<p>Hi,</p>
<p>So basically, I've been getting more interested in the political side of economics and the impact that has. I've heard that law school is a good route to pursue for getting into that stuff if it's from the absolute best schools (not just T14, but we're talking T5 law schools almost exclusively), but what other routes are there? This is probably a very vague question, but I'm really, really new to all this stuff, so any info to get me started would be great.</p>
<p>Also, a couple of other things. I don't go to a prestigious undergrad (just a regular state school), so if I need to get into the top masters programs for whatever, what would I need to do to get there? And, I hate asking this, but are there potentially lucrative paths in this stuff aside from being a politician/something like that (which would require connections/luck more than anything else) or going to law school? Money isn't that big a deal, but I'm just curious since everyone only talks about law school or doing investment banking, neither of which are necessarily on the political side of things.</p>
<p>you might want to look into a Masters in Public Policy
[Master</a> of Public Policy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_of_Public_Policy]Master”>Master of Public Policy - Wikipedia)</p>
<p>Do you want politics or public service? Huge difference between the two and how you would get in to them.</p>
<p>Politics (i.e. senators office)- You would either need a JD, do an immense amount of networking to get the right contacts, or try to get an internship. Most of all you need to know the right people. A JD will certainly help, but it is not required. There’s also lobbyists and think tanks that are involved with politics, and those too are a matter of networking.</p>
<p>Public Service (i.e. treasury department) you would carry out policy instead of being involved in making it, but this field is much easier to enter. Most are civil service, and while it may be difficult to get the job at first…once you’re in government work is far, far more secure than the private sector is. You would have to take several objective civil service exams/interviews…a lot of competition…but there would be no subjectivity by the human resources department not liking your hair color or haircut or something stupid like that the private sector uses sometimes when making hiring decisions.</p>