2025 College Grads: Public Policy / IR

[Anonymous]

Given the current administration, how hard was it for 2025 PubPol/IR grads to get a job after graduation? What are they doing now? Were they able to find something in their field?

Anyone with similar PubPol/IR kids graduating this coming spring? Were they able to find internships this past summer? Do they have a post-graduation job lined up yet? What’s the landscape like out there?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Ours found it easier to pivot and is going to McKinsey.

[Anonymous]

Mine had hoped/planned to work for a couple of years before grad school, but as the jobs all dried up in early 2025 she decided to go straight to grad school and also got a research Fulbright (fingers crossed it doesn't get cancelled) so will be combining those for a bit and then reassess the job market.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mine had hoped/planned to work for a couple of years before grad school, but as the jobs all dried up in early 2025 she decided to go straight to grad school and also got a research Fulbright (fingers crossed it doesn't get cancelled) so will be combining those for a bit and then reassess the job market.

grad school in IR or something else?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ours found it easier to pivot and is going to McKinsey.

Nice humblebrag. Your family will fit in very well at McKinsey.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ours found it easier to pivot and is going to McKinsey.

Nice humblebrag. Your family will fit in very well at McKinsey.

I wasn’t humble bragging. It is pretty dammed easy to get into consulting from a good school compared to going into policy these days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mine had hoped/planned to work for a couple of years before grad school, but as the jobs all dried up in early 2025 she decided to go straight to grad school and also got a research Fulbright (fingers crossed it doesn't get cancelled) so will be combining those for a bit and then reassess the job market.

grad school in IR or something else?

Yes, both degree ( at a grad school in Europe) and Fulbright are related to international development. She’s well aware her career path may look different than originally envisioned but is having a really good experience right now, great price tag compared to US costs, and is just glad to have a sense of still moving forward when it seems like so many things came to a grinding halt

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ours found it easier to pivot and is going to McKinsey.

I think people at Princeton and Chicago’s undergrad public policy program, you can make this transition. But if you’re at Indiana or even Michigan, it would be very hard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ours found it easier to pivot and is going to McKinsey.

Nice humblebrag. Your family will fit in very well at McKinsey.

I wasn’t humble bragging. It is pretty dammed easy to get into consulting from a good school compared to going into policy these days.

We’re they in one of those selective consulting clubs everyone seems to be talking about lately? Or did they just connect with McKinsey directly through on campus recruiting?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ours found it easier to pivot and is going to McKinsey.

Nice humblebrag. Your family will fit in very well at McKinsey.

I wasn’t humble bragging. It is pretty dammed easy to get into consulting from a good school compared to going into policy these days.

Were they in one of those selective consulting clubs everyone seems to be talking about lately? Or did they just connect with McKinsey directly through on campus recruiting?

No clubs, just applied- no alum outreach either. They mostly connected their policy work to consulting, and it landed them pretty well- got another offer from BCG. End goal is still policy or lobbying, but it’s gonna have to wait.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ours found it easier to pivot and is going to McKinsey.

Nice humblebrag. Your family will fit in very well at McKinsey.

I wasn’t humble bragging. It is pretty dammed easy to get into consulting from a good school compared to going into policy these days.

Were they in one of those selective consulting clubs everyone seems to be talking about lately? Or did they just connect with McKinsey directly through on campus recruiting?

No clubs, just applied- no alum outreach either. They mostly connected their policy work to consulting, and it landed them pretty well- got another offer from BCG. End goal is still policy or lobbying, but it’s gonna have to wait.

Sorry it’s not what they hoped for, but congrats to them on making it work! No doubt your kid is impressive. Love this!