College student looking for career advice! Please help!

[wa44]

Hi!

I'm a freshman at Brown University in Rhode Island. I grew up in Massachusetts, but I went to high school in the DC area. I absolutely loved it here and I really hope to come back after graduation.

I came across DCUM last year, and most of the posters on this forum seem to do well for themselves, so I was wondering if you guys would be willing to share what you do and provide some insight into the professional landscape in DC? It would also be great if you could share expected salaries in those careers (you don't have to tell me how much you make, but it would be great if you could tell me "generally X role earns X amount of money 10-15 years down the line). My parents both practice law in Boston but I really don't want to go to law school (it seems like there are a lot of lawyers in DC). However, i'm not opposed to getting an MBA or another masters degree down the line.

Thanks to all of you in advance!

[Anonymous]

Troll
There is no way a student at Brown can be this stupid in approach career research.

[Anonymous]

No way anyone prefers DC to MA and RI.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No way anyone prefers DC to MA and RI.

We are all here and not MA or RI…so, yeah lots of people prefer DC to those areas.

[Anonymous]

Big Law partner makes gazillions 10 years down the line if they survive

[Anonymous]

OP, in case you are who you say you are, I think you’d be better served by sharing your major or interests and asking people in those potential fields respond.

[Anonymous]

*to respond

[Anonymous]

Professional landscape of DC includes mostly feds, lawyers, lobbyists, contractors, analysts, consultants, non profiters AND obviously wherever people live and work, doctors, cops, , barbers, cooks, cleaners, grocery store workers, teachers, veterinarians, dentists, dog walkers, tax accountants, bankers etc etc are also here.

Which majors, tracks and professions interest you?

[Anonymous]

Also lots of spies, hackers, diplomats, military etc

[Anonymous]

Adding Parma and IT sales to the mix as I know a few ppl in those fields that appear to do very well

[Anonymous]

What do you care about? What are you studying? What are you good at?

[Anonymous]

didn't know Brown U had such a $hitty career services or industry books/ vault guides or alumni base.

guess that pass/fail thing isn't working so hot over there.

[Anonymous]

glad to see you're a freshman though.

[Anonymous]

Pick some fields you might be interested in then figure out the big DC employers in that field. Then go to a salary site like glassdoor.com and look up what people make.

A huge amount of Ivy Leaguers go into consulting because it pays well right out of school and allows a new grad to learn about some industries.

I was a fed GS-7 right out of undergrad. My job was really interesting but not prestigious according to DCUM. I progressed rapidly but left for MBA after 7 years to up my salary earning ability. I never moved back to the DMV. I just read this board for fun.

Salary surveys of all the grownups on here won't help you. You need to first figure out if you can live the new grad lifestyle you want in the DMV. Try setting up a LinkedIn and reaching out to young Brown alumni in the DMV who seem to have good jobs.