William Bartos
High School: Poland Seminary
Major: Political Science
Why did you choose to pursue political science at Mount Union? Ever since I was a little kid, I have been interested in politics and law. In high school, I took a government class that I really enjoyed, and it turned me on to the idea of perhaps majoring in political science. Since I have always enjoyed debating major political and legal issues, and I have always been an idealist and hoped to one day have a career in which I could change the world for the better, I decided to give political science a try. When I came to Mount Union, I took some 100-level political science courses to see if that was really what I wanted my major to be. After my freshman year, I had no doubt that I wanted to pursue a degree in political science.
What types of jobs are available for students who share your major? Jobs can range from working as an Attorney, to a City Planner, government Analyst, CIA agent, immigration officer, lobbyist, or even an university professor.
How will you use your degree upon graduation? As of now, I am considering either going to law school or continuing my education at graduate school with the intention of teaching at the college level. However, if I could somehow get a job working in politics right after graduation, it would be very hard for me to pass this opportunity up and go to law or graduate school.
What activities are you involved in? On campus, I am a member of both the College Democrats and the Pre-Law Society. However, the activity that I found most rewarding was interning for Congressman Tim Ryan this past summer. While interning at the Congressman’s District Office in Warren, Ohio, I was able to get a first hand look at what it takes to be both a politician and to work for one. Even though most of my time was spent with the Congressman’s staff, I had the opportunity to interact with the Congressman on several occasions. Overall, my summer internship was a wonderful learning experience.
Elements a person should possess to succeed in your major? First and foremost, I believe that anyone seeking a political science degree at Mount Union has to be very hard working. Political Science is not easy to begin with, and I think that it is even more difficult here at Mount Union because the professors in the political science department are both extremely knowledgeable and very challenging. I think critical thinking skills are also very important for someone planning to major in political science since many classes involve both problem solving and examining issues from multiple viewpoints. Finally, a person should be prepared to do a heavy amount of reading and be a good writer if they hope to excel in their major classes.
What advice can you offer for someone who is considering having the same major as you? I would say that the most important thing to do is to work hard and try your best. Try to get to know all of the professors in the Political Science Department as soon as you can, as they are all very approachable and very knowledgeable in their respective areas. Also, interacting with them might help you decide exactly what area of political science you hope to focus on, whether it be law, international politics, political philosophy, or perhaps pursuing a political career. Finally, after the rewarding experience I had interning for Congressman Tim Ryan, I would suggest that everyone majoring in political science at least consider seeking an internship.