Student Life: "Survey of Graduates Shows General Optimism Prevails," 1934
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“Survey of Graduates Shows General Optimism Prevails”
“Yes, I am graduating; but what of it?” This, according to the daily press and expert observers generally is, or should be, the attitude of the typical 1934 college graduate.
Being subjectively as well as objectively interested in the truth of the matter, I set out to ascertain for myself just what the 1934 graduate, at least the 1934 George Washington graduate thinks of his college preparation and chances of bettering himself as a result of such preparation. Accordingly I made it my business to be present at the places frequented by the current graduates—at the Alumni Senior Dance, Baccalaureate sermon, rose bush planting, and Class Night exercises—and by observation and direct interviewing got a line on what the grads themselves think of the whole thing. In all some thirteen or fifteen cap and gowners were personally and completely questioned.
Generally speaking the tenor of the graduate statements is optimistic and at least “encouraging” to a poor undergraduate. Those who are finishing college now might be according to the finding of this investigation divided into three groups—those who are already employed and expect to advance as a result of having acquired college training; those who are not employed but hope to be (and most of them actually thought they would be); and those who have gone to college not with a view to becoming employed in a gainful occupation, but to acquire a cultural background or to become better fitted to meet the practical problems of life (this group was confined to women).
The first person interviewed was a young lady getting her A.B. in library science, having spent two years at G.W. after transferring from a southern college. She is not employed at present, has no immediate prospects of becoming connected, but doesn’t care anyway as she expects to enter George Washington Law School in the fall. She added, that in her opinion “a college education is of much more value to a man than to a woman,” but that she personally was well pleased.
A stenographer in the Bureau of Public Roads was next to cross the path of the inquiring reporter. She is getting an A.B. in Political Science after 7 years in the evening sessions and although she has nothing definite in sight as a result of her college training, she is quite pleased with it all and believes that it has been helpful in many ways.”
Either the female graduates far outnumber the male or the latter are just as prone to cut commencement functions as classes. There may possibly be another reason but anyway, the third person I encountered was also a young lady. Her story was short—she is getting an A.B., major in history, she is not employed, doesn’t want to be employed, doesn’t expect to be employed; she came to George Washington to acquire “culture” and is well pleased with the result. (So was I.)
Victim number four is a man; an engineer. Entering George Washington in 1925, he received his B.S. in E.E. in 1920, is now getting his B.S. in M.E. and expects to return next year and get his professional degree. As a result of his George Washington work he secured a “good” position in his chosen field and has been advanced several times, and “expects another promotion on the strength of the new degree.” A popular campus blond was next to be approached. She is getting an A.B. in education, is already favorably located and with immediate prospects of improving her position as a result of getting her degree. She also stated that the chief reason for thinking her time at George Washington well spent was the pleasure of knowing a certain popular science professor. Since this fair lady has quite an enviable record in activities, I asked her if she were beginning over, would she spend more time on study and less in activities. She replied without hesitation that she “most certainly would.”
Next was an out of town day student receiving an A.B. in government. He had no immediate prospect of being located in an agreeable position and stated that “unless something develops during the summer” he guessed he would return in the fall and work on his master’s degree as he thought things would certainly get better.
An A.B. in architecture was being received by the next interviewee. As a result of her training this seemingly talented young lady is to “go to work” in her chosen field for the summer but hope to return in the fall for her professional degree. This artist has also been prominent in activities and found her division of time as to work and play quite satisfactory.
Another successful LL.B. candidate was then questioned and he had only good news. He said that he could speak not only for himself but also for a number of other G.W. graduates who, like himself, work at the Patent Office and feel that their present training has been essential and who on the strength of the degree being received are slated for promotion in the not far distant future.
The last young lady is a home economics major. When asked if she ever felt that she was wasting time and money in going to college she replied that she never felt that way but others did in her particular case. While at present employed, she does not think her degree will help her in that connection but thinks “it will prove of practical value.” (At this point I noticed a sparkling diamond on her left ring finger so concluded that my queries were answered.)
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Author or Source: Hatchet, June 6, 1934
Document Location: University Archives
Date Added to Encyclopedia: December 21, 2006
Prepared by: Lyle Slovick, Assistant University Archivist
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