Political science + math = ?
June 21, 2013 1:23 PM Subscribe
What can I do with a B.A. in Political Science and a B.Sc. in Applied Mathematics and Statistics?
When I entered college as a political science major, I was completely math illiterate and hadn't even taken pre-calculus. I figured it would be impossible for me to get a job with a political science degree, so I started looking in to other majors. I took a statistics class that was required for the political science major and did great in it. It gave me hope that I could actually do math, so I started down the calculus sequence and took computer science classes in hopes of becoming a computer programmer. Somewhere along the way, I lost interest in programming and started taking pure math classes. I then started studying to become an actuary but realized that I hated it and would hate to spend the rest of my life doing that.
I was pretty lost for a while and was going ahead with the actuary thing anyway. I went to the political science department to make sure I had everything I needed for a minor. I was amazed to see a lot of new course offerings and a big list of undergraduate research opportunities and internships. Over the past few weeks I've regained my interest in political science and really want to take the plunge and add it back as a second major. I actually feel excited about my classes and my future for the first time in years, which is way more important to me then making lots of money as a actuary or programmer.
Right now, I'm set to graduate in 3 semesters with a B.Sc. in applied mathematics and statistics and a B.A. in political science. My transcript is a big mess of classes from almost every discipline. I've taken 4 programming classes and many upper division math classes (applied and pure). I only need 3 classes to finish my math degree, so most of my classes from here on out will be political science and economics classes. I've only taken 3 upper division political science classes (Urban Planning, Business Law and Gender Issues in the Law), so I don't have a particular area of interest yet. I absolutely loved my urban planning class, but from what I've read, it's currently near impossible to get an entry-level job in planning. I enjoyed my law classes but I do not want to go to law school. Most of the classes I'm taking next semester focus on American elections and parties.
What types of jobs should I be looking in to? Is this even a desirable grouping of skills? Should I be looking in to graduate school? My university offers an M.A. in Public Policy, but I won't be able to afford that right out of college.
Somewhat related: Are there any forums or newsletters related to political science I should be subscribing to? There are tons of programming and actuarial forums/blogs/newsletters, but I haven't found any equivalents for political science students.
I know my question is kind of vague, but I haven't had much luck Googling and the undergraduate political science adviser will not be on campus until August. Thank you so much for any help!
When I entered college as a political science major, I was completely math illiterate and hadn't even taken pre-calculus. I figured it would be impossible for me to get a job with a political science degree, so I started looking in to other majors. I took a statistics class that was required for the political science major and did great in it. It gave me hope that I could actually do math, so I started down the calculus sequence and took computer science classes in hopes of becoming a computer programmer. Somewhere along the way, I lost interest in programming and started taking pure math classes. I then started studying to become an actuary but realized that I hated it and would hate to spend the rest of my life doing that.
I was pretty lost for a while and was going ahead with the actuary thing anyway. I went to the political science department to make sure I had everything I needed for a minor. I was amazed to see a lot of new course offerings and a big list of undergraduate research opportunities and internships. Over the past few weeks I've regained my interest in political science and really want to take the plunge and add it back as a second major. I actually feel excited about my classes and my future for the first time in years, which is way more important to me then making lots of money as a actuary or programmer.
Right now, I'm set to graduate in 3 semesters with a B.Sc. in applied mathematics and statistics and a B.A. in political science. My transcript is a big mess of classes from almost every discipline. I've taken 4 programming classes and many upper division math classes (applied and pure). I only need 3 classes to finish my math degree, so most of my classes from here on out will be political science and economics classes. I've only taken 3 upper division political science classes (Urban Planning, Business Law and Gender Issues in the Law), so I don't have a particular area of interest yet. I absolutely loved my urban planning class, but from what I've read, it's currently near impossible to get an entry-level job in planning. I enjoyed my law classes but I do not want to go to law school. Most of the classes I'm taking next semester focus on American elections and parties.
What types of jobs should I be looking in to? Is this even a desirable grouping of skills? Should I be looking in to graduate school? My university offers an M.A. in Public Policy, but I won't be able to afford that right out of college.
Somewhat related: Are there any forums or newsletters related to political science I should be subscribing to? There are tons of programming and actuarial forums/blogs/newsletters, but I haven't found any equivalents for political science students.
I know my question is kind of vague, but I haven't had much luck Googling and the undergraduate political science adviser will not be on campus until August. Thank you so much for any help!
Check out USAjobs.gov and search for jobs with your degrees. You'll be amazed at the stuff you'll find. Excellent paying jobs with opportunities for growth.
Don't go to grad school because you don't know what you want to be when you grow up, that's just postponing the inevitable.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 1:27 PM on June 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
Don't go to grad school because you don't know what you want to be when you grow up, that's just postponing the inevitable.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 1:27 PM on June 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
What types of jobs should I be looking in to? Is this even a desirable grouping of skills? Should I be looking in to graduate school? My university offers an M.A. in Public Policy, but I won't be able to afford that right out of college.
Your undergrad degrees are basically what MPP students learn too (with some econ in the mix). Look for work as a policy analyst and see whether the MPP program has a career services office that you can work with.
posted by Etrigan at 1:29 PM on June 21, 2013
Your undergrad degrees are basically what MPP students learn too (with some econ in the mix). Look for work as a policy analyst and see whether the MPP program has a career services office that you can work with.
posted by Etrigan at 1:29 PM on June 21, 2013
I was also going to suggest the CIA, as an analyst, if that's your cup of tea. I have a math background and applied to the agency, somewhat on a lark -- it's an interesting process, to say the least.
posted by seemoreglass at 1:32 PM on June 21, 2013
posted by seemoreglass at 1:32 PM on June 21, 2013
Do you look enough like Nate Silver to kidnap him and take his place?
The obvious (to me) job would be in the polling, political stats field, but I would think any government job that involves stats and reporting could be a fruitful one for you. Government needs analysis, in one way or another.
On preview: CIA? Yes, that part of Virginia's very nice. But every three-letter agency needs both stats and someone who can explain stats and polls to states and pols.
posted by Sunburnt at 1:36 PM on June 21, 2013 [2 favorites]
The obvious (to me) job would be in the polling, political stats field, but I would think any government job that involves stats and reporting could be a fruitful one for you. Government needs analysis, in one way or another.
On preview: CIA? Yes, that part of Virginia's very nice. But every three-letter agency needs both stats and someone who can explain stats and polls to states and pols.
posted by Sunburnt at 1:36 PM on June 21, 2013 [2 favorites]
What types of jobs should I be looking in to? Is this even a desirable grouping of skills?
Political Science uses very many quantitative methods. Any kind of consulting/research/think tank worth its salt is going to do analysis of political opinions and trends using statistical analysis.
Any kind of consulting, particularly public policy consulting, is going to want someone with the quantitative skills you have combined with your political science background.
posted by deanc at 1:36 PM on June 21, 2013 [2 favorites]
Political Science uses very many quantitative methods. Any kind of consulting/research/think tank worth its salt is going to do analysis of political opinions and trends using statistical analysis.
Any kind of consulting, particularly public policy consulting, is going to want someone with the quantitative skills you have combined with your political science background.
posted by deanc at 1:36 PM on June 21, 2013 [2 favorites]
Is this even a desirable grouping of skills?
Only if you want to make shit-tons of money as an election campaign statistical analyst with the potential to determine the very course of future civilization. I mean, other than that...
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 1:38 PM on June 21, 2013 [12 favorites]
Only if you want to make shit-tons of money as an election campaign statistical analyst with the potential to determine the very course of future civilization. I mean, other than that...
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 1:38 PM on June 21, 2013 [12 favorites]
SO marketable. Really, really valuable set of skills. You can do data analytics for a government, political campaign or advocacy org, consulting firm, polling shop, think tank, etc. I have friends who do this - memail and I can put you in touch.
posted by amaire at 1:51 PM on June 21, 2013
posted by amaire at 1:51 PM on June 21, 2013
There is an entire college program built around what you've studied independently. Here's some of their job listings. Their brochure says:
posted by ignignokt at 1:57 PM on June 21, 2013
MMSS graduates are actively sought by many employers. In fact, some companies make recruitment presentations exclusively to MMSS students. The breadth of training given to MMSS students leads to many career options. Their first jobs are frequently with firms specializing in consulting, financial services or computing. Recent MMSS graduates have joined such firms as McKinsey & Co., JPMorgan, CNA Insurance, Barclays Capital and Bank of America.The one guy I know that did this program ended up in academia.
More than half of all MMSS graduates have entered graduate or professional schools.
posted by ignignokt at 1:57 PM on June 21, 2013
Nthing good set of skills.
Check out Andrew Gelman. He's a professor at Columbia who does exactly this.
Website here
Blog here
Keep your fingers in the politics stuff, but the real advantage for you will be the stats and programming skills you bring to the table. Go ahead and work for a year or two and find out whats out there, but keep in the back of your mind a grad program heavy on the stats with applications to your subject area of interest. Or a program in Econ. Either way. You can most likely find a place that will offer you an assistantship with stipend and tuition re-reimbursement if you're a competitive applicant. I'd stay away from anything that was subject area focused with only a course or two in stats.
posted by everythings_interrelated at 2:07 PM on June 21, 2013 [3 favorites]
Check out Andrew Gelman. He's a professor at Columbia who does exactly this.
Website here
Blog here
Keep your fingers in the politics stuff, but the real advantage for you will be the stats and programming skills you bring to the table. Go ahead and work for a year or two and find out whats out there, but keep in the back of your mind a grad program heavy on the stats with applications to your subject area of interest. Or a program in Econ. Either way. You can most likely find a place that will offer you an assistantship with stipend and tuition re-reimbursement if you're a competitive applicant. I'd stay away from anything that was subject area focused with only a course or two in stats.
posted by everythings_interrelated at 2:07 PM on June 21, 2013 [3 favorites]
Honestly, if I were you, I'd try straight up emailing Gelman and see if he gives you a response.
posted by everythings_interrelated at 2:08 PM on June 21, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by everythings_interrelated at 2:08 PM on June 21, 2013 [2 favorites]
Polling and political consulting seem obvious to me as well.
posted by naoko at 2:34 PM on June 21, 2013
posted by naoko at 2:34 PM on June 21, 2013
I can't speak to the combination of the two, but as a recruiter for a major west coast tech company I can tell you I am delighted with math majors if they can translate their background into analysis of pretty much any sort of data. Keep your grades up, make sure you get some SQL skills in there somewhere, keep yourself geographically flexible (don't run out and buy a house or get married) and recruiters will be breaking down your door when you graduate.
Also, it may not seem obvious from where you sit, but the quant skills you have are much rarer than the poli sci major you have, so if you have to choose which course to make room for, emphasize the math side of things.
posted by fingersandtoes at 3:19 PM on June 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
Also, it may not seem obvious from where you sit, but the quant skills you have are much rarer than the poli sci major you have, so if you have to choose which course to make room for, emphasize the math side of things.
posted by fingersandtoes at 3:19 PM on June 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
1. Get a MS in applied math, operations research, econ, or any quant-related field. Heavy up on the math when possible.
2. Take pre-req courses for acturial exams. Sit for a few while in school, finish the rest as you graduate.
3. Get a job with either a big banking and finance firm or a consulting firm, preferably in NYC.
4. Work for 5 years.
5. With exams all passed and experience under your belt, now you are raking in the cash, tentatively in the top 5%.
6. Consider going back to school for a masters in political science, preferably near DC.
7. Think actuary and lobbyist.
8. You are now capable of becoming a Washington insider writing the rules.
posted by Nanukthedog at 3:32 PM on June 21, 2013
2. Take pre-req courses for acturial exams. Sit for a few while in school, finish the rest as you graduate.
3. Get a job with either a big banking and finance firm or a consulting firm, preferably in NYC.
4. Work for 5 years.
5. With exams all passed and experience under your belt, now you are raking in the cash, tentatively in the top 5%.
6. Consider going back to school for a masters in political science, preferably near DC.
7. Think actuary and lobbyist.
8. You are now capable of becoming a Washington insider writing the rules.
posted by Nanukthedog at 3:32 PM on June 21, 2013
It is a very hot time for quants in politics. See the New York Times Magazine cover story this week about the Obama data geeks and what they're doing now. If you're at all interested in campaign politics there are lots of opportunities for you out there. With your background and some minimal training (ie New Organizing Institute's data bootcamp if you're a Dem) you could be running a data operation for a statewide campaign no problem.
As a non-quant person working in politics I am very envious of your skillset! The data/stats guys are making all the money and getting all the glory in the field right now. Good luck!
posted by fancypants at 5:26 PM on June 21, 2013
As a non-quant person working in politics I am very envious of your skillset! The data/stats guys are making all the money and getting all the glory in the field right now. Good luck!
posted by fancypants at 5:26 PM on June 21, 2013
What types of things do you actually like to do? It's hard to answer your question without knowing more about what interests, excites, and energizes you. For example, if you love politics, how about trying to get a job with a political polling organization? Of if you love economics and/or public policy, check out government jobs and figure out whether you think you'd be much more employable if you had a masters degree, and in which field.
posted by Dansaman at 11:44 PM on June 21, 2013
posted by Dansaman at 11:44 PM on June 21, 2013
Have you learned GIS? GIS could tie many of interests together, urban planning, math, computer science, political science.
posted by mareli at 10:05 AM on June 22, 2013
posted by mareli at 10:05 AM on June 22, 2013
Market research (consumer polling, choice analysis, targeting).
posted by lathrop at 11:37 AM on June 22, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by lathrop at 11:37 AM on June 22, 2013 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by killdevil at 1:26 PM on June 21, 2013