Patrick Maxwell Prepares for Graduate School at Columbia University

Lebanon Valley College seniors must make the difficult decision of choosing a path to take after graduation. 

Patrick Maxwell '17, a double major in international business and economics, and global studies, hopes to work in international development with an emphasis in sub-Saharan Africa. To achieve that goal, he will attend graduate school at Columbia University after leaving The Valley. 

Columbia offers a master’s in international affairs with a concentration in economic and political development, and a regional specialization in African studies. The application process was not easy as Maxwell had to submit typical information to the school as well as GRE scores, transcripts, essays, a traditional résumé and a quantitative résumé. 

The transition from an undergraduate program to a graduate program at competitive schools may seem daunting. However, Maxwell has had many experiences while at LVC that have prepared him to make a successful transition. 

Maxwell completed an independent study during his second year at LVC, as well as an honors thesis this year. He’s also taken several economics courses that should prove helpful, and two internships: one in Uganda and one with the Pennsylvania Immigrants and Refugee Women’s Network, for whom he now serves on their board of directors. 

While Maxwell has a general idea of what he hopes to do after earning his master’s, his plans are not set.

“Right now, I think it would be really cool to work with the U.S. Agency of International Development Foreign Service,” Maxwell said. “Ideally I want to do more work in the U.S. and take trips abroad because I don’t want to live in Africa my whole life. After I do that for a while I want to go back to get my Ph.D., and then eventually move into academia and be a professor.” 

 

 

Hayley Holloway for LVC 430 Feature Writing