Best school for studying Political Science/Government/Women's Studies

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why does this one sad little poster care so much about OP's daughter's potential college degree?

Let it go. It is not your child, it is not your decision. You have completely taken over this thread. Please just stop.

This thread has devolved into a discussion about worthwhile undergrad degrees. There are also multiple posters discussing. Just because there is a discussion does not make it sad and you calling posters names does not make it so.

[Anonymous]

I am going to second the PP down thread who mentioned GWU.

I graduated from GWU in 1988 with a degree in Political Science. I also had a minor in Russian language.

When I was a high school student, the only DC - area school that seemed to matter was Georgetown. However, I did not get in. GWU was my second choice and I do not ever regret going there.

I made so many connections while at GWU that my after graduation networking was amazing. I was actually able to call for an informational interview for senior government officials, for example the USAID Assistant Administrator for Europe and Eurasia, actually get him on the phone with me and get invited to "come on down." I did two Hill internships and ended up working for four years on Capitol Hill.

I am now well into my career, and making a six-figure income. I tell all new graduates not to focus on the salary coming out of the gate. Focus on the experience you are gaining and whether it will help you get where you want to be a few years down the road.

I also cannot say enough about GWU's Career Services Center. Well before "getting a good paying job" became the be all and end of all of graduating from college, GWU's Career Services Center was actually teaching students how to look for and find work. Before I walked in there, I actually had no clue about what I could do with my degree. They taught me how to find that out and how to market myself.

Regarding Political Science as a "worthless major," the Occupational Outlook Handbook puts growth in employment for Political Scientists at 22 percent over the next ten years. Median pay in $102,000, but there is keen competition for the jobs out there, even with the growth.

Finally, I would say GWU opened me up to things that I never would have thought about doing. Georgetown, for me, probably would've been an extension of the Catholic high school I attended. I initially thought I would go to college and study political science, get an MPA degree and then go into city management. However, I picked up Russian as a minor, did study abroad in Russia and caught the international policy bug.

I have now lived and worked in six countries overseas and have traveled to numerous others. I absolutely love my work and probably would do it all over again !

[Anonymous]

I went to Cornell, wound up majoring in English with a concentration in Women's Studies. (They didn't offer a minor at the time.) I loved it. This was a very long time ago, so things may have changed, but at the time the Women's Studies program was new and exciting, and the Cornell history & political science programs were very strong. Good luck to your DD.