Welcome to the Government, Law, and Public Policy career advising page! Wellesley's rigorous liberal arts curriculum prepares students and graduates to make a difference in the world, equipped with a skill set that is especially relevant in these industries. Careers in these areas require that individuals understand historical context, exhibit critical thinking, and display passion for service — whether it be in an NGO, a think tank, government agency, or the private sector. These industries are often intertwined. For example, a student exploring a career in law may contemplate a career in international development or the Foreign Service. Given the overlap, it is important to define your personal interests and explore how they align with careers in this space to identify what fulfills you most.
Students and graduates are encouraged to get started by exploring the resources below and scheduling an appointment in Handshake to meet with Nicole Park (Career Advisor for Government, Law, and Public Policy)
Law Resources
Is law school right for you? Explore the resources and videos below to learn more about careers in law and applying to law school.
Appointments can be scheduled in Handshake for Mon–Fri.
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Law School Acceptance Rate
83%
83% of Wellesley applicants are accepted to at least one law school (based on 5-year data from 2015–2020)
"Do I want to apply now?" There is no simple way to answer this question because the reasoning is different for each person. This resource will help you to consider if this is the best time for you to apply for graduate school.
Political consulting: firms who are hired by individuals, political groups, and campaigns to help run political campaigns
Management consulting & Strategic Advisory: in this document, this term refers to firms that focus on consulting as it relates to government and international affairs interests and aerospace and defense contracting
Government relations: the sector of an organization that focuses on public policy and advocacy.
The Reserves Officer Training Corps (ROTC) is a college program that prepares students to become commissioned officers in the United States Armed Forces. The ROTC curriculum is pursued at the same time as your Wellesley College courses, and is focused on leadership development and career training.
Students interested in careers in government, law, international affairs, and public policy are encouraged to focus on skill development and experience. This is especially important as employers, and graduate programs in this space continue to look for commitment to understanding these industries. Below please find suggested study abroad experiences that help develop specific skills and experiences to help be competitive in these industries.
“I was motivated to fight for environmental justice in my community after hearing about the respiratory illnesses that many children were diagnosed with as a result of the environmental contamination we live with.”
Think tanks are public policy research, analysis, and engagement organizations. They are organizations that generate policy-oriented research, analysis, and advice on domestic and international issues that enable policymakers and the public to make informed decisions about public policy issues. Think tanks may be affiliated with political parties, governments, interest groups, or private corporations or constituted as independent non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
