While being in the heart of it all (Washington, D.C.) is a fantastic strategy for those who are dying to work on Capitol Hill, there are schools outside of the nation’s capital that also attract top talent in this field.
1. Georgetown
At the top of the list is Georgetown University in D.C. With an acceptance rate of just under 12%, admission to Georgetown is highly competitive. But for those who make the cut and are interested in pursuing a life in politics and government, there’s no better place than having Capitol Hill itself as your sandbox. Georgetown students have a nearly unparalleled opportunity to sit in on Supreme Court cases, intern at established government institutions and
2. George Washington
GW also offers exceptional opportunities to immerse oneself in the political arena. From internships on Capitol Hill and academic programs that focus on political governance here and abroad, it’s an impressive school to have on the resume. Any school in D.C. also offers students the opportunity to rub shoulders with people in the city who might be future employers. More than one-fifth of Poli Sci majors work in politics after graduation.
3. American University
It should come as no surprise that our top three here is comprised of all D.C.-based schools. AU is another great option for those dead set on working on Capitol Hill. One-fifth of recent grades who majored in Poli Sci get jobs in government after graduation, including within the U.S. Senate and House.
4. Harvard
Harvard University makes our list because it’s educated more U.S. presidents than any other school in the country. Nearly 10% of all recent grads work in government. While it’s not in Capitol Hill’s backyard, Harvard still offers tremendous opportunities for those destined for D.C. Harvard’s Department of Government is a great program for those interested in diving into politics after graduation.
5. Stanford
Stanford is just behind Harvard in terms of number of sitting representatives who hold diplomas from that school. Stanford’s Department of Political Science is a great program for those looking to get their foot into the door of Capitol Hill and ascend to the top. Stanford also offers a Stanford in Washington Program with full-time internships for students. Prior placements have included offices of senators, committees in Congress, and the Department of Justice.
6. Yale
Yale University has produced the third-most number of United States presidents. The Ivy League schools are great places to be for those who want to build a career out of rubbing shoulders with kingmakers and politicians. Current notable alumni include Senators Sherrod Brown and Amy Klobuchar and Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee among others. It’s not a bad school to have on your resume when applying to summer internships in D.C.
7. Princeton
In case you haven’t noticed yet, there’s a theme emerging. Pretty much all of the Ivies are great places to start building an impressive political career. After all, many of the world’s most influential people meet at their university dinner clubs. Princeton is just a short distance from D.C., making political internships and networking meetings totally attainable.
8. UC Berkeley
It might come as a surprise that a school on the opposite side of the country from Capitol Hill made our list. But UC Berkeley has one of the top Political Science programs in the country that offers research opportunities and lectures, in addition to relevant coursework. Numerous notable legislators have also graduated from UC Berkeley, including Congressman Colin Allred.
9. U Michigan
Michigan is another one that might seem a bit out of left field, but its renowned Political Science department is also a winner for anyone looking to make a career in politics. Not to mention, it’s located in one of the most prominent swing states in the country with plenty of opportunities to get involved in campaigns that are sure to be in the national spotlight.
10. Columbia
New York City has always been a political powerhouse, but it’s increasingly becoming a hotbed for contentious politics. Columbia is not only a fantastic school for Political Science and a great resume-topper overall, but it offers students the opportunity to snag internships for local and state-level politicians who are likely to aim for national office. After all, heavy hitters like Hilary Clinton, Mike Bloomberg and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez all had campaign HQs in New York City. It’s also a very short distance to Washington, making it an ideal location for political junkies.
If you’re a political junkie who’s hellbent on getting to Capitol Hill, it’s important to target a school with an impressive political program that offers connections in D.C. If you’re going to position yourself in the competitive world of politics and government, it’s important to start showing schools that you’ve developed that expertise throughout high school so you can get into a top notch college program.
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