Political Scientists: I need your help

[knowledgeispower]

I am a fourth year undergrad at the University of Minnesota. I have been majoring in psychology and could graduate with a degree in that field at the end of this year, but lately I have come to realize that I just don't really care for psychology. So now I am thinking I might go with a double major in psych and something else (since I am already so close to a psych major anyhow) and graduate at the end of next year.

My top choice for the second major would be political science. I have already taken a few poli sci classes that I rather enjoyed, and looking at the course listings it seems that there are plenty of other classes in the major that interest me. My question for those of you who are political scientists or have poli sci degrees is this: what do you do (and how, if at all, does this apply to your poli sci background) and are you happy with your choice of a poli sci degree? I am just trying to get a sense here of what some of the options are with a political science degree.

Thanks in advance for any help.

[papau]

1. The classic is Law, but

Psych plus acting classes - no really - Warton recommends acting - are becoming a great MBA background, as the morals and ethics of the boardroom become GOP fake.

[knowledgeispower]

6. I think I would hate myself with such a career

I will DEFINITELY shy away from anything industrial psych related. Applying knowledge and principles that are supposed to help people for the sake of profit is about as reprenhesible a career as one can end up with, I think. Maybe my attitude will change as I lose my idealism with age (I am beginning to see how that happens), but I just don't think I could be happy with such a career.

[E_Zapata]

2. I have a degree in Poli Sci

It makes me a very interesting dinner guest.

Out of college -- looking for that first career job -- I was asked in interviews over and over again: so, what can you do? LOL "Entertain! I can entertain! Not a boring moment around me, I tell ya." And what was my first job? RECEPTIONIST. Oh, it was entertaining all right. People yelling in my ear, being rude, and the professionals they were calling begging me to keep people at bay. Multi-tasking galore!

I think for poli sci degree to serve a person, he would have to get an advanced degree in it to use it. I have met many poli sci majors in my life - and we do all sorts of things: most of which is admin work.

If I could re-do it, I would not get out of college without having some sort of very technical education: science of any kind and/or math.

Liberal arts degrees, to me, are wonderful but they don't give you any marketable skills.

Now I look at all the immigration requirements (so I can leave the USA), and if I had ANY science or math or accounting, I would be welcomed with open arms any place on earth. Forestry, criminal justice, medical, accounting, teaching -- all marketable.

With psych, you have a good background. Decide.....who/what do you want to serve in your life? And get a 2nd degree that lends itself directly to that. (not an easy question to answer, I know)

[knowledgeispower]

7. I want to serve the common good, or at least myself

I don't want to "serve" a big ass corporation or anything like that. This is why psych initially appealed to me, I think it gives you a great chance of being able to do your own thing (through private practice or contract work).

[On the Road]

3. Combination of Pyschology and Poli Sci

is ideal for working as a pollster.

Just make sure you have some statistics and a psychometrics course to go with the poli sci. (I enrolled in a psychometrics course and changed to another course, which I still regret.)

I was a psychology major who had second thoughts, and eventually ended up with an MBA. But there are lots of offshoots of psychology. Many of them involve either math or biology.

For example, a classmate of mine went to grad school in physiological pysch and ended up as an expert witness evaluating brain trauma for people in car accidents.

[felonious thunk]

4. I have a Masters in Political Science

And right now I'm a Web Developer, doing nothing even approximating political work. Went to DC, started doing the work on the Hill, got burnt out after about 6 months and was luckily able to move into web development and teach myself to be good at it. At the time it was much more lucritive anyway.

That said, I don't regret for one second having both the BA and MA in political science. I believe that I learned more than many friends, and more importantly, learned to think critically and idealistically at the same time. That may seem contradictory, but learning about politics you get to see some horrible things and some absolutely wonderful things. My presence at this web site shows that my burnout is fading, and I'm looking for the right way to get back into politics.

Politics is tough to get into for a career. You have to start very low and prove yourself, but you can then rise quickly. Be prepared to spend a lot of time on the phone, a lot of schoozing and ego stroking. But if you are good at it, you can rise quick and do very well and change the world.

Hope this helps some.

[knowledgeispower]

5. I'm a horrible schmoozer

Politics is tough to get into for a career. You have to start very low and prove yourself, but you can then rise quickly. Be prepared to spend a lot of time on the phone, a lot of schoozing and ego stroking. But if you are good at it, you can rise quick and do very well and change the world.

Uh oh. Maybe I better rethink the PoliSci thing. I CANNOT force myself to be a suckup. It just isn't in my nature. The best I can do is bite my tongue and NOT piss someone off, but in terms of going the other way...I got nothing.

Problem is, the things I am interested in (namely poli sci, history, and maybe economics) don't seem to have a lot of promise for real world application. I do know that I HAVE to go with a liberal arts degree. Somebody else suggested a math or science degree, and while that is probably very good career advice, it just isn't my passion.

Man, these decisions are hard to make. I think I'm just going to have to pick something and see where it takes me.

[felonious thunk]

8. Hey look

One benefit of politics is that your schmoozing can be genuine. Just get your start doing something you believe in. If you believe in the cause or the person, then you aren't schmoozing, you are showing respect you have and you are working hard to make the world a better place. Part of my problem was that I didn't do that. I worked on issues that I wasn't passionate about, but where I could get the highest starting pay.

And I agree with you last statement. Pick a path and see where it takes you. I'm in the math/science field now, even though I have 2 LA degrees. Most of the people I know aren't doing now what they majored in in college. I still think that pol. science was a great field to learn, as its lessons are applicable in so many other fields. Don't think of it as pigeon-holing yourself into a career path. Life will get in the way of your career path, I guarantee it. Think of it as expanding your horizons, and learning. Political science is a pretty flexible degree.

[Lady President]

9. I could have written this post in college

I double majored in sociology and political science, but didn't decide to add political science until the summer before my last year. I was already planning to go to law school and thought poli sci would give me a little more background. Actually, sociology helped a lot more in law school.

I think you should major in whatever you find interesting because you'll do better in the classes and an extra major can only help you. However, if I could do it again, I would have picked business/economics or accounting over poli sci. There aren't many jobs for poli sci majors and more economics classes would have been helpful for law school.

[Nikia]

10. My mother got a BS in psych, Master's in political science

She finished her master's degree while she was a probation officer (That's something that you can do with your degree that helps people.). After that, she was in a variety of jobs, mostly involving writing grants for non profit organizations.