Georgetown Student Interview w/ Rushil Vashee | Part 2: Take the "Day in the Life" Advice Literally
We interviewed Rushil Vashee '25, a sophomore at the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service studying International Political Economy with minors in Journalism and Spanish. With a keen interest in the intersection of people and politics, especially as it relates to U.S. constitutional law, economic statistics, and data analysis, Rushil has worked with these issues at the Thurgood Marshall Civil Rights Center, on a competitive U.S. Senate campaign, at USA TODAY's Sports Media Group, and through a published research paper.
Key points from the interview:
However, I eventually made my decision thanks to a suggestion by an amazing mentor of mine. I took the “a day in the life” concept literally, spending one day pretending I had committed to Georgetown then the next couple days pretending I committed to my other options.
By doing that, it quickly became clear that Georgetown was perfect for me. Not only did I appreciate the plethora of opportunities for fun and internships that its D.C. location offered, but I also loved its academic focus which allowed me to major in something as specialized and interdisciplinary as International Political Economy.
Q: Why did you specifically choose to attend Georgetown University and what factors did you consider when making your final decision?
A: Up until days before the May 1 commitment deadline, I was torn between three selective universities, one of which was Georgetown.
I tried everything to help me make the decision: U.S. News college rankings, virtual information sessions, and even some of my own ranking systems on spreadsheets. Granted, I think all of those are important; I highly recommend spending time researching things like academic programs, campus location, club culture, and even interdisciplinary class flexibility.
However, I eventually made my decision thanks to a suggestion by an amazing mentor of mine. I took the “a day in the life” concept literally, spending one day pretending I had committed to Georgetown then the next couple days pretending I committed to my other options. I imagined taking classes in that major, exploring the nearby city, and maybe even applying for internships in the area. By doing that, it quickly became clear that Georgetown was perfect for me. Not only did I appreciate the plethora of opportunities for fun and internships that its D.C. location offered, but I also loved its academic focus which allowed me to major in something as specialized and interdisciplinary as International Political Economy.
Q: What are some courses you have taken at Georgetown and what are some things you’ve taken away from it?
A: In my first semester at Georgetown, I had the opportunity to take an Ignatius Seminar taught by University President John DeGioia. At Georgetown, Ignatius Seminars are courses open to first-year students that feature close faculty-student interaction and are centered around a guiding interdisciplinary question (my seminar dealt with how we can address assumptions that sustain social inequities). Every Monday, our 16-student class and President DeGioia met to discuss the assigned reading and hold a socratic seminar-style discussion about its implications. The texts ranged from 500 pages of a book about the history of America to an anecdotal novel about education as a public good. Not only was it an amazing experience to wrestle with complex topics in a small class of other first-year students, but it also reshaped my view of Georgetown to also hear the perspectives of President DeGioia in those discussions.
Q: What are some career opportunities that are presented through your major and which ones are you looking into?
A: One of my favorite parts of the International Political Economy (IPEC) major is its inherent interdisciplinary nature, which opens up a wide array of career opportunities for graduates. The career outcomes reports that our career center publishes annually show that IPEC students went on to attend law school or a master’s degree program, work in business consulting, become economic research analysts, or even become investment bankers. Over the last few years, I have come to realize that I want to pursue a career that amplifies marginalized voices and addresses the issues marginalizing them. Whether that be through law school, federal government work, or even economic nonprofit work, I feel like my major is preparing me to do that.
Thanks for reading!
If you were interested in this article, read more about College Life
Have more questions based on what you’ve read or any you would like us to ask alumni? Submit them here!
Subscribe to our newsletter AlumniAlert to stay updated on interviews like Rushil's!