One of the reasons you may be reluctant to go to college is because you question whether getting the degree will result in being hired. After all, you may know people who are well-educated and still unemployed, so why join them?

Well, for more than a decade, Misericordia University in Dallas, Pa., has been promising students who complete its professional development program that if they don’t get a job or be accepted into graduate school within six months of graduation, they will receive a paid three-month internship.

The Catholic, private liberal-arts university says its Guaranteed Placement Program has assisted more than 150 students since 1999. Of course, that’s been in good economic times and bad, and we know that it’s still tough to get a job now.

It’s a free program (in addition to their degree programs) that requires students to attend workshops, mock interviews, job fairs, and seminars to learn about resume building, professional etiquette, interviewing, and other steps that can help them navigate the job market or earn acceptance into graduate school. The students also must meet with career counselors, complete a three-credit internship, and maintain a 3.0 GPA.

We chatted with Rachel Roa, one of 26 students who completed the program this year, to see what she thought about this degree with a guarantee. Rachel, a 2010 graduate, is doing a year of service work with the Franciscan Mission Service in Washington, D.C.

Where you concerned about the uncertain job market?
Definitely. I don’t think any major had a free ride into a job. I chose accounting because the demand will always be out there, but you never know with the economy and companies needing to let people go for financial reasons.

Why did Guaranteed Placement Program appeal to you?
Honestly, it was free and it offered to help me get a job in case I wasn’t successful. Knowing that after all that work you do for four years, you still have a back-up plan in case you really can’t find anything. That was the initial appeal, but when I got to meet the counselors and know them better, it was like a second home. I really got a lot of advice on applying to jobs and how to market myself better. The counselors really got to know me and know what was best for me. Also, it was nice to know that they have a 100 percent success rate. The students who graduated from the GPP students either got a job (which shows Misericordia prepares their students well) or internships that lead to employment (which means the GPP is successful in finding their students employment opportunities).

Did you do an internship?
The counselors at Misericordia helped me find my internship (required to complete the program). Although I had an internship, it wasn’t long enough. Of course, that isn’t the fault of theirs, but it’s the irony that me and my recent graduates faced when applying to jobs: you can’t have work experience without work.

Do you think other schools should consider similar Guaranteed Placement Programs?
Without a doubt, Misericordia is always finding ways to help their students. The program showed the students that our school does care about us and what happens after college life. I think it’s also another way for colleges/universities to prepare students for the real-world atmosphere.

-Lori Johnston

UPDATE >> After we tweeted about this post, University Business alerted us to two other schools running similar programs. Kudos to Lansing Community College (Michigan) and Thomas College (Maine). Read up on the details here at the UB Buzz blog.