A descriptive study measuring the adult college students propensity to utilize career counseling services at a private liberal arts college.

摘要

Over half of all college students are over 25 years old. 90% of these adult students have returned to college in order to better their careers. However, career counseling services remain focused on the younger students (18 to 21 year olds) who are looking for entry level jobs starting at salaries less than half of the average income for older students. The purpose of this study was to identify the unique career needs (categorized according to Maslow's hierarchy) of the transitioning adult student and the consequent impact on college career services. To accomplish this, the study surveyed the opinions of adult college students (25 years and older). The survey was designed to address three research questions: (1) What are the career assistance needs of the transitioning adult student? (2) Are the college's career counseling services effectively meeting these needs now? (3) Would transitioning adults utilize the college's career services if the specific resources were available to meet their perceived needs?