Meet the Undergrad Who Is Headed to a PhD Program: Andrew Strasberg

Not every undergraduate can leap from a bachelor of science degree to a highly rated PhD program, but that is what graduating Schar School of Policy and Government student Andrew Strasberg has done.

Strasberg is currently in his final semester at George Mason University, finishing up his bachelor of science degree in public administration, and he has accepted an offer of admission to the political science PhD program at Washington University in St. Louis, often referred to as Wash U.

Although Wash U was one of Strasberg’s top choices in his pursuit of a PhD program, the path to being admitted at a top program presented some challenges, but his persistence was undaunted.

“I got rejected from so many places,” he said. “It’s pretty common for people to apply for 10, 12, and maybe even 15 programs and only be accepted into one or two.”

When asked why he selected Wash U, Strasberg said he wanted to pursue a path to becoming a college professor. “The reason I picked Washington University in St. Louis is due to their excellent political science program.” He added that Wash U has a stellar record of placing graduates in academic positions.

While many Schar students pursue some type of graduate schooling beyond their undergraduate degree, it is relatively rare for graduates of any major to pursue PhD studies immediately after finishing their bachelor’s degree, according to Schar School associate professor Jennifer Victor, who serves as one of Strasberg’s mentors. Victor, who also entered a PhD program straight after undergrad, said it is not an entirely unusual pathway for students to follow, but not many Schar School students have made it their goal the way Strasberg did.

One of the strategies that Strasberg followed was to take more quantitative methods classes than were required in his bachelor’s program. Quantitative methods classes teach students how to collect, analyze, and interpret numerical data, which can be vital in working in or teaching in the public administration field.

In addition to benefiting his application profile, he also found that he liked the courses.

His professors took note of his ambitions and his extra effort and began to recommend him for undergraduate research; they also enabled him to take graduate-level courses.

“Andrew decided a few years ago that a political science PhD was his goal, and he has pursued it with tenacity,” Victor said. “He took extra courses, sought mentorship from multiple faculty, and deliberately included research-oriented activities into his personal curriculum.”

Under the mentorship of Victor, as well as Schar School professors Lucas Núñez and Eric McGlinchey, Strasberg presented his original research at the Midwest Political Science Association conference in Chicago in 2022 and 2023. His first conference presentation began as a paper assignment in McGlinchey’s graduate research design course. The paper, “Hooligans or Honchos? Developing a Political Theory of European Ultra-ism,” was a study of soccer fan behavior; Victor remarked his findings in sport could be applied to a wide range of fields.

This semester, Strasberg won first place in the Schar School’s Undergraduate Research Assistant Program competition. His winning study examined “Who Tweets Populism When?”

Ultimately, Schar School professors gave Strasberg the mentorship and encouragement he needed to pursue a PhD, for which, he said, he is grateful. “Their help was immeasurable,” he said.

For Strasberg, the ultimate goal is to become like the influential professors who helped shape his way.