In the United States, 38% of students pursue a post baccalaureate degree, and that number is on the rise. In many cases, plans to do so begin to formulate as early as adolescence. A recent study surveyed students throughout their undergraduate careers to investigate if alcohol and drug use impacted postgraduate plans.

This study used data from the College Life Study. First year students were selected and follow up surveys were conducted 2-6 years after. These surveys were administered annually and asked students if they had definite plans after college, possible plans, or no plans. In years 5 and 6, graduate school enrollment was measured. These surveys also measured symptoms of alcohol use disorder and drug use.

The results of this longitudinal study indicated that 54% of the sample had definite plans to attend graduate school during their final year of college. Plans to attend graduate school were more common in students who did not meet criteria for problematic alcohol use. Drug use patterns did not have an effect on plans to attend graduate school. Out of the students who planned to attend graduate school, 47% had done so by year 6. Those who had reported symptoms of problematic alcohol use were less likely to be included in the group that had attended graduate school by year 6.

Take Away: Undergraduate students who exhibit problematic alcohol use are less likely to plan to attend graduate school, and if they did plan on attending they were less likely in actually doing so. Drug use does not have an affect on graduate school plans or attendance.

Arria, A.M., Allen, H.K., Caldeira, K.M., Vincent, K.B., O’Grady, K.E. (2019). Excessive drinking and drug use during college: Prospective associations with graduate school plans and attendance. American College Health.