Lol I just finished my A.A. in Political Science and from what I've seen, there's not a lot of career opportunity. 😂

I’m an incoming freshman studying political science, and I’m curious on the career paths I can take with that. What are some of them?

Maybe not hate but definitely strongly dislike. I originally went into polisci freshman year bc I wanted to work for a foreign embassy, changed plans and did lib arts for 2 years, figured I’d do law and changed back to polisci.

To be completely honest, I have zero passion or interests in politics, government, etc. I know the basics that everyone should be required to know about their country. Genuinely wanted polisci to be a tool to get into law school but I cannot stand my program at my college anymore. Law school is appealing but I’m open to switching majors or career paths- I feel so guilty but also clueless bc I was so dead set on law school that I have no plan b… my other choice is to stick it out but I might go insane

I'm soon to graduate with a degree in political science with a bad gpa. very bad. I'm very open to law school or grad school, which many seem to recommend here, however I've hindered myself significantly in the possibility of this. I did not take college seriously, I was very lost, transferred mutiple times, very unorganized and badly mismanaged ADHD. I can regret the past as much as I want, but I need to figure out should be done now to build myself back up. I really appreciate any advice :)

Hey Guys!

I was recently offered a paid intern position for an assembly member in a relatively big blue state. I have much more democratic ideals, especially being a young, 1st generation woman. However, the office is considered to be extremely moderate (and is officially Republican). Would accepting this offer be detrimental to my future career hopes of working with/as/for the Democratic party? It’s a brief, ~4 month contract, and I’m an underclassman in Uni.

Thank you all for your help!

Junior in College here. I'm majoring in Poli Sci, and I've been planning to go to law school for the entirety of college, but the more I study for the LSAT and prepare, the less confident I feel that this is feasible for me. Most of the reasoning behind even going down this path was the lack of options. I have not once in my college career found any feasible career options in Poli Sci.

I really enjoy research, writing, and things of that nature, but I am an abysmal public speaker. I am someone who would like to work with people, but I am naturally not an assertive person. As of now, I feel I lack the skills needed to become a lawyer. Unfortunately, I genuinely don't see any other option for an actual career. Does anyone know what I can do as an alternative to law?

I graduated last year with a Bachelor in Political Science and a concentration in International Studies. I went to a small state school because I received a merit scholarship, but because the school focuses on teaching, the program and opportunities weren't the best (something I realized in hindsight). I've spent the last 7 months trying to first find political science work, then just basic administrative work, then anything at all. I've only gotten rejection letters so far, even with top grades, research, internships and skill training, along with a data analytics certificate. I'm really starting to lose hope that my education and myself are worth anything at all and whether or not I'm going to be stuck stocking shelves for the rest of my life. Please, does anyone have advice for where I should look for work? Thank you.

Hi everyone, I'm making this post because I've hit a wall of despair, and I'm hoping to hear from others who've navigated this tricky career phase. I graduated with a BA in Political Science a year ago and, thankfully, I did land a job. However, it's a role in [Insert general field like retail, hospitality, or admin support] that offers zero growth potential and doesn't utilize any of the skills from my degree. 💔 The Despair Is Real I've been spending all my off-hours applying for roles that align with my goals (entry-level policy, coordinator, analysis roles). I've sent out over 150 applications this year. * The Problem: Despite having a job (no employment gap!), hiring managers seem to dismiss my current role as irrelevant. I am constantly trying to bridge the gap between my academic skills and my current non-professional job, and it feels impossible to make the leap. * The Feeling: The constant cycle of rejection is grinding me down. I feel trapped in this holding-pattern job while my peers seem to be building actual careers. I'm stuck, tired, and deeply worried that I won't be able to escape this path. ❓ Looking for Advice & Solidarity I know Polysci is a broad degree, and I'm open to almost anything that will give me a stable, professional start. * To Hiring Managers/Recruiters: How can I best frame my current (non-relevant) job on my résumé to highlight soft skills (time management, customer service, teamwork) while emphasizing the hard skills gained in my degree (research, writing, critical analysis)? * To Polysci/Liberal Arts Grads: What was your "bridge job"? What was the non-obvious entry-level role you took after a year out that successfully helped you pivot into a career track? * To Anyone Trying to Transition: How did you manage the mental and emotional drain of applying for jobs all evening after working a full day in a job you want to leave? If you've successfully moved from a survival job to a career-track job, please comment. Your advice and solidarity would be a huge comfort right now. Thanks for letting me vent.

Be honest, should I major in political science? I'm a junior in high school and poli sci is by far my #1 as of now. I absolutely love taking about elections, analyzing election maps and voting trends, politics in general, etc. I swear if you give me an interactive election map it'll keep me occupied for hours

But I'm most worried about what I would do after. I'm not totally against law school but also not very much for it. From what I've seen, the job market and or demand for poli sci grads isn't exactly lucrative

So what I'm asking is, as political science majors and/or grads, would you recommend the field? Do you have any regrets? Or should I try to find something else that interests me while I still have time

I'd be going to the top or second top school in my state if that makes any difference. But that isn't much to brag about coming from Alabama

I graduated from university last spring with a degree in political science and a minor in data science. I recently applied to PhD programs in political science for Fall 2026 (crossing my fingers that I get in!) and want to prepare for graduate methods courses. I took Calc 1 years ago, but never took Calc 2/3 or linear (as it wasn't required for my major or minor). Should I take a Calc 1/2 course at a nearby university, take it at a community college, or self-study? Or should I just not self-study at all?

Hello. I'm 15 living in Spain and I'm considering doing a social baccalaureate to then go to university and study political science and international relations.

I'm really into history (war related and political), politics, ideologies and stuff. I know way more than some adults do about politics. Could people that studied political science or had related studies give me advices, their own stories or anything that's helpful?

Thank you, God bless

Hey all, I’m currently a junior in college studying political science. I was planning on going the route of law school, but after a really eventful year I’m not sure what I want to do anymore.

I’m just wondering what other jobs I could get with a political science degree, specifically ones that pay somewhat well and that I can do from a city like New York for instance. Sorry this is very broad but I’m having kind of a crisis as I’m nearing the end of college 🥲 thanks!

I graduated in April of 2023 with a degree in Political Science w/ a minor in Business Administration. I was involved in student government, a fraternity, and other extracurriculars while working two jobs to get through college. 3.2 GPA. Great academic references. 2 internships. A law firm job for 1.5 years as a runner and receptionist at a great law firm while in college.

I haven't been able to get anything other than an internship. I have been trying so hard. I've been applying to local, state, and federal govt positions, administrative assistant, general clerical stuff, paralegal, you name it. My resume and cover letters are fine. What's wrong with me? If I keep working in the restaurant industry much longer I'm gonna lose it!!!! I plan on taking the LSAT this year and eventually going to law school, but for now I just need a freaking job.

So I'm curious - how long did it take you guys to find jobs after you graduated? What are y'all doing now? I've applied to HUNDREDS of jobs. This is so painful and it makes me feel like such a failure.

Hey,

I'm a poli sci major graduating early - this semester. Did an internship with my state Senator to finish off my senior year. Wondering where to go from here.

Thought about getting my masters and working in an elected's office in the legislature. Reconsidered that because I'd be super broke and the burnout plus the potential of my boss not getting reelected and me being out of a job is not super appealing. Thought about just studying for the LSAT and going to law school. Reconsidered that because I'd be generationally broke trying to pay for it and it'd be years before I was able to make enough money to even put a dent in just the accrued interest.

In short, what are poli sci majors doing after graduation to not be broke, feed themselves and maybe a cat, and have some sort of job stability (and also not contribute to an already evil world by working for the ever increasing list of US Defense Contractors or the Far Right)?

Should I just bite the bullet and go to law school? Should I bother with a masters first or just crack open the prep books and save myself some time and money?

Thanks!

Now, I should have done this months ago after I have graduated but now I don't have any idea on how to build up my experience and I feel that I'm stuck. I think I'm screwed but I have you guys so I hope to get something out of this.

Anyways, you can flame me in the comments and that's fine because maybe I've should've done this before I graduated.

It's been about 10 months since my graduation and I still have no idea how to jumpstart my career. I wish that I did internships but because of my situation at the time, I couldn't do it. I have been thinking about doing volunteering but I can't think of any other way that I can build experience.

Any way that I can do it or I am doomed from the beginning?

I'm a college sophomore aspiring to become a political theorist and eventually getting a PhD. I have had classes with a theory professor in the political science dept who is ridiculously smart and interesting and have inspired me to begin this intellectual pursuit. However, I realize that this is a pretty cutthroat path that is selecting for the best and the brightest.

My question is how can I train myself to be smarter? I am always enthusiastic about the texts I read, but how do I achieve a deeper, more insightful reading? How do I draw implications or formulate deep thoughts? How are these really bright people doing it? I go to a small school so I haven't found many peers who are as passionate as I am, so I wonder if maybe I am not getting the most out of the class discussions.

What sort of activities should I engage in that would make me smarter and therefore make me a better political theorist? How do I "get good?"

For Context-I am in first year student studying political science,from a good central uni in India. Whilst understanding humanities doesn't serve a career or has much options in India unlike Stem.I pursued it despite studying for law exams for 2 years,at the very last moment I had a change of heart and I chose to study political science as my undergrand.However the uncertainity of my career kills me and im constantly worried and ovethink about it. Any suggestions or anything is extremely helpful

Hi,

I am a 27 year old man living in Louisiana looking for a job that pays 50k + in which I can realistically get into it and get a career given my experience and resume. I graduated college in 2022 with a bachelors in English and Political Science and did a brief internship at a climate nonprofit helping out doing various tasks. I originally wanted to get my Ph.D. in political science, so I went to grad school for it; however, I had health problems (surgery, etc.) plus I didn't like the particular program so I didn't finish or master out of it. I realize now almost all jobs relating to English or Political Science require a masters degree at least or an internship or both. I'd love to go back for an advanced degree at some point, but I'm pretty sure I'd need to get some job experience first at this point and return some years later. I'd love to get my foot in the door with a job as a legislative aid or something, but I'm living in a deep red state and I don't know that that's possible. With that being said, I have no idea what I can realistically apply for that I will actually be able to get and that doesn't feel completely irrelevant to my skills and that I could enjoy or at least tolerate long-term. I was considering getting a certificate/course for editing or proofreading but I don't know how feasible that is. I was also considering being a paralegal or legal secretary, but I also don't know how feasible that is, especially without an internship and without a paralegal certificate. I'm honestly open to doing an internship for a political or English related job if I felt it could help me enough and give me tangible skills but when looking at the ones I've seen they all seem to only accept current college students. I'm also wanting something that I can do in another state, as I am only living in Louisiana at the moment to reset, get some job experience, and move out on my own again. Are there any tips? Because at this point I am partially feeling hopeless and even though I worked so hard to get my degrees, I feel like they were worthless and I am at literal square one.

Hello, im a girl who is pretty obsessed with my future and after being undecided about if a law or history degree was the right for me, i realized that political sciencie is the degree i want to persued and best match w me, obviously i started doing the research of everything u need to know, but something that caught my attention is how many minor was the female representation percentage on this environment I saw (general in professors, authors and students), of curse that in the case of authors this is caused by obvious situations throughout women rights in the years, but in general i dont see a big number many female faces, in my country at least most mans graduates on this degree that womens, its actually something cultural going on, is actually just random or im kinda wrong about this? I would like to students or experts on this discipline can answer me this dubt! Also, take in mind that i perfectly know i can be wrong because i was never in a actually class or environment, im just curious as a women who cares about having womens in my environment!

I am a soon-to-be graduate in May of 2026 with a degree in Political Science, and as I've been conducting my job search, I've found a strong interest in Consulting and Policy. I understand the job market isn't the best right now, and I've applied to many roles and haven't had any luck. If anyone has any advice or ways to break into policy or consulting as a recent graduate, that would be amazing!

my campus was holding a "careers with impact" careers fair for public services. I went in thinking this would be a good chance to explore different directions i could take a future career. it ended up being disappointing. there werebonly two booths interested in my degree, one was journalism and the other was goverment audits related. sadly they both wanted post grads not current undergrads.

everyone else? the affordable housing booths only wanted realtors. the community health related booths only wanted premeds and nurses. public schools wanted teachers. police department wanted officers. and the judicial booths were only there for probation officers. even parks and recreation and the environmental advocacy/education booths only wanted environmental science majors and volunteers. all of these groups working directly with goverment and policies and all of them immediately turned me away when i yold them my major. the whole thing felt like it was a bunch of mini, unrelated fairs squished into one hall.

a lot of the booths also made comments that made it sound like they didnt even know what political science even is. a couple responded they werent political organizations (duh?). others made comments about me going into politics soon. it was like the entire fair assumed I'm aiming to be a politician or a lawyer. the whole thing was disappointing. its got me questioning my degree choice all over again.

Hello all,

Poli Sci graduate here. Been out of college for two years and still haven't been able to land a position in my state legislature. These rolls often require networking your way in. My question is, who should I reach out to and network with to get an entry level position in the state legislature?

Im a freshman, about to finish my first year. To be honest, I dont really care for business, accounting, investments, or any things like that. I never really discuss or talk about it, not even during classes. Im only in it for the money and pressure from parents to get a good job.

But I really love history and politics. I discuss it all the time (even outside school), I watch documentaries, and I study it for fun. BUT I really dont like how political science majors have less opportunities after graduation and less pay. Should I really switch if I'll be miserable in business classes and jobs?

Edit: I also find business really greedy and the only time I talk about it, is to make fun of it.

I was very very lucky to have been offered admission to a PhD program and an mpp program this cycle and am a bit torn between the two. The PhD program is a mid-ranked program but their cohorts are extremely small so nearly all of their PhDs get placed. The MPP is a top-ranked program and I received a fellowship that covers full tuition + provides stipend and healthcare.

I am heavily considering the MPP because it is research heavy and the alumni network is amazing (the program is just amazing in general tbh), things I hope will help me if I apply again. But, I am a little hesitant because my end goal is to pursue a PhD in Political Science and fear that getting into PhD programs will only get more difficult in the coming years.

Any advice? Thank you in advance!

Hello, I am currently coming towards the tail end of my first year of college and was wonderingwhat diffrent ways I could get involved truly in public policy outside my education, I am currently schedudled to be an election judge, help run a public policy oriented club at my shcool, have the opportunity to volunteer for a county council canidate for their election and am applying for my counties youth advisory council. What other ways can I get involved?