Inhaling a Higher Education

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My undergraduate experience, to say the least, was lacking in almost every aspect. My GPA was horrendous, I had no opportunities to drink myself into a stupor, and I was not sexed nearly as frequently as I would have preferred. I recall spending the majority of my time in college playing games and hanging out with friends.

These days, those friends are gone, I spend less time griefing nubs in WoW and wish I would have actually focused on my college education.

And, so, I find myself considering a graduate degree...particularly something I'm interested in this time, like, politics.

I've been involved with the legislation system in Washington for many years and am most comfortable in that type of environment. Unfortunately, the positions I've held have only been temporary. It's my assumption that if I obtain a degree in public/business administration, law, or political science, my chances of being offered a permanent position as a committee analyst or counsel will greatly increase.

Are any of you employed in a position directly related to politics? In your opinion, what is the most relevent degree specifically tailored to a career in politics?

Thanks.

Septus

I work in state government. My boss, and a small handful of other people, told me that getting a master's of public administration would not be significantly valuable given my experience(which is not extensive), but recommended instead that I get a master's of business administration, which I'm doing.

The MPA would have definitely been more strictly relevant, but for now at least, I'm still pleased with the route I took for better overall career opportunities.

I didn't really consider a law degree, because it is so much more of an investment of time and money than the previous two. I thought that I'd only have used it within the government sphere, and without being a prosecutor or practicing lawyer, I didn't think that the law degree would get enough use to be worth the time.

Sentry

Getting a graduate degree because you don't know what you want to do strikes me as a horrible idea. You should not get one just because oh, hey, I'm kind of interested in this area. You should pick something you want to do as a career, then figure out the best combination of experience/education to get there.

Also, horrendous GPA's do not typically lend themselves to getting accepted into graduate school

Saammiel

I know a lot of people who are. At least in my state, working on the lower echolons of the political process (including our beloved Unicam) is all about networking and has about fuck all to do with your degree. These people have undergrads in a wide variety of fields, and at least one didn't complete college.

Most people were involved in working campaigns for a national candidate in either the primaries or generals and networked their way from there. Membership in various groups like Young <political party> won't hurt either.

The most common advanced degree is definately a law degree, and you will need to have one you want to be one of the research aides or the like.

Deebaser

All my friends in politics got there through volunteering. Paying your dues and networking is a lot more effective than a degree.

celandine

I know people who work in local politics. If you want to be a local politician, what I've heard is that you give a lot of time volunteering and meeting people. It's entirely doable and doesn't require a graduate degree. But it's not a living; it's a second job. Do not expect to make money at this; make money at something else.

If you want to get into policy, in the sense of think tanks, that ship may have sailed; your competition was interning and studying policy for the last four years.

I would think that it's easiest to learn about campaign stuff by volunteering. If you're a Democrat, you might want to consider this.

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Sentry wrote: »

You should not get one just because oh, hey, I'm kind of interested in this area. You should pick something you want to do as a career, then figure out the best combination of experience/education to get there.

That's what I'm doing. And, I've been accepted into a graduate program...

Anyway, there are two main components of political work: campaigning and working directly with politicians, and being employed as a staff member for the House or Senate; or one of the caucuses. Basically, there is partisan and non-partisan work.

I was employed as a non-partisan Committee Legislative Assistant for the Office of Program Research, which is the muscle behind the brain of the House of Representatives...actually, it's part of the brain, as well.

Committee staff members typically consist of research/policy analysts, counsel (lawyers), and legislative assistants. If the committee is responsible for a budget they will have fiscal analysts and if the committee is large they will have a coordinator (http://www.leg.wa.gov/House/Committees/TR/Pages/MembersStaff.aspx).

What Septus recommended seems like the most logical course of action. I've considered a law degree, but it doesn't seem to be viable. I'll ask around and verify if business administration would indeed be the best choice.

Thanks.

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I learned that MBA programs require that you take and pass the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT, $250).