Only 13 to 15 % of LSJ majors graduate from Law school. It isn’t that they drop out, but most choose not to attend.
LSJ hosted a graduate school panel on Oct. 28 to educate these students who are interested in pursuing different pathways. Three representatives from UW graduate schools spoke on their respective programs.
In general, the panelists, Barry Wall, Director of Admissions for the Evans School of Public Affairs, Riabelle Vivas, Student Ambassador for the School of Social Work (SSW), and Anna Frasier, Director of Student Affairs for the School of Public Health, agreed that getting professional experience prior to graduate school is beneficial.
Wall emphasized the importance of diversity in applications, whether that be from professional experience or undergraduate experience.
“Those who have professional experience have a better idea of just how competitive things are, they realize just how constrained you can be,” Wall said.
Wall primarily discussed the Evans School’s Master in Policy Studies, MPA, suggesting it’s a good alternative to law school.
The MPA is often compared to an MBA, but for the public sector, Wall explained.
The Evans School enrolls approximately 500 students each fall, 175 students in their MPA program. Wall encouraged interested students to research the Evans’ School faculty, which he says will impress them.
Vivas of the SSW studied Social Welfare as an undergrad at UW. She provided LSJ students with some background information on the SSW.
The SSW is currently ranked as the #3 social work school in the nation and has a strong social justice framework, making the program especially applicable to LSJ majors.
She emphasized the diverse fields one can explore within social work, including areas such as child welfare, mental health practice, multigenerational practice, and community organizing.
Anna Frasier of the School of Public Health, also attended the panel. She explained to students what exactly Public Health is and suggested students look in to the Master in Public Health (MPH).
According to the School of Public Health website the school addresses “the multiple determinants of health — biological; behavioral; environmental; cultural; social, family and community networks; living and working conditions; etc. — in communities and populations at risk for disease and injury.”
The MPH program has 18 different pathways, including an MPH in nutritional sciences and an MPH in biostatistics.
For more information on any of these programs visit SocialWork.uw.edu, evans.uw.edu, and sph.washington.edu, or visit LSJ Adviser, Alyssa Penner.
By Kate Clark | Student Communications Assistant