The fully published article has more information, but here is the abbreviated answer to the question:
- Alumni frequently cited personal integrity and self-knowledge, vocational preparedness, interpersonal skills, and advanced intellectual skills as key effects of their undergraduate education, with coursework being the most influential factor.
- Negative experiences, though less common, highlighted issues like insufficient academic guidance, financial pressures, and the perceived irrelevance of some coursework to career goals, impacting alumni perceptions of their education.
- Alumni’s appreciation for the broad foundation provided by general education often increased over time, despite initial skepticism during their undergraduate years.
- Some alumni reported feeling unsupported by advisors, particularly those from marginalized backgrounds, leading to negative experiences in navigating their educational pathways.
- The findings underscore the importance of effective advising and support systems in enhancing the perceived value and outcomes of undergraduate education.
The published paper can be found here.
Citation Gere, A. R., Godfrey, J., Griffin, M., Hartwell, K. D., Ion, M., Limlamai, N., Moos, A., Pine, A. A., & [van Zanen, K. ]. Alumni Perspectives on Undergraduate Education: How Writing Can Increase What We Know. The Journal of General Education, 70(1), 149–173. https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/2/article/901196