I have a similar question. What do I do the summer before I apply to grad school? I'm in my last semester of undergrad. I'm just taking 1 theory class and a science lab. I found a full time job in January as an executive assistant, and I thought it would be a great opportunity to just save money for a year and a half before starting school again. Yet, I've just been going nuts not doing anything useful and feeling like I'm, wasting my time, so I started applying to internships and jobs that are related to my field.
I'm in NYC, and my job pays pretty well. I also have a lot of free time on my hands because the office is not very busy, so I've been taking that time to prepare for the GREs (taking them in June) and to read some work from professors at the schools I'm applying to.
I'm applying to SUNY Stony Brook, SUNY Binghamton, U of Colorado Boulder, Washington State U, George Washington U, and some others... I'm applying for a terminal masters in the fall, with the hopes of a PhD in political psychology after.
I have an interview with the Roosevelt House Public Policy Center on Thursday for a part-time program assistant. It's part-time, and pays 1/2 of what I get paid now. I'll have to live at home indefinitely if I take this job, but that's really not my concern. I'm just wondering whether this job would offer an opportunity to learn, whether it would help me get in to grad school, or whether it's just a a lesser paying office job. Has anybody had any experience in this kind of position? I was really hoping to find a way to get research experience, but with no luck so far. Since it's part-time though, I would be able to take an opportunity if I get one, which I cannot do while working at my current position.
Here is the job description, any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Individual will provide administrative and clerical assistance to the Public Policy and Human
Rights Program directors including, but not limited to: maintaining and developing extensive
files and contact lists; processing incoming mail; responding to requests for information;
preparing, copy editing, formatting and distributing documents such as memoranda, letters,
and web content; managing registration, enrollment, and scheduling for Public Policy and
Human Rights courses; liaising with undergraduates completing requirements for minors and
certificates in Public Policy and Human Rights; recruiting and coordinating interns; answering
phones; assisting with research; preparing for and taking minutes at meetings; assisting with
special events such as conferences, speaking engagements, and student events; making travel
arrangements; preparing expense reports and recording program finances; word processing;
photocopying, and other assigned tasks.
