By Calah Vargas, Senior, Political Science Major, Sociology and Public Relations & Advertising Double Minor
Experience is Everything!
After years of learning about my major via textbooks, videos, and examples, I thought it was time that I actually experience the world of political science by studying abroad in Washington D.C.
Chapman offers a plethora of travel courses that help students experience their major firsthand. Whether it’s the “Walk on Wall Street” in New York or the theatre tour in London, Chapman ensures that students are getting far beyond the bare minimum. These opportunities not only allow students to bring back what they’ve learned from around the world to campus, but also truly become global citizens.
In my program, we were not only students, but also interns in the most powerful city in the United States. Yes, we were learning about the history and traditions of America, but from the lens of possible change makers. Every day we were required to keep up with current events and utilize them in our assignments. Whether that was a House briefing or the 2016 election, we were thrown into the environment we strived to be in when applying into our major. My program was based in political broadcast journalism, so we were constantly conducting man-on-the-street interviews and I was able to cover the Nuclear Security Summit where President Obama stood a mere 20 feet in front of me.
I encourage every Chapman student to go beyond the basics of taking their major classes and utilize these programs. Maybe they aren’t as glamorous as spending a semester in Europe or at sea, but this working experience was all I ever could’ve asked for and more. When interviewers ask me what I’ve done in preparation for the real world, I can say far more than got an A on a research paper about lobbying, but can say I interviewed a lobby firm and learned exactly what they do first hand. The experiences Chapman has given me made me stand apart from my counterparts, and I recommend you use them too!
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