I am a political science major

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Am I doomed to failure in life with this degree? Be honest, I don't care.

I know there are jobs out there for it, but there is stiff competition for them.

If at the end of my degree I can't get into law or grad school, or get a good job with my existing degree, I am going to go into a trade and work in the oil field for big $ so I am not worried. Plus I can continue to mooch off my dad (he is a doctor).

I'd say "doomed to failure" would be taking it a bit too far. I'm a bit clueless as to what kind of jobs are available to you with such a degree, but I'm sure there's some amount of variety to it. The biggest issue will be finding one that is a "good" fit for you.

Well...that's the first big issue. The second is finding a job, something I'm not having much luck with. How well that goes can depend on many things, even how the job market is where you live. Someone started a job interview thread...I think in either random or general discussion. I need to take a look at that, there could be some useful information there. That kind of stuff applies to all degrees, and most all jobs for that matter.

Advanced degrees always open more doors.

edit: Oh, you might want to look into patent law. Don't know if that would be of interest to you.

Last edited by shadexiii on 27 Sep 2007, 7:56 pm, edited 1 time in total.

OH, I thought you were looking for the 'Political Science Majors' support forum

Can't answer your question, but I am curious about the oilfield job...

I worked on rigs in West Texas back in the 80's, roughneck and roustabout.
The pay was good back then... $11/hr , hopefully it has gone up!

Have you worked in the oilfields before?
You're talking about maybe working on a drilling rig?

Big difference between that and a white-collar job, huh?

Have you started looking at any particular Law schools?
What do you see as your biggest obstacle towards admittance?

To get a job to do w/my degree, at the bare minimum I will have to move cities, and the most important jobs are across the country from me. As far as advanced degrees go, it seems like we are in an arms race for education. Having a masters is not something that you need to do the job, you are just likely competing against people who have one(stupid, but it's reality).

Well, that's an important consideration, whether or not you are willing or comfortable to make such a move. If you don't believe you are, talking with the career services people where you are going might be helpful. They could have some good ideas for you. (I'm assuming such a service exists. I know it did at the college I went to, I could be wrong.)

Depends on the job. Some employers will require a master's, or even a doctorate, for them to even consider hiring you for some positions. That being the case, you would have access to those jobs, as well as anything requiring a lower level of education. Is it necessary? No, but unless you know the exact job that you want, and know just how far you have to go to be able to obtain it, more is usually better. At least in terms of education.

The same could also be said about some of the classes I had to take to graduate: I'll likely never use what I learned in them ever again.

I've been finding jobs that require a high school diploma that are paying more, at times much more, than the jobs I've been looking at, and I'm sitting on two B.S. degrees.

The rigging jobs are out in alberta (the province next to mine), and most people make over $80,000.00 a year out there. Everything depends on the job, your hours, certifications etc though (of course). I have no experience out there, but I am a hard worker, and I have a friend out there working right now (he is bi-polar, not AS), and he is doing quite well. I figure it is worth a shot. I would like to go to trade school and get some certifications before I go out there, if I do.

I will be applying the the state law school here. It is supposed to be one of the easiest to get into, and they might let me apply under disability status (I am registered as a disabled student because of AS), and this would make it easier for me to get in. My grades are ok, but not amazing (not as good as most of the NT's applying I am sure). To meet their eligibility for your entrance average, you need to take at least 8 classes a year. I have trouble keeping up with so many classes. I am often going nuts in my head because of AS, and other issues in my life, and find time management very difficult. This last year I have felt on the brink of insanity most of the time, and have found it difficult to concentrate on school. I sometimes doubt why they would want to let in a nutcase with AS when there are many mentally stable NT students with better records and loads of references who are applying.

I totally forgot you live up North.

Thanks for the info about the oilfield jobs though. I found that interesting.

You've mentioned this idea of law school before.
Do you think you might find a lawyer who is aware of the challenges you face and could give you some real facts/advice about how to make it into and through law school?

Perhaps you school counslor might have some ideas on how to find someone like this?
Maybe the advisor at one of the law schools could talk to you about it... even through emails?

I am registered with the disability student services at my school, maybe they can help me in some way. I will try going down there sometime next week and ask if there is someone who can help me through them. I don't want to have to just go to another office and get help from someone not connected to them, because they often don't know anything about disabilities or AS, and misinterpret the information I give them. I know a couple lawyers in real life, but they don't know anything about AS (or me having AS), and they both graduated 20+ years ago... I went to the admissions office last year and asked about disability criteria and admissions, and they told me I just have to do the regular admission and explain the nature of my disability etc. and it is up to the admissions committee whether I am considered eligible for "special admissions" consideration, otherwise my application will be lumped in with the regular applicants.

I know how you feel. I'm also majoring in political science but I'm not really interested in going to grad school when I finish this May. (6 years just to get BA!! !) Plus, I'm interested in international politics which means I'm going to have to go to grad school sometime in the future just move ahead or work of the US State Department (US version of the Forgien Ministery), which I'm still not sure I want to do or not or if I'll even get in because of a medical requiement. So, I might just work in wildfire since it pays very well and I already have job in wildfire during the summer. However, I'm giving myself two years to finger out what I'll do next.

Also, good luck with getting into Law school!

Isn't Political Science an oxymoron?

At least I gave it a shot.

Stick to making sure the news and current events forum has as many topics by you as possible.

It's easier to just make really short replies so your name shows up.

I mean!! ! You broke the code!! !

I don't think political science is a hopeless major. If your concerned about related job choices you could talk with your department head, advisor or career center if your college has one.

I am wanting to change my major to public administration, it is a branch of political science. I have been told that it is a more practical, and versatile. It basically combines a lot of poly sci with a lot of economics and some accounting/administration classes. I am not a big math person, but I think I will try to do this. I just want a damn job, and to not have an overly difficult time getting one.