Number of Cliffies Planning to Enter Graduate Schools Greatly Increases

Four times as many Cliffies hope to go to law school this year as went from the Classes of 1964 or 1965. Applications to medical school have tripled.

Sixty-five per cent of this year's seniors plan to enter graduate or professional study next fall, while only 45 per cent did so the last two years. Another seven per cent of this year's class want to take next year off, but will continue study the following year.

These figures emerged yesterday from a postcard survey taken of all Radcliffe seniors by the 'Cliffe deans and News Office last January.

The survey of seniors' plans--unique this year--begun when the three deans began to realize that an unusual number of Cliffies were mentioning plans for further study, particularly in the professions.

"We were particularly amazed when we learned that about 23 seniors had applied to Harvard Medical School," Mrs. Barbara M. Solomon, associate dean, said recently. "I kept hearing 'I'm interested in politics,' or 'I want to improve society.'"

Although none of the Radcliffe officials are certain why the increase was so dramatic, Mary D. Albro, director of the Radcliffe Appointment Bureau, said yesterday that she thought new flexibility in training and in jobs made Radcliffe seniors realize that they could combine a profession with marriage.

Miss Albro also pointed to the Radcliffe Institute for Independent Study and to Mrs. Bunting as "inspirations" to Cliffies considering an academic or professional career.

In actual figures, the survey disclosed that 29 Cliffies intend to go to law school next year, and 27 to medical school, compared with 7 and 9, respectively, who went last year. The total number intending further study was 188 members of the Class of 1966; only 112 girls in the Class of 1965 continued their education.

Unlike past surveys, the current study tabulated seniors' announced plans, rather than waiting to see what they actually do. Thus, according to Miss Albro, some of the seniors who said they wanted to go to graduate school may not actually attend next year.

Eventually however, even more Cliffies than declared for graduate school will go on to further study, she predicted.