What is the better college major? Paralegal Studies or Poli Sci?

[Tiggeroshii]

I am split between two majors right now as I finish up my lower division course work and need a definitive choice. There is either Political Science or Paralegal Studies, which I have not yet decided on. I suppose it would be appropriate to ask if you were in my position, and had to decide betweent hose two: Which would it be? An acquaintence of mine once told me:

"Well once is the dessiminator of bullshit and with the other you'll be making a whole bunch of money helping a lawyer. Pick your poison."

So which is it? Poltiical Science or Paralegal Studies?

[Mz Pip]

1. What do you want to do

for a career? Being a lawyer isn't such a bad gig. My kid's an attorney and he likes it. He was a Molecular Biology major so there really isn't much of a link there.

I guess I'd go for Poli-Sci. Is it too late to switch to Art? That's what I majored in and liked it a lot.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[ghostsofgiants]

2. I picked political science, but I'm a little biased.

[LA lady]

3. Paralegal

I got my first degree in Ploi Sci. Freaking useless.

[Tiggeroshii]

4. That's what I"m worried about

I would assume that most people here would say Poli sci given this is a political forum. But I appreciate anybody's input from experience.

[rockymountaindem]

5. What do you want to do for a living?

Begin with the end in mind, as they say. I've known for awhile what I want to do with my life, and I've taylored my studies to lead me on a specific path. That particular path has led me to apply for grad programs in poli sci, but for you, that may not be a practical choice. What are your career plans?

[Tiggeroshii]

6. Something that makes money.

I really don't know. I am interested in politics, finished my lower division classes in poli sci, but have suddenly worried that I won't be able to make much money after I graduate. My ultimate goal was to be a lawyer but given my financial aspirations, that currently seems unrealistic. I do enjoy politics though, and maybe I shouldn't be lead astray by just money and should focus myself on my interests academically rather than financially. It is said once you do the former, the latter will eventually come with it.

[rockymountaindem]

7. Well, with political science you can do several things

You can be a writer, if you have a way into that field. You can try to get a low-level job at a think tank and work your way up, hopefully getting funding for future study from your employer. You could try to start as an assistant at an educational institution, or get a teaching certificate and teach civics or something. Lastly, you can go to work for the government or an NGO.

[Tiggeroshii]

12. True.

I should consider that.

[rockymountaindem]

14. Which one? n/t

[PVnRT]

15. Danger: Sharp Learning Curve Ahead

If you want to make money, you're going into the wrong fields of study.

[Tiggeroshii]

23. Maybe I should just focus on getting good grades and go to law school

...that sounds a little more financially practical.

[Fawkes]

9. I started out in wildlife biology

but I switched to soils, thinking "I want to have a job when I graduate." I enjoyed soils and reconciled myself to a career digging holes. I graduated with a degree in soil science.

When I graduated, I got a job as a biologist, based on both my soils degree and my summer jobs as a wildlife tech. Go figure.

Get a degree that will pay the bills, and everything else will fall into place.

[Fawkes]

8. Paralegal studies is totally practical

you can go anywhere with that degree.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

10. Unless you want to go to graduate school, major in paralegal studies, BUT

so that you don't become a "trained but not educated" person, take as many liberal arts courses as you can on the side.

[Nikia]

11. There are short term paralegal programs for people with BA

Perhaps, you could get a BA in political science and get a paralegal certificate later if you discover that is what you want to do.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

13. Better for what?

You want better, take welding... at least when the crash comes you can make shit out of trash.

[Orsino]

16. PoliSci. I don't believe in ghosts. n/t

:dunce:

[TorchTheWitch]

17. Don't waste your time with paralegal studies

I was a paralegal for over a decade. The money BLOWS. And it's not a job you can take with you. Paralegals are always hired for niche work which means if you want to move to another state you have to start pretty much at the bottom again because you won't have any experience with that state's laws and procedures... you will probably have to start so low at the bottom again as to be hired as a secretary no matter how many years of experience you have under your belt.

Thanks to Bush, paralegals also don't get overtime pay anymore, and frankly, that's the only way we survived at all. Nevertheless, unless you do corporate law you'll be putting in all those long overtime hours but just won't be getting paid for them anymore. Law firms are even going to far as to give the paralegal title to secretaries so they don't have to pay them overtime either... evil shits.

Attorneys are SHITS to work for. You'll have to hold their hand, diaper their ass, put up with all manner of bad behavior and when they screw up it's your fault (and if you save their ass, it's all due to their genius, and they'll fall all over themselves to hog the glory while simultaneously confessing to all who will listen that they succeeded despite you not because of you).

To add insult to injury you'll learn just how completely corrupt our justice system really is and have to be a part of that.

If you want to be miserable and starve, do paralegal studies.

[WilmywoodNCparalegal]

18. A different paralegal perspective

I got a degree in Poli Sci then went to the local community college for a two-year degree in Paralegal Studies. I've been a paralegal for nearly a decade. Unlike my fellow colleague above, who reports a negative experience in the profession, I have had a very different and much more positive outlook.

Firstly, I specialized in a very narrow field ('corporate' immigration) with recent experience in visas for people of 'extraordinary ability' and thus I have become one of the relatively very few paralegals with this kind of narrow experience for this long of a time. I have worked on quite a few prestigious projects that I cannot disclose (for ethical reasons). My paychecks have been quite high, much higher than if I had found a job merely due to my undergrad degree.

It is true that if you are in certain fields of law that are more common you probably will not earn a whole lot. The area where you work also matters. I worked for 4 years in New York City, the apex of immigration law, and salaries were comparatively much higher there. But even here in the Raleigh/Durham area of NC, where my skills and experience are quite rare, my salary is comparatively high.

In other words, experience + specialty of law = higher paycheck.

As for working with attorneys, I have been mostly lucky. Some have been arseholes, but that unfortunately can happen in any field. Currently, I am working in-house for a major corporation, where there is no attorney and I sign all paperwork myself. Working in-house is definitely less stressful, but it requires you to know what you are doing.

[Tiggeroshii]

22. Associates after BA

...I like that idea. Because frankly I have been leaning toward poli sci just cause that's where I've planned for a while. But my community college also offers an associates of science in paralegal studies which looks like it could be very useful. It sounds from you guys' experience that it completely depends on the job you get, and unless I move out of state I shouldn't have to worry too much about food.

I don't know though, I might try to go for something a little more. My brother in law got his BA in psychology then got a Masters in social work and is doing quite well. I am tempted to get a more specialized Masters degree after my BA. Either way would be good, I suppose becase paralegal studies and social work are specialized in their own right.

[LibertyLover]

19. I chose paralegal studies

but then I'm sitting here at my desk in Washington DC being a legal assistant and loving it. I work for an NGO and have for the last 11 years. Before that I worked for private law firms. I enjoyed both. In my job now, I get to do a lot of stuff that private firms wouldn't even let me touch - like drafting agreements for projects, instructing our attorneys, reviewing legal opinions and research. The money is good, although I admit that overtime would be nice, but my job has a professional grading so I wouldn't get overtime anyway. I work with attorneys from all over the world and as an American, I am in the minority. It's cool. And most everyone here does not like the * administration - well except for the president of the NGO of course, but then he's biased in *'s favor. :D

[Tiggeroshii]

21. What is your degree?

My local university that I will attend offers a BA in Criminal Justice: Paralegal Studies Option, meaning it specializes in preparing you for a paralegal job with a lot of liberal arts courses as well. Is this similar to your degree? Ihave also considered getting a AS or certificate in it.

[Strawman]

20. Flip a coin and go straight to grad school when you're done

Paralegal studies seems like it would lead more directly to a job right out of school. Then again paralegal studies does seem like it would lead directly to a job right out of school.

[Broken_Hero]

24. I'd say paralegal studies....nt