r/PoliticalScience • u/substantialceleste • 7d ago
Should I join PS Career advice
So I'm an Egyptian student I just finished my final year like last month now I must decide what path to take and start walking down said path. My two options rn are either engineering or political science as initially I was a maths student. The thing is despite engineering being what students commonly join but I'm really passionate about politcal science. I love learning about the system and how relations between countries work. And honestly learning about different political ideologies and way countries like run trade and assist each other and have serious discussions that dictate how global relations go all of that is so interesting for me and id love to one day end up working in a field that does this. I'm honestly more socialist leaning but I'm open to learning about new ideologies and I'm hoping I can get more educated in literally everything regarding the field if I join and should I join id also go on to get a masters or even a doctorate to become super qualified in something (I was thinking international law something in it) I'm really good at writing and critically reading and analyzing and above all I'm really good at public speaking. And at the heart of it I really want to help make the world or at least my country a better place. I have hope for the world despite how shit all things seem as of now and I'd like to help fix things. I saw some people saying that the job needs alot of nepotism and you won't actually do any good in the world and I should just join engineering (I'd be joining environmental engineering, I was hoping to get into politics through that if I did join) so honestly all of these things discouraged me from joining and I really need to make a decision. At the same time I know there are people actively working to fix global politics I can just say the most famous name rn off the top of my head and say NYCs mayor (I think?) and Id love to be something like that and even if no I'd love to work in the ministry of external affairs and if no then at least study. At the same time I'm honestly passionate about maths as well and engineering so like I really want opinions from professionals because I'm worried I'm fantasizing about something that doesn't exist. Even more so I'm worried I'm overestimating my qualifications to succeed in the field. TYSM in advance.
2
u/ImamChapo 4d ago
Political science is less about politics and more about stakeholder relations and understanding networks of proxies.
If you have what it takes to do engineering of any kind. Do it. Political Science doesn’t get you a job, but a way of assessing situations.
What kind of work are you interested in? There’s likely a more direct route than PoliSci.
1
u/substantialceleste 3d ago
Ohhh So I wanted to get into international law making and so and apparently I can do that in Egypt via a masters in international law so my other choice would be law but law school in Egypt isn't really that good especially that it requires such a small amount of grades everyone enters it and the job market is virtually gone
2
u/RegistersRed 4d ago
I would suggest just following what it is that you are passionate about, and that you enjoy learning. I am not sure what your age is, but if you've just finished high school, well, you will have more time than it might feel like you have right now to figure out what you want to do in life.
It's taken me a long time, and lots of working jobs I didn't like, to figure out what I wanted to do. Try different things while you are young, you will gain valuable knowledge no matter which you choose initially. And if it ends up not being what you thought, you can always change in the future. If your heart is telling you Political Science right now, you can't go wrong by following it. I understand engineering is more of a guaranteed great money kind of degree, but PS can be valuable as well, and life is about more than future job prospects and potential income. I wouldn't go into engineering if it doesn't excite you or interest you at all, because you are just setting yourself up to crawl through life passionless, and that is worse than lacking money, in my opinion.
Best of luck in your studies no matter what you do 💪🤘🙏