MacGuyver

I am currently switching out of my engineering major, and I'm swaying twoards either PoliSci or Communications. Just want some of you poli sci majors out there to kinda help me out and tell me the benefits of getting into a political science degree deal.

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We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.
---Aristotle

Deeds, not words, shall speak [for] me.
---John Fletcher

dy156

Unless you're not doing well in engineering, the benefits of switching to poli-sci or communications will only be that the next couple of years will be easier. Unless you go to law school, or other grad school, it's difficult to get a job with a poli-sci degree, much less a high paying one. Ditto communications. Without knowing more about your situation, I'd stick with engineering, and just keep interested and involved in politics.

matteo101

Do what you enjoy doing, don't even worry about the money because in the long run if you are more into political science or communications, than engineering it will be better for you. Hopefully someone else can answer your question about benefits etc though.

maleficent

With no disrespect at all to the communications majors, but, from resumes I've seen, that major seems to be what Liberal Arts was back in my day (and no disrespect to Liberal Arts majors)... It was the major for those who weren't clear on what they wanted to get out of their college career, and just wanted a degree. It gives you a well rounded education, but it's not focused on any one thing (that could be seen as a positive or a negative)

If you do what you love, and what interests you, the money wil lcome

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SirSeymour

My Pol Sci degree looks grand on my wall...right next to my degree in History (I double majored). I have never used either professionally and currently make my living in computers where I am discriminated against by senior management because I don't have an engineering degree. I am back in school at night pursuing an MBA.

I would stick with the engineering degree but that is just me. Remember, free advice is often worth what you paid for it.

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aliali

Do what you dig. Let your freak flag fly.

All that stuff.

rukkyg

I major in engineering and have recently become interested in politics. I suggest keepign the engineering degree unless you don't like it (I can believe that). Perhaps a different type of engineering would be better. There are political jobs for engineers. Who do you think has to tell the governor why he should spend so much money on this or that road?

Dingo2879

I was a Poli-Sci major, and since I wasnt pre-law I went more specific and turned it into a Public Administration/Public Policy Degree. After graduating I still had no idea what I wanted to do specifically and my major didnt really help point me in any direction. If you don't want to be pre-law, no reason to be a poli-sci major unless your willing to move onto grad school and further the degree. If your interested in politics, the best thing you can do is get involved. Intern/volunteer for your local representatives, help with campaigns no matter how small. Networking is a big factor in getting work within an administration. And continue to pursue your engineering degree bc that will get you much farther than poli-sci

MacGuyver

Hey thanks guys. I realize that Engineering would be a much better decision to "get somewhere" with a career, but I'm terrible at it, and I'm failing miserably (probably spent too much time reading TFP), so I'm not very happy. If I was good at it, I might enjoy it (MAYBE), but I'm really not cut out for it. I've been looking over the course list for poli-sci and it's really starting to spike my interest. So maybe I'll do it just to get through school, and try to get involved in politics like Dingo suggested.

__________________
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.
---Aristotle

Deeds, not words, shall speak [for] me.
---John Fletcher

roachboy

if you are shifting into polisci and want to do something directly with it, chances are that you can take: administration/think tank type work; law school; doctoral work in the field. same obtained for me in history, i went the third route.

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Publius

I dueled polysci/philosophy in undergrad, both awesome degrees, and both useless by themselves. But I also have quit a few friends who went the enginering route and ended up having to take advanced masters/doc programs anyway to be able to work in the fields they were interested in so chances are in todays competitive job market you will need to go beyond a simple 4 year degree (realizing many enginering degrees take 5 years to complete) if you want to have an edge. So find something you like taking now and keep in mind that you will probably have to take advanced work later on. And if you really want to get ahead do like me, marry yourself a pre-med student and learn how to cook. Nothing beats being able to stay home and not work.