<p>I got admitted to UCSD off the waitlist as a Political Science/IR major. I already SIRed at UCLA as an African and Middle Eastern Studies major and planned on minoring in Poli Sci. Now I am at a complete loss as to which campus to attend. I wonder if one would lead to more post graduate success? UCLA has the reputation but the area studies major concerns me, I think Political Science would be slightly stronger in the job market. I would like a career in foreign service or international development in Africa. I plan on going to grad school but would like to take a year or two off to pay down my loans. Which school/major is the better choice in my situation?</p>
<p>I’m not going to claim that I’m an expert in these matters, but judging from the circumstances of the predicament that you’re in, I think you should stick with UCLA and that African/Middle Eastern Studies major and minor in political science. Both schools are great when it comes to preparing undergrads for grad school. In fact, that’s one of the things that the University of California is well known for. Poli Sci may be slightly better if one wants to secure a decent job soon after college, but you should remember that most employers don’t care about what you majored in. They just want to see your degree.</p>
<p>You said that you wanted to work in Africa; I think your African and Middle Eastern Studies major would be perfect for the kind of job that you seek there.</p>
<p>What ultimately gets the job is not the school, the major, or the degree. The PERSON gets the job. The internships you get while in school, the organizations you join while in school, the contacts you make at school and internships…the experiences you bring to the job search are what matter.</p>
<p>Get a high gpa, graduate with honors, get meaningful internships in the area you want to be working in. Future employers and grad schools will be more interested in what you DID more than what you STUDIED.</p>
<p>My daughter graduates from UCLA this weekend. The commencements so far have been amazing and inspirational. UCLA is a fantastic university and will open doors for you IF you take advantage of the many opportunities offered to you while in LA. We went to her Phi Beta Kappa ceremony (oldest, most prestigious national honor society). All graduates stated their majors and plans after college. They were unbelievably varied. For example: A religious studies major going to Yale law school. An anthropology major going to UCLA Med school. An english major joining the Peace Corp. A psychology major going to Columbia Law school. You get the idea. Their majors didn’t really matter but their internships, study abroad experience, volunteering, campus leadership, research, etc. These all combined to make these students very attractive to grad school as well as future employers.</p>
<p>Go to the school that your heart is telling you to go to. Where you will be happy and thrive. Then do your best, get involved, and the rest will take care of itself. Your major is the least important aspect of your college experience unless you want to be an electrical engineer or something highly specialized such as that. Remember you can major in something and minor in something else, or even have 2 minors! Good luck!</p>