What is the WashU First-Destination Survey?
The WashU First-Destination Survey is a brief online survey for all graduating students about their plan after completing their degree at WashU.
This survey is for every graduate – whether you are looking for a job, continuing to graduate school, have accepted a job offer, or planning something else for your career. Still making plans? Complete the survey now and update your response as your plans change.
*Please note survey link is only available to students and alumni. View aggregate First-Destination Survey results on our Career Outcomes page.
First-Destination Survey Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why does WashU have a First-Destination Survey?
Completing the First-Destination Survey provides valuable insights on career outcomes for WashU, the Center for Career Engagement, and benefits current and future students. The Center for Career Engagement utilizes information from the First-Destination Survey to build relationships with organizations who hire WashU students, and to orient resources to support WashU students – like our industry-aligned Career Communities. The university reports aggregate, non-identifiable information about student career outcomes for accreditation and for rankings in Prospective students may compare universities based on top employers hiring students, the graduate schools attended by alumni, or other factors shared in the First-Destination Survey.
Who is eligible to complete the WashU First-Destination Survey?
All graduating students can complete the First-Destination Survey to share their career plans after graduation. Students can complete the survey when you have accepted an offer for a job or graduate / professional school acceptance, or complete the survey as you start your career search and update your response as you have updates in your search.
How do I access the survey?
Students can log in to WashU Career Insights to complete the survey. Graduating students will receive emails in their final year with a link to WashU Career Insights to complete the survey. Emails with the survey link will be sent from notifications@washu.12twenty.com.
You should see a survey pop up when you log in. If you do not see the survey pop up, please select “+ Report Status” under “Post Grad” to complete the survey.
*Please note that the WashU Career Insights platform and the First-Destination Survey is not accessible to faculty, staff, and non-students.*
How long does it take to complete the survey?
The First-Destination Survey takes about 5 minutes to complete.
Should I fill out the survey if I am unsure about my post-graduation plans?
Yes! All responses are helpful – you are encouraged to complete the survey even if you haven’t finalized your post-graduation plans. You can go back and update your response within six months of graduation.
Looking for support as you navigate your career search? Meet with a career coach or check out our job search resources!
Can I complete the survey if I am taking a gap year?
Yes! You can complete the survey to indicate your plans during your gap year based on the most applicable category. Select “Accepted Job” if you’ve accepted a job during your gap year, “Continuing Education” if you’re taking courses, or the category that best fits your gap year plans.
Will my individual survey data be publicly available?
No! Your survey responses are protected, and your individual information will not be shared publicly.
We use and share aggregate student data, which means data has been combine and is presented as a summary instead of individual responses. Aggregate data allows us to understand the career outcomes and trends of students in a specific school or major, as well as those for an entire graduating class. Aggregate responses are shared on our Career Outcomes page.
How is information from First-Destination Survey responses used?
Your responses help the Center for Career Engagement, your school, and the university as we ensure the resources and support we offer are aligned with the needs of current and future students. It helps us ensure we are preparing students for lifelong success by offering skill-building workshops, alumni connections, and employer opportunities aligned with student interests and career outcomes trends. Aggregate responses are submitted to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) as part of the First-Destination Initiative to benchmark career outcomes of WashU graduates with national trends.
How can faculty, staff, and families help encourage graduates to complete the First-Destination Survey?
Faculty, advisors, staff, and families can be great champions to encourage graduates to complete the First-Destination Survey. Check out flyer and poster templates, sample outreach language, and more resources in our First-Destination Survey Toolkit.
How can I get help with the First-Destination Survey?
Please contact us at careers@wustl.edu with any issues or questions about completing the survey.