http://www.wsj.com/graphics/where-graduates-move-after-college/
(paywall, but may be accessible by searching for title)
For those of you with post-college kids, did DC stay near their alma mater after graduating, closer to home, or neither? What factors did they point to in making this decision?
Our graduate moved from the midwest, where we live and where she went to college, to the east coast. She had been paying attention to the trajectory of some of the kids one year older than her in her major/department. She followed a similar playbook.
Applied for, and accepted an unpaid internship. Worked in a restaurant to pay the bills in the meantime. Got hired on for a full-time position after sending out a lot of resumes and going on several interviews.
Her reasoning, for the move, was that if she started out in the Chicago area, she might not leave. So, she wanted a new adventure and figured it would always be easy to come back home.
Kid one went to college two hours drive from home. He now lives 2500 miles away. Decision based on cost of living, quality of life, and ability to do what he wants to do.
Kid two went to college 3000 miles away. She is currently in professional school about 1200 miles away. Very likely she will settle within 200 miles of home. Decision based on opportunities.
@Midwest67 @thumper1 one can’t help but to admire their sense of possibility and adventure. I suppose we were the same at their age. Best wishes to your kids as they write the next chapter of their story!
Oldest son graduated last year. Has had 3 temporary jobs in 3 different states for the past year but working on finding a permanent position in-state, not near home but close to his alma mater.
Youngest son just graduated, has an internship and hopefully a job close to his alma mater, in-state but not near home either.
@Gumbymom hopefully your oldest will find a longer-term job that he likes soon. It’s interesting that both sons have been drawn to the area near school. If you don’t mind my asking, is this due to greater job prospects there, or something less tangible?
@inboston: Older son went to UC Davis and loves Northern California. Also more job prospects in that area based on his degree vs. Southern California- Los Angeles suburb where home is located. Also considering graduate school and the programs of interest are found in several of the schools in the Northern California.
Younger son just graduated from SDSU, loves the SD area (who wouldn’t) socially and the tech hub around the SD/La Jolla area is great for a CS major.
@Gumbymom Can’t fault them for their good taste. Many graduates of East coast colleges move across the country to those areas, or dream of doing so. The thought is very appealing, particularly after this past winter in the Boston area.
Denver is one destination. The areas around downtown are filled with young 'uns paying outrageous rents in brand-new high rises. They’ve brought a whole new energy to this city. Some gripe about it; I think it’s made Denver far more interesting.
My children grew up in the midwest. D1 went to college in southern California, 2,000 miles from home. She worked in that general area for a few years and then moved to New York City. D2 went to college in the next state over, 250 miles from home. She worked in New York City for two years and now is in graduate school in northern California. The professional and educational opportunities are better where they are than here, in their home state.
My new graduate is heading about 90 miles south of her school. I never thought she’d stay, but has a few friends working for this company (not in the same location) and her boyfriend was anxious to move back (he’d gone home after graduating, but after 1 NJ winter was ready to head south again).
Other one intends to return to Florida after graduating from Wyoming. I doubt she’ll have enough money for that, but she can dream.
From the South. Ds is graduating from school in California next month. He’s moving to another city in California for employment. As expected. We’ve since moved from his home state of origin to Florida so we are even farther away now. We are thrilled for the opportunities he has had. No expectations that he will ever live near us again. Which is perfectly fine! We have two coasts to choose from when visiting each other! When we are too old and decrepit to fend for ourselves we’ll move to a old-folks’ home near him to keep things easier for him.
Oldest went to school 350 miles away, and would like to have wound up anywhere but near home. He followed his GF, not from our home state, who got multiple very good offers in our home state. Youngest went to state flagship (UMD) and will be working in DC as a public sector consultant when he graduates (this week) but likely traveling a lot. He plans to move home for a short period of time. If his customer is far away and he has to travel, he will “live” at home to avoid paying rent. If his customer is around DC area and appears to be relatively long term, he will likely get an apartment near DC.
From NY. S went to school in Maine. Took job in Boston after graduating. Now on second job and still in Boston, loves it there.
We’re from the east coast. S1 went to school in Pittsburgh, did internships in CA and has been in CA ever since.
S2 went to school in the Boston area, did a year of internships and jobs in the NYC area living in our attic then decided to become a Naval officer. He’s stationed in MD now, but could be anywhere.
From the WSJ article…
Some cities punch above their weight
The biggest cities don’t necessarily draw the most students from colleges and universities in our study.
San Francisco, for example ranks 11th in population but fifth in drawing power, attracting 2% or more of alumni from 139 schools.
Metro rank
(pop. in millions)
New York (20.1)
Los Angeles (13.3)
Chicago (9.5)
Dallas (7.2)
Houston (6.8)
Washington (6.1)
Philadelphia (6.1)
Miami (6.1)
Atlanta (5.8)
Boston (4.8)
San Fran. (4.7)
Phoenix (4.7)
Schools rank
(no. of schools)
New York (263)
Washington (218)
Los Angeles (167)
Chicago (144)
San Fran. (139)
Boston (120)
Atlanta (104)
Philadelphia (100)
Dallas (72)
Houston (60)
Seattle (46)
Denver (38)
D grew up and graduated HS in the Midwest. She went to NOLA for undergrad, then did a year of volunteer work in Chicago (4 -5 hours from home) and is now in professional school in our home state. The rest of us have moved to the west coast and left her there, though there is extended family nearby.
I have no idea where she will be after she graduates. She is a wanderer and may never settle down.
Our kids grew up in Park City, Utah. Both attended out of state schools. One kid works in Boston, the other in NYC. I expect both will eventually end up on the west coast.
How is it possible that San Francisco has more schools than Boston? It sure seems like there are many more colleges in amd around Boston. (I have lived in both places and attended universites in both places.) Are they counting community colleges?
We live in DC area ,D attended college in NYC and has stayed there and working the last 5 years. She and SIL will be relocating to a large city in the Midwest this summer for her MBA program. If they like it there they will likely settle in that city.