Frequently asked questions about the first destination survey and report

How many of the graduates responded?

• This varies each year for the total university and for each college and major.
• Response data are the first items in the report for each graduation year, which contains a report for total university and each college and major.
• Each graduate is counted once under the graduate's primary major.
• Note that majors appear on the menu if (1) undergraduate degrees were conferred, AND (2) there was at least one respondent with that major as primary.
• Total university reponse by year:
  2021-2022: 56%
  2020-2021: 64%
  2019-2020: 31% (lower due to delay of survey due to pandemic)
  2018-2019: 55%
  2017-2018: 69%
  2016-2017: 69%
  2015-2016: 62%
  2014-2015: 58%
  2013-2014: 60%
  2012-2013: 60%

Thank you for asking!

In addition to our efforts to encourage new graduates to respond to the survey, advisors, faculty, and staff who work with graduating seniors help to encourage response, and that can make a difference.

How you can help:

• Complete this brief form, and we'll send you concise reminder information at the appropriate times.
• The survey opens about one month before commencement and stays open for six months after. You can send your upcoming and new grads to the survey information throughout that time.
• Please know that the best time windows to get responses are:
  • Late April to May commencement (for May and summer term grads).
  • Late November to December commencement (for December and winter term grads).
  • So you could mark your calendar to remind them, and direct them to the survey information that includes open and close dates based on grad term.

Thank you! Your efforts have value and could make the difference to graduating seniors who know you.

Access to the survey is based on a student's Application for Degree (AFD) (for an undergraduate degree) that the student submitted with the University Registrar. If a student thinks they should have access to the survey, and doesn't, we advise (as a first step) that the student check their AFD.

• No. These are two different and distinct surveys.
• The senor survey is administered by the office of Analytics and Institutional Effectiveness, and asks about different topics related to the undergraduate experience.

When do most of the academic year's grads complete degrees?

• December grads generally account for 16-18% of the total.
• May grads constitute the majority, with 72-74%.
• Summer sessons comprise 9-10%.
• The university began allowing degree completion after winter term; this accounts for less than half a percent of the graduates. We survey these graduates with the December sub-cohort.

Who employs the most graduates? Who are the employers by major?

• Responding employed graduates have reported 700+ to 1000+ employers per graduation year.
• Each year, >130 to >270 graduates stated they are employed but did not name their employer.
• The most-reported employer is typically reported by under 3% of employed grads.
• See the report which includes details.

Where do most graduates go to continue education? Where do grads go by major?

• Each year, graduates report >150 to almost 200 institutions in over 30 states, plus Washington, DC. A handful of individuals report institutions abroad. Typically about a third of those continuing education (about 7%-8% of all respondents) do so at Virginia Tech.
• The report includes information about continuing education.

What degrees do grads pursue immediately after graduation?

• Within the report is a list of continuing education information by undergraduate major.

What if a graduate finds a job after graduation? Can they report that?

• Yes. The survey stays open for six months after commencement, so graduates have plenty of time to self-report employment or graduate school admission. They can easily update their self-report as long as the survey is open, and this is explained in information about the survey.

The Virginia Tech Graduate School (see data and reports) surveys and reports on the career plans of those who complete a master's degree or doctoral degree at Virginia Tech.

If you have other questions:

• You may email Catherine Copeland or call our main number.