<p>Ok, so I have this dilemma. I've come to realize that I hold an equal passion for Political Science as I do International Relations. As a hopeful member of the class of 2015, I was just trying to get some opinions from students on which is the stronger Major at Yale? I'm of course assuming there is some overlap, but since I have such a vested interested in both, I'm really hoping to hear testimonials as a possible indicator. Thanks!</p>
<p>International Studies can only be taken as a second major at Yale. Our poli sci department is great. Most top schools are good at most subjects, so just focus on best fit rather than the marginal differences between poli sci programs at HYPS.</p>
<p>But, you are what, 16? Seriously, you are way too young to be thinking about college majors. When I was 16 I thought I was going to medical school. 5 years later, I’m taking the GRE to apply to history PhD programs. You will probably change your mind several times before settling on what you want to do with your life, so please please please don’t choose a college based on major. </p>
<p>Also, the differences between departments like IS, poli sci and history have more to do with research methodology than anything else – something you really won’t understand until you get to college and take a bunch of classes in various departments. I actually focus on political and women’s history, which one would think would overlap with polisci and women’s studies. Yet, I actually can’t stand either department because their methodology is just not my thing. So, hold your horses and think about this more once you 1. get admitted to college and 2. actually arrive on campus.</p>
<p>Your name leaves much to be desired of a potential bulldog… :P</p>
<p>Come on, Ms. Amann…just sit back and chill for a bit…</p>
<p>Frankly, will choosing one or the other really make a difference at this point in time?</p>
<p>mochamaven: k thanks. I don’t really see myself changing majors cuz I’ve wanted to do the same thing with my life since I was 6 years old. And I’m mainly curious because what I choose as my major can either help or hurt my chances of getting into the school so that’s why I’m asking now.</p>
<h1>1 Person: I want to go to grad school at Harvard, but there is nooooo way in hell I’d go there undergrad. =P</h1>
<p>entebbe: GET OFF MY CC ACOUNT BEN!</p>
<p>bumpidy bump</p>
<p>What you put as your major does not affect your admission chances at ALL at Yale. Every undergrad is in the same “school,” and the vast majority of undergrads change their major at least once while they’re here. So, admissions officers know that the odds of a student majoring in what she puts on his or her application are very low. They might raise their eyebrows a bit if all of your interests/achievements in high school are in politics but you put down “mechanical engineering.” However, putting poli sci vs. IR will make no difference whatsoever on your chances. </p>
<p>Also, I’m telling you this as someone who’s been there – don’t get too set on one life path at 16. I don’t think I can even count the number of people I know here who came in as freshman “100% knowing what they wanted to do with their lives because they’ve wanted to do it since they were 6” and ended up doing a complete 180. There’s the kid who was super-premed and knew “fore sure” wanted to be a doctor, but will be pursuing international law after he graduates in a couple weeks. There’s the girl who for-sure wanted to be an engineer who’s now an art history major. There’s nothing wrong with being passionate about something at 16, just do yourself a favor and keep your mind open to other possibilities as well.</p>
<p>You haven’t been accepted to Yale yet. This is, in all likelihood, an exercise in futility.</p>
<p>Poli sci/IR are relatively easy subjects but most employers don’t view them as useful/valuable. Poli sci will definitely improve your writing and reading skills which are essential for law school.</p>
<p>At 6, your equal passion for PoliSci and IR was equally clear? That’s not credible.</p>
<p>Your passion hasn’t yet driven you to look at the actual Yale catalog to get the answer to your question, or to do enough research to know that your major is irrelevant to your application? That’s not impressive.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Most employers don’t view anything you do in college as having any practical use, and they are right. That’s totally not the point of what you are doing at Yale.</p>
<p>JHS-
everyone has to work to make a living in this country. Accounting, computer programming and engineering will get you a high paying job. If you have excellent grades in economics and the financial markets are stable in the year you recruit, you will be a viable candidate for Wall Street. </p>
<p>Most students who graduate in other subjects will likely have to deal with protracted unemployment in their early-mid 20s and a slate of temp/contract jobs- even with ivy league undergraduate degrees.</p>
<p>Maybe the experience of my generation no longer applies, but I was a viable enough candidate for Wall Street to have several job offers there (and elsewhere) before graduation with my gaudy Literature degree (and a little judicious selection of other courses and a sweet internship). My wife double-majored in Psychology and American Studies. She did have a period of underemployment after graduation – about 5 months – before landing a VISTA position that propelled the rest of her career. Today, she manages a budget in the billions of dollars, with thousands of employees. My sister majored in Spanish Literature and has had an extremely successful financial-industry career (though never less than 3,000 miles from Wall Street, except for occasional visits).</p>
<p>Since I have a kid who graduated from college in 2009, I am well aware of the difficulties your generation is facing. But having everyone major in economics or computer science isn’t any kind of magic cloak of security. I am a huge fan of economics, by the way, but it has no more (and no less) to do with actual work in the business world than Catalan poetry.</p>
<p>mochamaven: I’ve heard some varying opinions on admission statistics per major, but i appreciate your help. my friend got into cornell with a 3.5 gpa and 1900 SAT because she was an AMAZING dancer who was applying as a dance major. so i thought that sometimes major can matter…anyway, thanks. you actually seem to be the only useful person on this thread.</p>
<p>ahhhmotherland: way to be an a-hole</p>
<p>cmburns14: since i’m looking to go to law school before entering the workforce, my undergrad degree wouldn’t really matter to employers.</p>
<p>JHS: no i did not have an equal passion for poly sci and IR at 6…that’s ridiculous. i’ve wanted to be a lawyer since i was six. it wasn’t until 4 years ago that my history teacher told me that it would be a good option to consider majoring in poly sci. and within the last year i’ve become really involved at Model UN at my school and i’ve started looking internationally. and yes. i’ve picked up a brochure you idiot! but a brochure is not going to say “well or IR department is good, but poly sci is better”…i use CC as a reference for help and advise. you clearly did neither.</p>
<p>Maybe I was a bit blunt, but I’m just being realistic…</p>
<p>ya but what do i got if i ain’t got hope???</p>
<p>Harvard: I gave you a hard time for two reasons. First, if you had looked at the Yale course catalog, you would know that (1) Yale doesn’t offer an International Relations major, and (2) you wouldn’t have to choose (or even be allowed to choose) between Yale’s International Studies major and Political Science. IS is only offered as a second major, and it’s pretty clear that majoring in Political Science with an IS second major is something of a standard track. You could also major in some kind of area studies, or History, or a particular language and literature, and combine it with IS. Second, while majoring in PoliSci or IR on your way to law school is something of a cliche, it is not necessary or even really helpful in eventually having a legal career. </p>
<p>Major in whatever you want, as long as you find it exciting and rewarding, and you can do a great job of it.</p>
<p>Applicants in general: You would be amazed at how many questions you can answer by looking in a college’s course catalog. Requirements, majors, double-majoring rules, special programs – they’re all described there, and very carefully, too.</p>
<p>oh opps. International Studies. it has been a while. and second majors is something i know very little about (was not covered in the catalog). but thanks. that actually answers all my questions.</p>
<p>cmburns: I’m not sure what Yale grads you’re talking to, but all of my friends who graduated in 2008 and 2009 are gainfully employed (at ibanks, hedge funds, think tanks, consulting firms, nonprofits, etc.) or in graduate school. And yes, almost all of them were history/poli sci/philosophy majors – even the ones currently making 6 figures at hedge funds. I don’t think any one of them was unemployed for more than 3-4 months post graduation, and most of them had a job offer before they even got their diplomas. </p>
<p>Being an econ major is actually not that helpful in terms of getting a job in finance – the interview process (which is ridiculously drawn-out and arduous) is meant to assess the learning curve and intellectual capacity of applicants, since banks figure they can teach smart kids everything they need to know within a couple months whether or not they have a formal economics background. Hell, I’m a history major and I got multiple internship offers for this summer (both paid and unpaid) – yet several of my science/engineering major friends are still looking. </p>
<p>HH: I know I sound like a broken record, but don’t get set on law school either. Law is probably not what you think it is – the number of people who actually get to do cool international or constitutional law is infinitesimally small, and everyone else gets stuck writing contracts for self-storage companies, or, if they’re lucky, prosecuting the local pot dealer. So go into college with an open mind, since there are lots of other ways to pursue your interest in politics that don’t involve law.</p>