<p>Here's one thing I haven't really seen addressed and maybe it's just because most people don't worry about it but can anyone provide some insight for me.</p>
<p>I am in the midwest and mainly have not thought about going to college in a different region. I think the main reason for this is that I find it hard to see myself living or working in a totally different region. I wouldn't necessarily be homesick but I just find it hard seeing myself in a different part of the country and not in the Midwest where I have grown up and know people.</p>
<p>I know there are lots of students who have the "jeez I have to get away from here" mentality but I don't have that. And I don't want to limit my options just because I am thinking this way.</p>
<p>Anyways my main question is that if I go to a school in a different region, say Northeast or South, will I most likely end up getting a job there and probably not coming back to the Midwest after college? I know it's my decision as to where I go, but I figure if I was to go to a good school close to home and major in something business related, then I would receive business offers from employers in the Midwest. But if I go major in a business related field at a school in the South, then I will receive job offers from employers in the South, and the Midwest employers won't really FIND me since they are not recruiting at my southern school. Does that make sense?</p>
<p>Any general info or comments on this would be appreciated.</p>
<p>Most job recruitment is pretty much regional in business. You would have to work harder to get placed back in the Midwest. National firms like accting big 4 might be a bit more flexible.</p>
<p>I totally agree. And I’m going into my senior year this fall and I am undecided. I feel so indecisive it’s scaring me a bit. I just can’t pinpoint what I see myself doing. And I don’t want to limit myself to the Midwest but I’m not even sure if I do or don’t want to stay here after college. I just find it hard to see myself starting fresh somewhere else with no relatives and not used to the area or general feel.</p>
<p>“Anyways my main question is that if I go to a school in a different region, say Northeast or South, will I most likely end up getting a job there and probably not coming back to the Midwest after college?”</p>
<p>I think there are too many variables to get a good answer to this question. The bottom line is probably that it’s easier to get a job if you go to school in the area that you grew up: Your social and familial network is there, many companies recruit locally, and you will be able to demonstrate a commitment to the area to future employers. That said, you may just as easily end up at grad school far from home, negotiating your future home with a significant other, finding a passion that can only be fulfilled in a particular area (marine biology?), or in a field where it really doesn’t matter where you studied because you’ll be following your career path where ever it takes you. And you can always move if you aren’t happy where you end up - people do it all the time.</p>
<p>Rather than overthink something that’s four years away, why not make the decision based on how to maximize your opportunities over the next four years? That’s a pretty long time horizon at the age of 17.</p>
<p>Actually I think it is very strategic thinking. If you are going to any school outside the very top few–as in top 10-15–it will certainly have a large impact on job prospects. While connections can help most of us still come from backgrounds where that is not going to matter much.
There are comparable schools in every part of the country so where you want to end up–if you know that–can be part of the selection process.</p>
<p>I like barrons comments … and would add finding a job in an area different from your school is certainly doable but requires a little more work from the applicant … </p>
<p>1) finding postings of jobs where you would like to work (subscription to local Sunday paper, ads on Monster.com or Indeed.com, joining professional groups in the city in which you’d like to work, etc) </p>
<p>2) Willingness to pay for you own travel to interviews … a lot of entry level jobs will not have budgets for travel for interviews or to move new hires … if you can afford to pick these expenses up it might open up more options.</p>
<p>3) Being more patient … maybe delaying the hard core job search until you’ve moved back home.</p>
<p>Great question … going away from home for school can be a great experience but there are certainly somes cons to the choice and getting jobs back home being harder is one of them.</p>
This does not have to be too expensive or difficult but sometimes just requires more leg-work and negotiation. When I was in grad school in California and trying to land a job back east I talked 4 companies into splitting the cost of my trip back east during spring break and stayed with friends and relatives to avoid hotel expenses … basically they paid for meals and 1/4 of a plane ticket … it took some hustling but worked out fine.</p>
<p>Much will depend on what “regional businesses” are around your college. </p>
<p>If the regional companies are “national companies” then even if you got a job locally at first, you could either later transfer to a division that is in your home state or use your experience at that company to later get a job in your home state.</p>
<p>But if I go major in a business related field at a school in the South, then I will receive job offers from employers in the South, and the Midwest employers won’t really FIND me since they are not recruiting at my southern school. Does that make sense?</p>
<p>If they are national companies, then you could get a job in your home area.</p>
<p>Do the majority of students end up settling back in their area or does the majority end up living and starting their lives in a different region? I never really thought about what percentage does what. Does anybody have some general idea on that?</p>
<p>I know that at UW Madison most instate kids remain instate (but some leave too) and most OOS kids leave (but a few stay–most often right in Madison)</p>
<p>If you work hard to land a school year or summer internship in the Midwest, even if you attend school elsewhere, it will up your chances of returning to the Midwest. If you attend an LAC – well, they aren’t known for on-campus recruitment. If the LAC draws nationally, those students may return to their home region, esp. if the school is located in a rural area w/o much in the way of employment prospects. Thus, a strong alumni network could count for something. Public universities draw mostly in state.</p>
<p>The Midwest covers quite a few states and many schools, so you have a lot of options. The cost of living is lower than the coasts, so you will be paying less for room & board.</p>