Matthew Drauschak, Catholic '23, is a Politics and Economics major from Phoenixville, PA. He shares why he chose to attend Catholic University, and what advice he has for prospective students.
Why did you choose to attend Catholic University and what set the Department of Politics apart?
"Coming from outside of Philadelphia, Catholic's location in Washington, D.C. set it apart from other schools that I had been looking at. Catholic also has a beautiful campus with plenty of green space and easy accessibility to the Metro, which can take you anywhere around town. Catholic's community is special; the students are very kind and collaborative, and the faculty want to see each student succeed to their fullest potential.
Catholic offers many programs. For me, the Department of Politics stood out for its connections on Capitol Hill and its location in D.C. Many of the professors also have extensive experience working with congressional issues, and some have even testified before Congress."
Why did you choose to student Politics?
"I chose to study politics because I wanted to learn more about domestic and foreign policy as well as how the U.S. government really operates. I want to be an attorney, and I believed that it would help prepare me for law school. Being in D.C., there is no better place to be in the country than at Catholic to study Politics. I also wanted to intern on the Hill, which is something that Catholic provides the opportunity for with its close proximity to the Capitol."
What's been your favorite part of being a student at Catholic University?
"My favorite part of Catholic has been the opportunities that have been available to me. Over the course of my four years, I have been a part of a number of different student organizations and internships, including running for the track team, representing my class as a student-elected senator, co-leading a Habitat for Humanity Spring Break trip, announcing basketball and lacrosse games, planning student events for Program Board, interning in the House for Rep. Keller and in the Senate for Senator Graham, and working for a big law firm over the summer back home. Catholic has provided me with so many incredible opportunities that I have been able to take full advantage of, and I am so thankful for it."
What advice would you give to prospective students?
"Take advantage of Catholic's location in D.C. Get involved in as many student organizations as possible. Meet new people and make connections as well as utilize the small class sizes to get to known your professors."
