NationStates Jolt Archive

Keep in mind I'm not honestly taking the following thread 100% seriously. As this is my future I'm dealing with. I'm just looking for a path to take and this just is another brick in the wall (Love the song...)

Now then, I have no bloody clue what to do when I graduate high school. Definatly going to a 4-year university. But to study what I have no clue. I'm rather torn between going into either the medicine field or the law field.

However, I do know that when it's all said and done, I really want to end up working in the U.S. government. Preferably in the State Department.

Though would jobs in embassies in Spanish-speaking countries or English-speaking countries be quite pointless to me? Anyone know if a university education is needed to work there?

Or what field I should study in order to find a way into the government. What these fields will lead me to in the government?

You're considering going into government work? Get a law degree. Alot of politicians and high level civil servants are lawyers. Also it doesn't hurt to have been in the military.

State department would probably like someone with a law degree and a little courtroom experience. Knowing how to talk 12 people into agreeing with you and ignoring the other side's evidence would probably come in handy when dealing with foreign governments. (I'm guessing)

Well obviously politics, anything of that nature. Also look to get involved with local politics, with whichever party best suits you. Thats really the only advice I can give, being the same age as you and not knowing how things work in America.

You're considering going into government work? Get a law degree. Alot of politicians and high level civil servants are lawyers. Also it doesn't hurt to have been in the military.

State department would probably like someone with a law degree and a little courtroom experience. Knowing how to talk 12 people into agreeing with you and ignoring the other side's evidence would probably come in handy when dealing with foreign governments. (I'm guessing)
Yep. I also thought about trying to get into the Air Force Academy. But their lack of Pre-Law just kills me.

EDIT: I should really look into the Naval Academy and West Point to see if they have Pre-Law.

EDIT2: Apparently, no academy offers pre-law. Bugger.

A university education would be advantageous, even if it is not required for whatever job you persue. Besides the obvious fact that it "looks good on your resume," University teaches you how to think in ways High School cannot.

A university education would be advantageous, even if it is not required for whatever job you persue. Besides the obvious fact that it "looks good on your resume," University teaches you how to think in ways High School cannot.
So does NS. Maybe he should include NS on his resume and list some frequent posters as references.

So does NS. Maybe he should include NS on his resume and list some frequent posters as references.
Let's see...

The mods! SURELY they have a LIST of good things to say about me!

take a liberal arts degree at a midwestern or southern university..... university of michigan or duke perhaps

you are going to need an advanced degree anyway so you may as well get a strong basic education.

you are from southern california so it is important to see how other parts of the country really live. the more the thought disturbs you the more important it is to do it, if the whole thing makes you want to scream, go to the university of arkansas.

take enough science and math to qualify you for medical/science schools just in case you change your mind about government. dont worry that you arent sure of what you want to do yet. its true of people graduating from college. just follow your interests and dont be afraid to change your major if it seems right to you.

you need excellent grades and hard classes to get into these schools (and to get scholarships if necessary) so work very hard in your remaining years of highschool. your teachers need to LIKE you. if they like you, they give you glowing recommendations.

Hey! I was gonna start a thread like this! :mp5: :mp5: :mp5: :mp5:
:D

Yep. I also thought about trying to get into the Air Force Academy. But their lack of Pre-Law just kills me.

EDIT: I should really look into the Naval Academy and West Point to see if they have Pre-Law.

EDIT2: Apparently, no academy offers pre-law. Bugger.
there is no "pre law" degree
you get a degree in english, history, philophy, sociology, etc. then apply to law school. your grades, classes taken, lsat and prof recommendations get you into law school.

you just need a degree from a school that emphasizes thinking, research and writing.

there is no "pre law" degree
you get a degree in english, history, philophy, sociology, etc. then apply to law school. your grades, classes taken, lsat and prof recommendations get you into law school.

you just need a degree from a school that emphasizes thinking, research and writing.
....Huh! Well about TIME someone told me that!

Then what is this I hear about Pre-Law?

there is no "pre law" degree
you get a degree in english, history, philophy, sociology, etc. then apply to law school. your grades, classes taken, lsat and prof recommendations get you into law school.

you just need a degree from a school that emphasizes thinking, research and writing.

There is a pre-law degree. But outside of the pre-law degree some ideas for a major are political science(if you actually want to get involved in politics) and philosophy(law is applied philosophy), maybe even sociology(such as the sociology of crime). However, pre-law is becoming less common because many law schools do not like the idea of a focused pre-law degree and desire some exposure to outside ideas.

Might also want to look into ROTC programs at any University you attend.

I'd also call the State Department and see what sort of things they're looking for. Express your future plans and I'm sure their Human Resources department would be more than happy to help you on the right path.

Check here: http://www.state.gov/employment/

Very informative.

I'd also suggest a stint in the Peace Corps if the military is not your cup of tea.

http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm

There have been, and will be, many openings in Information Assurance/Information Security. If you're at all interested in technology, that's definitely a way to go.

So does NS. Maybe he should include NS on his resume and list some frequent posters as references.
You never know, with all those people from Homeland Security checking in on us from time to time, that could actually be a good reference :D

I also want to work in the government, in particular I want to be a national politician, preferably working as a national senator or congressman, or a state executive (a governor), and it would always be nice to be a national excecutive (working for the defense department, being a presidential adviser, being a president, lol, etc).

I personally will be trying to get into a great college, and will be doing the Air Force ROTC program there. I will major in politics, and in business and maybe minor in leadership. I will then, after getting a Masters degree in politics, join the military, as it will be required because I will do ROTC, and then I will just work on campaigns in my spare time, while the rest of the time I will be making money in business pursuits.

After making enough money and political connections, I will run for congress probably, and work my way up from there. But that's just my idea for achieving my goals. I hope they will give you some ideas of your own! :)

Whatever you end up taking don't forget to include at least a couple of courses on business, public speaking and networking (with people). Those will take you a loong loong way wherever you decide to go later.

Also, don't think that because you're making a choice now you will never be able to go back on it or that you're stuck on this path for the rest of your life. It's not like that at all and ten years from now who knows what you may be doing. If you're well prepared, you'll do ok.

Yeah, that guy's right on. Definitely read lots of back or websites on public speaking, making friends, influencing people, etc. It's REALLY helpful!

I used to be a major introvert until I read great books about stuff like that. But now I'm extremely outgoing and fun-loving, as well as supremely self-confident.
Enjoy expanding. By the way, I am also from Southern California (Claremont).

If you join the Marines you could get posted to one of our embasies as the Marines guard our embasies. :eek:

On a serious note, as this will be your first year why not just concentrate on basic required courses such as English, math, history etc. while you do some further research into what major you would like to peruse? If you want to go into the State Department a lot of history, political science, and geography would be good as well as a foreign language or two.

Check out collegeboard.com, and get an account if you don't already have one. You can look at all sorts of careers, and they have great tips for majors and activities for each one. They also have a big list of majors and what careers can follow.

Yep. I also thought about trying to get into the Air Force Academy. But their lack of Pre-Law just kills me.

EDIT: I should really look into the Naval Academy and West Point to see if they have Pre-Law.

EDIT2: Apparently, no academy offers pre-law. Bugger.

Find a university that has pre-law and ROTC. You can get the pre-law taken care of and a commission in the military. OH, ROTC does have scolarships.

and then I will just work on campaigns in my spare time, while the rest of the time I will be making money in business pursuits.

If you want to go into politics you should be doing volunteer work on campaigns now. If you haven't started already do so in the next election, even if it is for a local politician. Who knows you may end up with an outstanding mentor in addition to learning how to campaign.

Wow, so many people here share my dream! I love politics, and would love to work on the state level. I plan to major in Political Science or Philosophy, hopefully in one of the top 25 schools. I have a 4.0 gpa, so my dreams are withing reach, especially with the debate team and math team on my resume.

Keep in mind I'm not honestly taking the following thread 100% seriously. As this is my future I'm dealing with. I'm just looking for a path to take and this just is another brick in the wall (Love the song...)

Now then, I have no bloody clue what to do when I graduate high school. Definatly going to a 4-year university. But to study what I have no clue. I'm rather torn between going into either the medicine field or the law field.

However, I do know that when it's all said and done, I really want to end up working in the U.S. government. Preferably in the State Department.

Though would jobs in embassies in Spanish-speaking countries or English-speaking countries be quite pointless to me? Anyone know if a university education is needed to work there?

Or what field I should study in order to find a way into the government. What these fields will lead me to in the government?

I'd say the law education. Every country needs more police, FBI, CIA, lawyer types of people.
The medical career's good too but I like the law idea better.

Thanks for the advice, Celtlund. I will apply it as soon as I can.

Go with the lawyer, like the first guy said, pratically all politicans are laywers (at least in Congress and state houses).

As for me, I'm going to go community college for two-years and then a diffrent two-year college. Community college has changed alot since my dad took it. It's also cheap... and we're lower-middle class and orginially working-class. That and he spent our college money on to have us had a childhood he never had.

Ah yes, the childhood spending... I would have prefered that my parents save the money for college.

You don't really have to be a lawyer at all to work in government and to have a comprehensive understanding of all the forces at play in different issues. In fact, I've heard that recently increasingly people have been becoming less favorable to lawyers who want to become politicians. You can be pretty much anything you want before you go into the government or politics. John Glenn used to be an astronaut and became a senator, bill frist used to be a heart surgeon and became a senator, george bush used to be a businessman and became a governor and president. I think the notion that if you want to be a politician, you need to be a lawyer first, is outdated myself.

Or what field I should study in order to find a way into the government. What these fields will lead me to in the government?

Law, Political Science but primarily: Economics!!!

Work in McD's. Be the people's person! Represent the normal Joe. :p

EDIT: Don't follow my advice.. Just in case you haven't noticed.

So you want a job with the state department? Good start might be to see what they have available, what sorts of people they're looking for. Maybe there's some sort of internship available in different areas: best to get exposed as early as possible and feel it out so you're not sitting at work in 10 years regretting your career choice. Hell you might change your mind entirely. I was talking to a fellow today that's working shift at a factory because he prefers it to the career path he had in mind... medical technician. Go figure, right?

Might also want to look into ROTC programs at any University you attend.

I'd also call the State Department and see what sort of things they're looking for. Express your future plans and I'm sure their Human Resources department would be more than happy to help you on the right path.

Check here: http://www.state.gov/employment/

Very informative.

I'd also suggest a stint in the Peace Corps if the military is not your cup of tea.

http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfmHmm, the internship is pretty interesting...I'm looking it up right now.

Any chance of leaving the country? Education is not just about planning your future career, but also a chance to learn about yourself and the world.

The Dark Side of the Force is a pathway to many powers some may consider to be.. unnatural.

Any chance of leaving the country? Education is not just about planning your future career, but also a chance to learn about yourself and the world.
I dunno, I'm a born US citizen. I never really thought of universities in other countries like Britain.

Don't British universities teach things that are not on par with American universities? I mean, if I'm studying Pre-Law, shouldn't I be studying it in the U.S. with American law rather than British law? And business. I don't know if business management is different in the U.S. than it is in Britain.

Though it IS a possibility, it'll only be if I can get the money to live overseas and I sort through all the mess.

Any chance of leaving the country? Education is not just about planning your future career, but also a chance to learn about yourself and the world.
And most importantly: getting up to your ears in debt. Come on, life's not fun if you're not in the red every now and again... or for a half a decade..hehe... I'm lucky enough to be in the clear for next year already, though. All I need to do is keep working these 12 hour shifts at the plant and I'll even be able to take a week long vacation next year. Life is sweet... seriously, though, take out some loans and live a little. Maybe travel's not up your alley: well tuition money buys a lot of booze.... or so I've heard.

I dunno, I'm a born US citizen. I never really thought of universities in other countries like Britain.

Don't British universities teach things that are not on par with American universities? I mean, if I'm studying Pre-Law, shouldn't I be studying it in the U.S. with American law rather than British law? And business. I don't know if business management is different in the U.S. than it is in Britain.
Word to the wise: the LSATS don't actually require that you KNOW a lot about the legal system. That's what Law School is for. Pre-Law, as I understand it (foreign viewpoint here, but I'm pretty sure it's the same South of the border too), is just the types of studies that prep you for Law: analytical thought, debate, logic... and endless hours of research in the library: that sort of deal. I mean, you could get into Law School with a degree in Chemistry if you really wanted to here.... you just wouldn't be as well prepared as you would with a degree in, say, History or Philosophy.

I'm pretty sure that business is business is business. If it works in the UK it should work in the US.

I dunno, I'm a born US citizen. I never really thought of universities in other countries like Britain.

Don't British universities teach things that are not on par with American universities? I mean, if I'm studying Pre-Law, shouldn't I be studying it in the U.S. with American law rather than British law? And business. I don't know if business management is different in the U.S. than it is in Britain.

Though it IS a possibility, it'll only be if I can get the money to live overseas and I sort through all the mess.

That's why you could experience something more than just American culture. As for law, if you're really into, studying international law could be an option in the future. I guess if you're interested, you could look it up. Personally I don't fancy studying just law...lol....

Education is an investment. Pay today and earn tomorrow.

And most importantly: getting up to your ears in debt. Come on, life's not fun if you're not in the red every now and again... or for a half a decade..hehe... I'm lucky enough to be in the clear for next year already, though. All I need to do is keep working these 12 hour shifts at the plant and I'll even be able to take a week long vacation next year. Life is sweet... seriously, though, take out some loans and live a little. Maybe travel's not up your alley: well tuition money buys a lot of booze.... or so I've heard.

Education is an investment. Pay today and earn tomorrow.

You should take the path of the Tiger, young one. Only then can you grow to avenge your family name and redeem its honor.
However, remember what the wise men say, "A fool and his internet are soon discussing what career path the fool should contemplate. For the internet is treachorous, with the vile sarcasm and hatred of ten thousand ex-wives and a heart of stone to match." The wise men then cry and begin to drink at the thought of the alimony which they must sell their souls to fulfill.

How about study engineering? A BE degree in my university is 4 years, there's a guarantee of a job even prior to graduation.

The common engineer may earn less than the doctor or lawyer, but an engineer starting his own firm could easily exceed the stereotype. Careers in law and medicine is always much more stressful than engineering.

I fail to see any proper careers for BA graduates apart from research (if they're top notch) or teaching. In the West, BA students are the most common, in China, engineering holds that supreme rank. It must the be the difference of attitude towards maths and science.

Education is an investment. Pay today and earn tomorrow.

5000 years of Chinese wisdom never fails! Hail!

As others have said, philosophy and poli sci tend to be both interesting in and of themselves and good preparation for law school and/or a career in politics. I'd recommend either. However, if you're not sure of your major, there are many colleges that do not require that you declare a major until after a year or two, which gives you ample time to make up your mind. Try a little of everything until you find the right fit.

Oh, and in regard to Dragons Bay's suggestion - lots of colleges sponser programs in which you can spend a year (usually your junior year) studying at a foreign university. Everyone I know who has done such has highly recommended it, and if you're really interested in working for the government, it would look excellent on your transcript. Look into what study-abroad programs are available at any school you apply to and see if any of them strike your fancy.

5000 years of Chinese wisdom never fails! Hail!
W00T!