technologies Robert A. Pecchio Co., L.P.A. Round Rock ISD
Sanders Commercial Real Estate Santiago Christian School Scribekick Sphera State Farm Sunshine Gospel Ministries Surefox Consulting Susan B Anthony List Tahoe Donner Lodge TAPIF Teach For America Teladoc Health Tempus, Inc. The Committee for Human Rights in North Korea The Gettys Group The Hannah Center
The Morton Arboretum The Re:new Project
U.S. Department of Justice United States Air Force University of Chicago Ventas, Inc. Wagenmaker and Oberly LLC Warrenville Grove Animal Hospital Wheaton Christian Grammar School Wheaton College World Relief Yellowstone Alliance Adventures YMCA Young Life
Salary Data**
* This is a partial list of employers for 2020 graduates.
Average Full-Time Salary: $44,678.14 Range of Full-Time Salary: $20,000–$85,000
** Based on available student-reported actual salary information (base salaries only). Excludes part-time positions, internships, fellowships, and residential positions where housing is part of compensation package. National average Liberal Arts & Sciences salary of $43,919 (NACE).
6
1
Where are they now?
4
WHERE DID THEY LAND?
Top 5 States where Class of 2020 Landed
1
1 4
8
1 3 1 2
10
8 10
Full or part-time employment, including:
1 25
Employed as an entrepreneur Employed in a temporary/ contract work assignment
208 11
2
4
Employed as a freelancer
7
4
1
1
7
2
Employed in a postgraduate internship or fellowship
6
6
16
2
7
12
10
1 1
Employed in all other work categories
1
6
1
11 67%
EMPLOYED
25%
ENROLLED IN GRADUATE SCHOOL OR PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL
1%
MILITARY SERVICE
2%
PURSUING OTHER ADVENTURES
1%
VOLUNTEER, MISSIONARY OR NATIONAL SERVICE (Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, Teach For America, etc.)
4
Other Countries
3
Canada China Dominican Republic Ecuador
England France Guatemala Italy
Jamaica Scotland Slovakia Spain
Alumni Profile Aleks Nosewicz
Major: Physics Landed: Patent Engineer at Hanley, Flight, & Zimmerman and JD Candidate at Chicago Kent Aleks Nosewicz, a Physics major, appreciated the tight-knit community he found in the classroom at Wheaton. In addition, his Physics classes taught him valuable skills such as persistence, diligence, and a strong work ethic, which he continued to grow in as a member of Wheaton’s track team and as President of the Creation Society. While volunteering at a legal nonprofit, Nosewicz was able to network and get in touch with a firm that specialized in patent law, his passion. He continued to pursue these connections and was eventually offered a full-time job at Hanley, Flight, & Zimmerman before the start of his senior year. Nosewicz said, “I count it as God’s work in my life—I didn’t have the background for it, but I was a hard worker and it paid off.” After graduation he stepped into his new role at Hanley, Flight, & Zimmerman as a Patent Engineer, where he was able to work with and learn from other attorneys. Additionally, Nosewicz is also pursuing his career goals as a law student at Chicago Kent College of Law, where he attends a night program while working full-time. “I have learned a lot about work-life balance,” he said. “It’s really hard, because I go straight from work to school but I’ve found a church and that has helped me be centered in a community.” Nosewicz’s advice for Wheaties interested in graduate studies is to take a Sabbath rest and set aside time for God.
WHERE ARE THEY STUDYING?*
WHAT ARE THEY STUDYING IN GRADUATE SCHOOL OR OTHER EDUCATIONAL ENDEAVORS? Class of 2020 by field of study Accountancy Art & Art History Biostatistics Chemistry Clinical Mental Health Counseling Contemporary Asian Studies Creative Writing Dentistry Dietetics Divinity/Theology Engineering English Environmental Sustainability Environmental Science
App Academy Bellarmine University Boston University Charles Cecil Studio Chicago Kent College of Law Christ Church Waco Cornerstone University Covenant Theological Seminary Denver Seminary DePaul University Des Moines University Osteopathic Medical Center Duke School of Divinity Duke University East Tennessee State University Eastern Michigan University Florida State University Fordham University Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary Gonzaga University Harold Washington College High Point University Illinois College of Optometry Illinois Institute of Technology
Finance Geology Higher Education & Student Development Hospitality Leadership & Operational Performance Humanitarian Disaster Leadership Law Library & Information Science Marriage & Family Therapy Mathematics Media & Communication Studies Medicine Music Performance Hydrological Sciences
Indiana Wesleyan University Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis Madison Area Technical College Marymount University McMaster University Michigan State University Midwestern University National University of Health Sciences Northern Illinois University Northwestern University Notre Dame Law School Oxford University Pepperdine University Law School Purdue University Reformed Theological Seminary Regent University Rush University Seattle Pacific University Southeast Community College–Lincoln Southern College of Optometry Southwest Baptist University The University of Edinburgh Trinity International University Seminary
*This is a partial list of where 2020 graduates are pursuing advanced degrees.
Nursing Philosophy Physical Therapy Psychology School Counseling Secondary Education Social Work Spanish Linguistics Teaching TESOL & Intercultural Studiese
Union University University of Arizona University of Chicago University of Cincinnati University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign University of Iowa University of Kansas University of Michigan University of Missouri–Saint Louis University of Nebraska–Lincoln University of Pennsylvania University of St. Andrews University of Tennessee University of Washington–Seattle UNLV School of Dental Medicine Utah State University Washington University in Saint Louis Western Theological Seminary Westminster Seminary California Wheaton College Graduate School
8
10
WHERE DID THEY INTERN BEFORE GRADUATION?
82
%
Internships completed by the class of 2020 Internships are a critical part of career preparation. Below is a partial list of internships sites.
3M Above and Beyond Family Recovery Center All Nations Sports Academy Alliance Academy International Alliance for Immigrant Neighbors Allianz Global Investors Allina Health Allstate Amazon Argis Solutions Athletico Physical Therapy Bank of America Berliner Stadtmission Big Data Summer Institute at University of Michigan Blue Collar Labs BMJ Bob's Red Mill Bolingbrook Christian Health Center Carle Foundation Hospital Casa Chirilagua Cato Institute Central Ohio Symphony Orchestra Chapel Hill Bible Church Charlotte Motor Speedway Chicago Council on Global Affairs Chicago Eco House Chicago Public Schools Chicago Steel Hockey Team Christ Community Church Cincinnati Magazine Citipointe Christian College City Hall of Seville City of Wheaton College Church
Community of Faith Church Compassion International Corexpand Coyote Logistics Credo Music Crossroads Bible Church CUSD 200 Diesel Radiator Co. Door of Hope DuPage County Health Department ECHO Asia Edison Middle School Elevation Church Fellowship of Christian Athletes Finance of America First Trust Portfolios Frist Art Museum Garfield Produce Co Georgia Trust for Public Land Glen Ellyn Public Library Globus Medical Greater Europe Mission Harvest Bible Chapel Healthpartners Neurosceince Center Help International Ministries Heritage Professional Associates Hudson Institute Political Studies Illinois State Police Immigrant Hope Santa Barbara Instituto de la Asunción International Care Ministries International Community School of Addis Ababa International Institute of Minnesota
International Justice Mission Itasca Plastics Johnstone Supply Kharis Publishing Kimberly-Clark La Defensora de los Derechos Humanos de Querétaro La'o Hamutuk Launch Digital Marketing Law Offices of Kathleen T. Zellner Lawndale Christian Health Center Living and Learning International Made in Hope Magen David Adom Marian Park Tutoring Massachusetts General Hopsital Mauritanian-Swiss Security LLC Mercatus Center Morgan Stanley Mortenson Construction Mukono Church of Uganda Hospital NAMI San Diego Naperville Central High School National Democratic Training Committee National School Project NBA Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies Neuberger Berman New City Fellowship Next Step Ministries Northern Illinois Food Bank Northwestern Medicine
Northwestern Mutual Office of the General Counsel for the U.S. House of Representatives Omni Med Uganda One-On-One Chicago Pacific Crown Dental Arts Partners for Life Advancement and Education Promotion Passages Israel Pepperdine University Performance Trust Prairie State Legal Services Priority Health Quicken Loans Restoration Athletic Apparel Rothman Institute Rush Medical Center Saddleback Church SALT Indonesia Samaritan's Purse Samaritana Transformation Ministries Inc Sanders Commercial Real Estate Sandoz Pharmaceuticals Shalom Hospital Shandong University Shelter the Homeless International Projects State Farm Insurance Summit Health Sunshine Gospel Ministries Synaptic Games Taipei Kuei Shan School Teach for America The Advocacy Project The Edge Fitness Clubs The GardenWorks Project The Heritage Foundation
True North Equities Tyndale House Publishers U.S. Air Force U.S. Bank U.S. Congress U.S. Department of Justice U.S. House Foreign Affairs Western Hemisphere Subcommittee U.S. Senate U.S. State Department Uganda Studies Program Unidos en Acción University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics University of Kentucky University of Michigan School of Public Health University of Minnesota University of NebraskaLincoln University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University of Oklahoma School of Community Medicine US Bank Valley Christian High School Vida en Abundancia Washington University School of Medicine Wheaton College Wheaton North High School White House Internship Program World Relief DuPage Young Life
of the class completed at least one internship during their time at Wheaton.
Alumni Profiles Elena Andino Major: Spanish and Secondary Education Landed: Spanish Teacher at IDEA San Juan College Preparatory Elena Andino graduated from Wheaton with degrees in Spanish and Secondary Education. She was also a part of Honduras Project, where she took the opportunity to learn more about global missions and connect with her roots. Along with her experience at HoneyRock and in the Dominican Republic with Student Ministry Partners, these opportunities shaped the way Andino saw her students and how she wanted to teach. “I was impacted by the idea of community development and what it means to empower others,” Andino said. “I really want to be a strong role model for my students.” Her student teaching experiences taught her the importance of networking and interpersonal communication, and she landed a job at IDEA San Juan College Preparatory as a Spanish Teacher. As a new teacher during a pandemic, she has faced the vast challenge of starting a new job, getting to know colleagues, and teaching students completely virtually. Despite these obstacles, Andino has greatly enjoyed her role as a teacher. “My hope is that my students would learn to appreciate Spanish,” she said. “I have the platform to inspire them to want to learn more.” Her advice to Wheaton students is to explore career industries by shadowing and networking to discover what might be a good fit for you.
Philip Kwong Major: Christian Formation & Ministry (CFM) Landed: Business Development Representative at Beyond Pricing Philip Kwong was a Christian Formation & Ministry major at Wheaton and used his free time to invest in various communities around campus, including Youth Hostel Ministry (YHM), Chapel Band, and the Wheaton Student Chaplains. “My leadership positions allowed me to grow and mature,” Kwong said. “All the experiences, from the classroom to the extracurriculars, led to the development of who I am.” His most valuable summer internship was at the LaSalle Network, where he established a foundation in the sales world through networking. However, COVID-19 forced Kwong to change his plans when he found out that none of the companies he wanted to apply to after graduation were hiring. In the midst of a difficult season, he continued to use his professional connections to eventually land a job at Beyond Pricing as a Business Development Representative. Kwong enjoys his job in sales because it allows him to use his CliftonStrengths in a way that is useful and fulfilling. “Wheaton helped me figure out who I am and what I am good at,” he said. “I was able to take that and use it for my vocation.” Kwong’s advice for Wheaties is to remember that there’s not one set path and not to compare themselves to others.