Since his sophomore year, Dan Cowen knew he would stay in Syracuse after graduation.

Cowen, a senior political science and policy studies major, came to Syracuse University from Massachusetts in 2011, and immediately knew he wanted to become a part of the community.

“I fell in love with the people that make up the city,” Cowen said. “Interacting with them during my freshman and sophomore year made me excited to become one of them.”

Cowen is just one of many SU students who will graduate this weekend, and have chosen to live in Syracuse to begin their post-college life.

After graduation, Cowen said, many students choose to move to large cities to pursue their dream jobs. But Cowen said he believes Syracuse has the potential to be a city with opportunities for young people, with the added bonus of financial stability.

“When you graduate and go straight to a big city, you’re competing for entry-level jobs with thousands of other graduates. It’s really tough to work your way up,” Cowen said. “Staying in Syracuse, your rent is cheaper, there’s less competition for jobs and the city is small enough to build strong connections to help grow your business.”

Cowen is currently campaigning for the position of common councilor at-large for the 2013 election. As a part of his campaign, Cowen is encouraging students to stay in Syracuse after graduation.

Sarah Walton, a senior policy studies and geography major, also plans to stay in Syracuse after graduation. Walton secured a job as director of operations at the Syracuse Northeast Community Center, and said her experiences at SU will help her transition into living in the city of Syracuse.

“It seems foolish to look around other cities to find something I can find right here in Syracuse,” she said. “The connections you make here in four years can go a long way.”

Some students choose to stay in Syracuse as a part of SU’s Fifth Year Engagement Fellowship, which offers graduates networking opportunities, jobs and mentors with Syracuse businesses. The program aims to keep newly graduated alumni in Syracuse to help contribute to the community.

Mike Smith was awarded the grant last year as a senior. Now, as a graduate student in the Martin J. Whitman School of Management, Smith said he plans to continue to reside in the city after completing his degree.

He said he believes staying in Syracuse after graduation is a good transitional stage for students because it helps them mature and adapt to the real world.

“Staying in Syracuse is beneficial because you have four years to build connections and opportunities here. I wanted to make the best use of it,” he said.

Michelle Gaston, a senior communication and rhetorical studies major, also received a grant from the school to stay an extra year. Gaston will continue to take classes at SU as a graduate student, while also interning for local businesses and pursuing entrepreneurial interests.

Gaston said she hopes staying in Syracuse after graduation will allow her to challenge herself by living miles away from her home in San Francisco.

Said Gaston: “There’s a really negative and inaccurate stereotype of students who are staying here, but realistically, it’s a growing community. The more involved I become, the more I realize I like it here.”

Published on May 9, 2013 at 12:01 am

Contact Alfred: alng@syr.edu

@alfredwkng