# graduated with a BA in Political Science...now what? ;) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 12, 2006, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graduated-with-a-ba-in-political-science-now-what/372428 "2006-09-12T16:15:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sean284](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@sean284](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sean284)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2006, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graduated-with-a-ba-in-political-science-now-what/372428/1 "2006-09-12T16:15:58Z")
Hey all, So I just gradudated with my bachekirs in Political Science and I am really unsure of what I want to do. I have interviewed with sales companies like Cisco and Bausch & Lomb, and I’ve thought about law school too (although my grades are 3.1-ish so I dont know about that). What experience do some of you Polysci majors out there have? Should I go to grad school, what’s out there, etc? I am really confused as to what I want to do, so any perspective would be appreciated. I graduated from the University at Buffalo for reference. ---
**Author:** ![Greenback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/2bfe46/32.png) [@Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greenback)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2006, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graduated-with-a-ba-in-political-science-now-what/372428/2 "2006-09-12T16:26:29Z")
repeat after me: “do you want fries with that?” ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2006, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graduated-with-a-ba-in-political-science-now-what/372428/3 "2006-09-12T16:47:23Z")
[QUOTE=Greenback] repeat after me: “do you want fries with that?” [/QUOTE] Dude, not all poly sci majors work at a fast food joint. One of my good friends is a shining example to all of what you can do with a poly sci degree. He works at a liquor store. ---
**Author:** ![XJETGIRLX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9fc29f/32.png) [@XJETGIRLX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XJETGIRLX)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2006, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graduated-with-a-ba-in-political-science-now-what/372428/4 "2006-09-12T16:56:06Z")
If you live near the capital of your state, get involved with the state legislative process. I used to work for an association as manager for the political ops department. We also had a governmental affairs department. You’ll get to know a lot about the process first-hand and the networking opportunities are great. Down the line you can work as a lobbyist, or governmental affairs consultant for major companies, even cities or counties. The trick to getting one of these jobs is knowing the current players. ---
**Author:** ![FRDE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e68b1a/32.png) [@FRDE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FRDE)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2006, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graduated-with-a-ba-in-political-science-now-what/372428/5 "2006-09-12T17:28:15Z")
Don’t know IME what you learn at Uni is seldom useful ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2006, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graduated-with-a-ba-in-political-science-now-what/372428/6 "2006-09-12T19:00:46Z")
[QUOTE=sean284] 've thought about law school … Should I go to grad school… [/QUOTE] When you think (and worry) about your future, try not to use the word “school” any more. Think about what you want to _do_, not where you might be able sit in a classroom–that just delays the time when you start doing it. Life isn’t about getting grades–it’s about doing stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Cemetery\_Savior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/439d5e/32.png) [@Cemetery\_Savior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cemetery_Savior)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2006, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graduated-with-a-ba-in-political-science-now-what/372428/7 "2006-09-12T19:11:31Z")
Come to the beautiful world of Insurance! Seriously…you can use all of that Game Theory you learned for…well, it should have _something_ to do with customers… -Cem ['92 University of Illinois Poli-Sci grad] ---
**Author:** ![The\_Universe\_Lashes\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8797f3/32.png) [@The\_Universe\_Lashes\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Universe_Lashes_Out)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2006, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graduated-with-a-ba-in-political-science-now-what/372428/8 "2006-09-12T19:23:45Z")
I got into a pretty good law school as a poli sci major with a 3.0-ish GPA, but I’d advise against doing so just because you can’t figure out anything else to do. I quit after a year and those student loan payments aren’t very much fun. I’m currently delivering pizza until I can figure out the “now what” part. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Cymbeline](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_cymbeline/32/9244_2.png) [@Green\_Cymbeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Cymbeline)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2006, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graduated-with-a-ba-in-political-science-now-what/372428/9 "2006-09-12T20:19:44Z")
Come to Washington DC. There are tons of jobs for poli sci majors here. I am a poli sci major and I work for a legislative research firm. ---
**Author:** ![jimmmy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@jimmmy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimmmy)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2006, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graduated-with-a-ba-in-political-science-now-what/372428/10 "2006-09-12T20:58:12Z")
[QUOTE=nyctea scandiaca] Come to Washington DC. There are tons of jobs for poli sci majors here. I am a poli sci major and I work for a legislative research firm. [/QUOTE] Amen if you want to make it your career. Some [links](http://www.apsanet.org/section_412.cfm) How about Grad School and Teaching? If not, Law School can be nice… ---
**Author:** ![Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2006, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graduated-with-a-ba-in-political-science-now-what/372428/11 "2006-09-13T01:03:05Z")
[QUOTE=sean284] … I graduated from the University at Buffalo for reference. [/QUOTE] You make the second person I know of on this board other than myself who graduated from UB! Sorry, I don’t have anything else helpful to add. I was a bio major and graduated when Ronald Reagan was president. ---
**Author:** ![sean284](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@sean284](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sean284)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2006, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graduated-with-a-ba-in-political-science-now-what/372428/12 "2006-09-13T04:52:51Z")
thanks to everyone who had some _real_ perspective to add 😉