<p>As we prepare to send in our ED deposit, please reassure me that AU students enjoy a significant career advantage over, let’s say, attending a top state school. How are the job prospects for AU poli sci grads?</p>
<p>Given that DC is one of the few areas where employment prospects are somewhat good, I’d say a poly sci grad from AU has a pretty good shot at a job with the Feds. My son applied RD to AU’s Kogod School and hsi main reason was that AU does have a strong track record with internships and career placement. having siad that, the job market is the worst I’ve seen in 30+ years of business. I’m sure it will be much better in 4 years If not, we’re all in trouble.</p>
<p>Certainly better – as far as PoliSci students go.</p>
<p>AU Students enjoy:
- A Career Center ranked top 20 out of all the schools in the country. They help you build your resume, even when its hard when all you’ve held is one job or no job at all. They help draft a cover letter for your first set of serious internships. They are there for mock interviews as well.
- An student/alumni database of THOUSANDS of internships AND jobs available exclusively to American University students.
- Departments send out emails for jobs weekly, and if you cultivate a relationship with your professors, they keep an ear out for you as well.
- On Campus Job Interviews, Career Fairs, etc.
- A pretty extensive alumni network in the city, as well as a very high regard for AU students – the past three internships/jobs that I’ve done ONLY hire AU students simply because of the good experiences they’ve had.
- DC was ranked #1 city for post grads – it tied with Durham, NC which has the research triangle. Also keep in mind all the job prospects for a PoliSci major. It is not just limited to the Federal Government, there’s Non-Governmental Organizations, NonProfits and the Private Sector with political consulting or something similar.
- Because AU is based in DC, most students graduate with AT LEAST 4 internships – and some take a new one every semester. (Ending up with 12 serious, skill-developing jobs on their resume BEFORE they graduate) That looks very good to a prospective boss, to see someone already with that much work experience. This is something that can only be enjoyed when students are based in a large city full of different experiences. They also graduate KNOWING what they want to do, not having a vague idea because all the jobs they worked were on campus or in low-level retail.</p>
<p>Thank you both for your responses. We also spoke with several parents who have kids attending AU for poli sci and they reinforced what you said, AU transfer. We sent in our ED acceptance and deposit last night.</p>
<p>My daughter is a second semester Sophmore (poli Sci). She has already finished 3 internships. Only this Semester she did not take on one because she has no time in her class schedule. She worked in a lobbying firm (paid) a Gulf Institute and an foreign embassy. AU is the best thing that has happened to her. Most students in AU already have jobs before they graduate. I know this is true with IR, Poli Sci but unfamiliar with other majors. But my daughter says if you are not studying either of those you have no business being in DC. Good luck in AU!</p>
<p>junior mom, thanks for the feedback. How did your daughter get the internships? where do students find out about them? AU is a stretch for us, but we felt it was the right place for our son who loves poli sci.</p>
<p>iwrite: AU has a database of over 2000+ internships which he can look through. Mostly my daughter found hers from her friends who has interned there before and has moved on. A lot of word of mouth by other AU students. Her professors gave her ideas where to look for too. You have to be motivated that’s all. There is plenty of opportunities available. My daughter did not take classes on wednesdays and thursdays evening classes (most of AU students take wednesday off for internships) Weekends she works in a gym. She lives in her own studio apartment across the school. Could not ask for better.</p>