Political Science Blueprint for Success

Year One

Year Two

  • Campus Connections
    • Maintain or increase your involvement with an on-campus organization or club, and seek other opportunities for leadership development.
    • Visit student hours to connect with your advisor and each of your professors.
    • Attend another Student Success Center Academic Success Workshop.
    • Participate in Peace & Politics department and student association events.
  • Learning Opportunities
    • Finalize plans for additional majors or minors.
    • In the spring semester, consider applying for a fall PO/PACS apprenticeship.
    • Consider applying for the Butler Summer Institute and other campus programs.
    • Think more about PO/PACS Internships, the Washington, DC, or Los Angeles semester-long internships, and the Political Science University of Zurich exchange or other study abroad opportunities; identify application deadlines; and start planning coursework accordingly.
  • Career Advising & Exploration
    • Meet with LAS Career Advisor Liaison Courtney Rousseau.
    • Create or update your resume with a career advisor.
    • Create or update your LinkedIn and Handshake profiles.
    • Research and identify organizations and companies for potential internship experiences.
    • Attend a job fair or a graduate school fair to network.
    • Volunteer at an organization on a regular basis.

Year Three

  • Campus Connections (if/when you’re on campus)
    • Maintain involvement with an on-campus organization or club.
    • Discuss career or further education ideas with your advisor and professors.
    • Participate in Peace & Politics department and student association events.
  • Learning Opportunities
    • Take upper-level courses in your major(s).
    • Participate in a PO/PACS apprenticeship, internship, or study abroad program.
  • Career Advising & Exploration
    • Take LC 301 to prepare for a successful transition to the workplace or other post-graduate plans.
    • Update your resume with a career advisor.
    • Update your LinkedIn and Handshake profiles, and be intentionally active by connecting with alumni and employers.
    • Attend a job fair or a graduate school fair.
    • Meet with a career advisor to discuss post-graduate plans.
    • Attend Internships & Careers Services (ICS) workshops.
    • Begin developing a personal statement, if applicable.
    • Refine your interviewing skills by scheduling two practice interviews with ICS.
    • Attend Young Alumni networking events to meet Butler alumni.
    • Join Butler University Alumni Network on LinkedIn.
    • Obtain an internship.

Year Four

  • If you didn’t take LC 301 last year, be sure to enroll in it this year.
  • Update your resume with a career advisor.
  • Attend job fairs or graduate school fairs.
  • Attend ICS workshops.
  • Be intentionally active with your LinkedIn and Handshake profiles.
  • Continue attending Young Alumni networking events to meet Butler alumni.
  • Meet with a career advisor to practice your interviewing skills.
  • Educate yourself about salary and benefit negotiation.
  • Obtain a final internship that will solidify career goals or lead to a job.
  • Focus on networking with employers, professionals, and alumni.
  • Prepare and study for grad school entrance exams, if applicable.
  • Apply for positions or grad school.
  • Complete the ICS post-graduate survey.
  • Register for the Alumni Office’s alumni network.