Many Seniors Planning More Academics

Despite a well-publicized lack of positions for professors and teachers across the nation, almost one-fourth of the 204 seniors contacted by The Crimson yesterday said they plan to attend some form of academic graduate school after finishing college.

Respondents to a random telephone poll indicated that a combination of pure dedication and the hope of using academic training for non-academic careers has inspired many students to set their sights on disciplines such as biology, fine arts and economics.

Although 81 percent of the sample said they intend to attend a graduate school, 64 students--31 percent of the total--said they will take at least a year off before pursuing further training.

"I've been in schools now for 18 years, and I've had enough of sitting in classroom," said Victoria Eastus, voicing a common sentiment. Eastus added that she plans eventually to attend law school, but that she will first look for a job in Washington as an interim activity.

Twenty-three percent of the respondents said they hope to attend law school, 16 percent business school and 12 percent medical school.

Hundreds of seniors are now submitting applications to business and law schools most of which have mid-winter application deadlines. Medical schools traditionally start their application process earlier, and many aspiring doctors have already received the good and in some cases, bad news.

Seniors acknowledged some concern over recent reports of gluts in the job markets for lawyers and doctors, but most said they were not deterred by crowding in those professional fields.

"I hope to be going to one of the quality schools, and I don't think the glut is that serious for students from those schools," said Andrew S. Zellecki.

Paul P. Michalski agreed: "There can be too many lawyers, but there's always room in any profession for another good one. There's just no room for a mediocre one."

The large number of respondents planning further academic training generally conceded a degree of fear that their added schooling would end in frustration. "I'm absolutely, terribly influenced by economic concerns," said Nora M. Hemann, who has applied to a fine arts program. "I'm interested in teaching, and I've heard it's a very closed field; as I understand it, it's either sink or swim."

Susan R. Moffat, who intends to study comparative literature, had an unusually cheery assessment of the future: "I've heard that by the time I'm finished, the job field will have opened up."

Heldi M. James, Charles T. Kurzman, Steven J. Parkey, Caroline B. Reeves, Catherine I. Schmidt and Eva J. Yablonsky contributed to this story.

Where the Seniors Are Going

A Crimson Poll on Graduate Study Plans

165 of the 204 members of the Class of 1983 contacted said they plan further study after graduating from college.

The following are percentage figures indicating the types of graduate school to which seniors have applied or intend to apply: ACADEMIC:  24% BUSINESS:  16% LAW:  23% MEDICINE:  12% UNDECIDED:  6% TOTAL:  81%