<p>Since the 6th grade, there were really only two plausible choices I could make when it came to choosing a future career: business or politics. In the midst of my junior year in high school, Im fairly certain I want to head in the direction of politics. Where this will take me in life, Im not sure, but I rather do something Im passionate about, even though less safe, than something Id just be content with.</p>
<p>The first major decision I have to make is where I want to go for college. George Washington and Georgetown are both great schools for politics, so if I was able to attend them, thatd be a step in the right direction? Im sure the connections I could make at those schools would be great.</p>
<p>As for majors, Im not really sure what would compliment a career in politics. However, Ive been thinking of studying a language and political science in college. Maybe even something in International Relations? Im just lost on where to start with this process, as politics generally have less clear cut lines on where to start.</p>
<p>(On a side note, I think Im doing everything correctly to the best of my abilities in high school, so this would be the next step.)</p>
<p>Any responses with colleges I could look at, majors I could consider, or just general advice, would be appreciated. Thanks College Confidential!</p>
<p>Why would an interest in politics not result in a political science major? If your interest was biological sciences I’d recommend a major in . . . yup, biology.</p>
<p>Well that’s a given. I was refering more to what would compliment it. I have an interest in languages and international politics. But I’m not sure how I would fit those all in as far as majoring/minoring goes.</p>
<p>It all depends on the school. Some schools require a major and minor. Other schools limit you to a double major or major and minor. While other do not limit you to what you can do. I know people who are triple majors, or double majors with triple minors. Typically, how much you can accomplish major/minor wise is determined by (1) how many requirements there are for general ed and each major/minor. and (2) how many classes you take per term. If you take 20 credits (typically 6 classes), you can complete more than a double major, whereas if you take 12-17 credits (4 - 5 classes) you will usually only complete a double major or major and a minor. If you plan to go into politics, a double major in political science and language sounds great (especially french if you’re interested in the UN or other international politics). Typically, you can’t double major or major and minor within the same department (aka if a poli sci major and int. relations are offered by the politics dept.). </p>
<p>As for recommending schools, we can’t recommend schools good for you if we don’t know your test scores, GPA, approximate rank, AP classes taken, etc.</p>
<p>Oh! Right, I totally spaced on the stats part.</p>
<p>ACT: 32 (Retaking in spring/summer)</p>
<p>UW GPA: 3.924
W GPA: 4.278
Class Rank: Top 3%/540 kids</p>
<p>APs Taken by end of senior year: AP Stats, APUSH, AP Euro, AP Psych, AP Gov, AP Micro, AP Macro, AP English (not exactly sure what it’s called… our school just calls it that) and possibly AP Calc, haven’t decided if I want to get a B in a math class or just not take it ;)</p>
<p>All other classes I take are honors, including Honors French 4 and Honors Spanish 4 (something related to what I want to do)</p>
<p>In the summer I volunteered for 30ish hours, while during the school year I am the President of Interact and SADD, and VP of MUN and Key Club. Next year I will be Presidents of all four. I participate in showchoir and choir, which take a lot of time. I am also a member of NHS.</p>
<p>{Most of this information is where I stand now, so hopefully it will improve}</p>
<p>Is that enough information to provide a better assessment?</p>
<p>Why is it a given that someone interested in a political career would major in political science?</p>
<p>In some other countries, many political leaders (all the way up to the Chief of State) have engineering degrees. Some US Senators have been medical doctors. Many more, of course, have law degrees. However, one can major in virtually any subject prior to law school. If you are interested in IR, then go with that.</p>
<p>So far it seems as though you’re on a great track.
Schools with excellent politics departments: (In no particular order)</p>
<p>Columbia
Yale
Harvard
University of Michigan
U Chicago
Duke
MIT (B.S. degree)
WUSTL
UVA
Georgetown (stronger in International relations than Poli Sci)
UBC
UCLA
Cornell
Emory
Tufts (Similar to GTown in that their strength is higher in IR rather than PSci)
Harvard
Northwestern
Stanford
UNC</p>
<p>You’re on your way of having good stats for many colleges.</p>
<p>Have you talked to your parents to find out how much they will pay each year? If not, you need to do so. Finances can play a huge part in deciding where a student can go to college.</p>
<p>tk - Because it relates directly back to what I want to do. I don’t want to become a doctor. Ever. So getting some other degree that has nothing to do with what I want to do seems wrong for me.</p>
<p>I’ll research some of those. Georgetown has been my dreams school for a long time, but pretty much all of those schools are reaches for everybody haha.</p>
Not a good idea at all. You need to discuss money early so that you can apply to financial safeties if things don’t work out as planned at GTown, etc.</p>
<p>I think it really depends upon what you envision yourself doing in politics. Are you hoping to run for elected office? Perhaps you want to be a campaign staffer/manager? Maybe you want to run a department of a federal agency? If its either of the the latter two, then studying poly sci or IR at one of the top national schools makes a lot of sense. But I think if you want to follow the path to elected office it makes a lot more sense to attend your state’s flagship university. Why? Because getting elected requires having a good network of supporters from the district/municipality/state that you are running in. And where better to start building that network than the flagship state U?</p>
<p>The above post makes a great point - if you want to stay in your home state and be involved in home state politics (at least to start), you may be better off going to college in your home state. Your state’s best public university will hopefully also serve as a combined financial and admissions safety. If it is near your State capital, it may open up tons of internship opportunities.</p>
<p>If you are more interested in national and international politics, then I would definitely add American U. to the list. Schedule a couple days and visit Georgetown, George Washington and American. Most people prefer Georgetown, although admissions is extremely difficult, even for students with great scores and grades. American and GW have very different campus - American is in a more suburban part of the City with a traditional campus, while GWU in right in the center of the City west of the White House.</p>
<p>Good point. I’m not sure in what direction I will head.</p>
<p>I live in Iowa. So there are three state flagships: University of Iowa, Iowa State University, and the University of Northern Iowa. And then we have the major private University, Drake.</p>
<p>I can see the point in attending local colleges if I want to run for an elected office…</p>
<p>*we’ll discuss money <em>after</em> I get accepted to these schools. *</p>
<p>NOT a good idea unless they’re prepared to pay $50k+ per year for wherever you go. You need to know how much they’ll pay otherwise you could end up with NO affordable options.</p>