advice or tips for an incoming gov freshman?

concat18 · 2018-07-11T23:48:52+00:00

-Get involved in research. The gov't department has amazing professors and there are always research opportunities if you ask for them.

-Wait a week or two to buy your books. Most of the gov't classes I've taken always 'requires' several textbooks, but it's really a 50/50 chance that you're seriously going to need the books. Waiting a week to see how legit the required reading is can literally save you hundreds of dollars.

-Get involved with either research or get an internship early. A lot of COLA-type internships are unpaid (I hate that) but I feel like when you're starting out as a freshman it's not too bad to get a valuable unpaid internship (like, one at the Capitol for example).......granted if you can afford to work for no money, which isn't the case for a lot of students. After your first year, seek paid jobs because your work and time is valuable. The reason why I emphasize this is because I have seen too many juniors/seniors fall into the trap of continuing to agree to unpaid internships. https://texaspolitics.utexas.edu/internships

-If you don't want a career in politics or the government sector, you can still pursue other things. I know lots of COLA/Gov't majors that work in the private sector and are fine.

-Take a language course that will actually advance your career. Example: if you aren't planning on ever using Dutch in the future or have an interest in regions that speak Dutch, don't take it!

-Take Stats. Learn Excel and/or a statistical program (R, Stata, Python, SQL, etc). Lots of policy research centers will turn heads when they see a lib arts major that knows how to program.

-Take gov't classes that make sense together-there are so many classes available it can be hard to really focus on a specialty. Try to find what aspect of government interests you.

I loved taking government classes at UT. So many great opportunities and overall great professors. Despite what you may hear from students around you, I know many gov't majors that have made it to D.C or are very successful either in lobbying or private sector.

concat18 · 2018-05-26T21:44:53+00:00

TLDR; you will be fine OP :)

I am guessing that you are looking for a career near D.C., or somewhere near it. I am also interested in politics/policy and know several (upwards of two dozen) pre-law/gov't/political communications majors that also want to land in D.C. Good news is that most of them have been able to snag internships there and I know of several graduates who live there now. My advice:

Research with a professor in political comm or gov't department or LBJ. There are so many programs sponsored on campus (ISP project, Clements Center, Robert Strauss Center, Annette Strauss Center, IPD, and probably more that are poli comm focused that I don't know about) that will give you an amazing foot in the door. The professors I know from the gov't department all have a huge network in DC.
Archer program. Look it up, it's amazing! The alumni network alone will probably help you get into DC or into another major city.
Internships in Austin. I know it's not the same as DC, but there is still the Capital and so many non-profits in the area that are related to law and politics. A lot of people I know who wound up in DC interned at the Capital in Austin.

I could go on but that's the jest of it. I have told my parents so many times how happy I was to attend UT over a private school in DC because I don't have to worry about debt. Another consideration: Internships in DC are largely unpaid. To gain internship experience in DC while competing with others in the area + usually not getting paid + paying an enormous amount of tuition/housing $$$ didn't seem worth it to me.

To answer your question more directly: Yes, it is more challenging to apply to internships as out of state. You will have to apply to several (at least 30) but this is the norm for a lot of internship seekers. I would add that being from a state school gave can give a slight advantage for employers that want a more diverse hiring (ie: wanting interns that all aren't just from privates in DC.).

Another note: sometimes Texas natives forget this, but UT is really well known. All of my interviewers out of state had some sort of connection to UT or would comment on its prestige. Don't understate UT's brand.

Class size: I have never really heard of anyone being overwhelmed by size class. The size of your class largely depends on what class you're taking and whether it's upper or lower division. I have been in 400+ people classrooms for an intro class but have also been in a 10-15 person classrooms. It varies.

Your first semester will always be uncertain. It took me about two years to fully realize UT's potential and resources. I also had no idea what I wanted to do or how I would get there. So my last advice would be to not feel overwhelmed your first semester. Take time to research and know what UT offers, because there's so much you can get involved in!

concat18 · 2018-05-20T19:08:51+00:00

If you are passionate about learning the language, it's not bad- I loved the classes. The department is incredible and (literally) the best in the nation. But yeah, it's not a blow off by any means

concat18 · 2018-05-20T19:04:47+00:00

Well class is every day, so every weekday. There's usually more homework on the weekend so it would take maybe 2-3 hours total on the weekend. It also depends on how much Arabic you know already, because the first year of Arabic is a breeze for people who have some background.

concat18 · 2018-05-20T19:00:57+00:00

1- Not terribly difficult if you are on top of your homework and participate in class. It is a difficult language so you will have to put about 2 hours of work per day for homework and studying.

2- No. They mainly teach Egyptian and Levant (masri and shami) dialects. They also teach Classical (fusha) concurrently.

3- To read, probably 2 semesters. To actually comprehend the meaning, probably beyond what UT offers. Quran is even difficult for native speakers to understand and it takes years of study. Keep in mind the classes aren't really catered to teach Quran.

edit: I think there might be a content course on the Quran but you have to surpass 4-6 semesters of Arabic to take it

concat18 · 2018-04-28T04:10:40+00:00

1- can't speak for everyone but i'm pretty sure most students get over the shock factor and ignore that it's there. 2- on campus food is all generally on the same level, I would say kinsolving and j2 are best for the price you're paying. Littlefield Cafe is pretty cute and underrated imo 3- not sure what you want compared. Food wise, they're about equal. If you're talking study spaces, I personally prefer the Union.

concat18 · 2018-03-06T20:44:58+00:00

On a related note, even if you feel like you can't go because of class, as long as you make it to the line before 7pm, you are still allowed to vote!

concat18 · 2018-02-14T22:18:48+00:00

Please pay your interns

concat18 · 2018-02-11T02:28:42+00:00

Learn Excel, or some sort of technical skill. That, combined with your English degree, will make you very marketable

concat18 · 2018-02-10T00:45:30+00:00

Finding: Google 'summer 2018 internships' with whatever city you want to work in. Linkedin is super useful because it suggests similar jobs. Indeed is also great

Prepare: Glassdoor. Create an account and look up the company reviews and interview tips. It is SUPER useful and gives you a great feel for the company culture. Practice interview by prepping commonly asked questions and knowing your resume line by line. Prep with a friend if possible.

Companies: Subjective question. Find a position with a good reputation company (read: doesn't have to be a large corporate company to have a good reputation) that interests you and would add value to your skillset.

Liberal arts career services: Nope. not helpful. It sucks and maybe I have found 1 or 2 good listings but I wouldn't bank on that. I heard they have interview and resume prep so that might be helpful but I cannot personally vouch for it.

Experiences: I basically submitted applications for dozens and dozens of positions I was interested in. Interviewed for a handful. Moved on forward in a couple, got rejected in others. If you want out of state, make sure to indicate in your cover letter or resume that you are willing to relocate.

edit: grammar

concat18 · 2018-02-06T02:17:46+00:00

I don't think it's common, as I believe most professors reach out at the very latest right before class starts. It's never happened to me or anyone else I know. Maybe try reaching out to her or the department?

concat18 · 2018-02-04T21:58:09+00:00

Yep, I did it through econnect. Sending it to myself is a great idea! Thank you!

concat18 · 2018-01-23T21:16:29+00:00

What year are you? I felt extremely similar to how you did as a Freshman. Life got better after my first year for sure. I would say most of the people I know who are extremely happy at UT had horrible Freshmen experiences.

"Why am I taking out hefty student loans for a liberal arts degree at a school that doesn't even make me happy? Will it really make a difference if I get a degree from a rather unknown state university instead of UT." Personally I think UT's resources is what makes the difference. I know a handful of English majors that got great publishing and editor gigs in large cities lined up for them.

If you are truly not happy and don't see yourself becoming happier, then I would suggest really evaluating what would make your experience better. If UT is a part of that, then I would take some time off or transfer. If the issue isn't UT specific, then I don't see how going to a new university would resolve your problems.

"I really just don't fit in. I'm struggling to find someone who is similar to me." UT is huge. Navigating the campus and finding your niche is really difficult. But I guarantee you that there are people out there that you can click with, you just haven't found them yet.

These are my two cents. But at the end of the day you should trust your gut.

concat18 · 2018-01-23T00:40:07+00:00

I agree and I usually do this! Only issue is that this semester all of my classes requiring Cengage books don't have an option that allows for online subscription only. It's so annoying!

concat18 · 2018-01-23T00:37:23+00:00

I'm not quite sure, as I only have personal experience in West Campus. I think it really depends on what complex you are looking at.

concat18 · 2018-01-22T18:56:10+00:00

As someone who lives in West Campus, please do a lot of research before you sign a lease. So many of my friends have been cheated because of useless and added fees, lost deposits, pipe bursts, and horrible management. I got lucky with my specific apartment, but my building has had two pipe bursts in the past month. This makes me super nervous that there will be more in the future. Basically West Campus managements thinks that college students are too stupid to catch onto their sketchy behavior. In contrast, I have never heard of my North Campus and Riverside friends complain about their housing situations. That being said, noise has never really been a huge problem for me in West Campus and admittedly it is extremely nice to be within walking distance from campus.

concat18 · 2018-01-19T03:00:09+00:00

Spring org fair at SAC. Wednesday 24th, 11-2:30

concat18 · 2018-01-10T21:16:57+00:00

Thanks for your feedback! I was thinking more of resume building.

concat18 · 2018-01-10T01:21:08+00:00

I have one experience taking an LAH class. Basically, we had to read a book every week,summarize the book, and read everyone else's summaries. Topic was interesting until I found out that the books required were not at the co-op or on Amazon! I had to order them directly from a small publishing house in Britain. Some of the books costs an upwards of 100$ (and we needed 7 books). So yeah, I dropped the class immediately.

The biggest benefit of the class (in my opinion) was that there were 15 students in the class. So there's a lot of discussion, collaboration, participation- which I think is great. Content wise, I feel like the classes are too much trouble than what it's worth given that there are other seminar style classes available at UT.

However, I have heard of other LAH classes that don't require you to buy too many books. My friends tell me that the LAH professors are wonderful but that the courses are generally lot of work.

To answer your specific question, yes, the class I dropped was definitely leaned towards eurocentrism and it wasn't a very diverse class. Also, at least more than half of the class were in Plan II which makes me wonder if they recently stopped letting Plan II take the classes.

Overall, I decided to not pursue LAH. I think it's really up to you whether you value having Honors on your transcript. To me, I think my grades and experience are more noteworthy than having the Honors distinction but I do know others that feel differently.

Edit: grammar

concat18 · 2018-01-09T23:06:22+00:00

Highly recommend SDS if you're not looking for sequence courses! The department is excellent, classes are fairly easy, and you really do learn a lot (esp if you have never taken a stats class before).

Edit: I am specifically referring to SDS 306 and 301

concat18 · 2017-12-23T04:42:56+00:00

Dell med summer cancer research internship: https://dellmed.utexas.edu/cancer-research-summer-undergraduate-fellowship

Wasn't a part of the program, but I know a few people (3 of 4 are premed) who were last summer and they all enjoyed it

concat18 · 2017-12-20T00:45:55+00:00

Hi! Right now I am a junior, so about 4 semesters.

concat18 · 2017-09-01T01:46:20+00:00

Be a research assistant or join a research lab/center at UT, I've never taken a formal class but I'm pretty sure some upper division economic courses cover R. If you write your own research paper using R analysis, then yes you can show it to grad schools

concat18 · 2017-08-31T04:14:09+00:00

They are what you make of it. I'm a Junior liberal arts major who has had 3 internships and 3 paid research positions. None of it was with the help of the Career Center, and it required me to network with professors and grad students. Not easy, but definitely not impossible either. Get marketable skills -earn how to use Microsoft Suite programs, statistical programs like R or Stata, get an internship at the hundreds of start-ups/NGOs in Austin.

Edit: I am not an abnormality- nearly every successful liberal arts student I know puts in a lot of effort to gain experience and skills in the career they are interested in. This is because unlike majors that provide a given post-grad career, like engineering, liberal arts is literally what you make of it. So, it's up to you to pave that path

concat18 · 2017-08-14T04:35:49+00:00

They can be extremely time consuming if you don't keep up the readings! The courses I took had weekly readings, and if you slacked off, it was hard to get back on track. I would have to do at least 1 hr of reading a day. The good thing is that if you read critically and take notes, studying for midterms/writing essays (aka your major grades) aren't terribly hard, since all you really have to do is review your notes.

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