Kelly Carpenter, Catholic '23, is a Politics major from Leonardtown, MD. She shares why she chose to attend Catholic University, and what advice she has for prospective students.
Why did you choose to attend Catholic University and what set the Department of Politics apart?
"The Politics Department at Catholic was reviewed as one of the top in the country, and I knew I wanted to be in Washington, D.C. Once I visited campus, it felt so welcoming that I wanted to stay. I could tell from the atmosphere that the focus was on learning and gaining knowledge; it wasn't about entering a debate, it was about entering a conversation well-prepared."
Why did you choose to student Politics?
"I felt drawn to Politics and Government throughout high school, and the more I learned the more I could tell that this was something vitally important that is often misunderstood. I didn't want to go into life not understanding it in its entirety."
What's been your favorite part of being a student at Catholic University?
"My absolute favorite part of being a student at Catholic University has definitely been the community, both faculty and students, of the campus. There's a level of mutual understanding and expectation that I didn't see in other places, and, as a result, an inherent friendliness in all interactions that I found was unique."
What advice would you give to prospective students?
"My biggest piece of advice to prospective students is to find a place where you feel comfortable and stable, and branch out, step by step, from there. This means taking your own pace and fully committing to whatever it is you choose to do. For me, Catholic University was the place best suited to do that and I hope it's the same for anyone and everyone looking."
