Billy Harrison

Major: Political Science and History
Minor: None
Year of Graduation: 2024

Which career path(s) have you pursued since graduation from Fordham University?
Since graduating, I've worked at an LSAT prep company called LSAT Demon. I started as a teacher and writer and now work as the Head of Academic Support, overseeing a team of tutors. During my time at LSAT Demon, I also co-authored a forthcoming LSAT prep book, The LSAT Is Fun.

Outside of my work in LSAT prep, I had the opportunity to co-author an article with Assistant Professor Jacob Smith in PS: Political Science & Politics titled "The Albatross: Student Loan Debt and Support for Joe Biden in the 2024 Election." Working on that project showed me how much I enjoy political science research and reinforced my interest in eventually pursuing a Ph.D. in the field.

What do you like about the work you are doing now?
Working with students and witnessing their accomplishments has been the most rewarding part of my career. Improving your LSAT score can be life-changing. It can open doors to law schools that might otherwise be out of reach and can lead to substantial scholarship opportunities that dramatically reduce the cost of a legal education. I've had students gain admission to their dream schools with significant scholarships, sometimes even full scholarships, and knowing that I played a small role in those successes is deeply gratifying.

How did your experience at Fordham and in particular the political science major help you prepare for your current career? Was there a specific course or extracurricular activity that influenced your career development?
The reading, writing, and critical-thinking skills I developed through my political science classes at Fordham have been invaluable in my professional career. Being a strong writer can take you a long way.

Co-founding and serving as president of the Fordham Political Union helped me develop leadership, organizational, and public speaking skills that I now use daily to manage my team. The same is true of my experience on the executive board of the Residence Halls Association.

Please describe any internships you held as an undergraduate student that were helpful/relevant to your subsequent job search.
I have no internships on my résumé, but I did serve as the coordinator of a small political organization in the Bronx from 2019 to 2021 while I was a student at Fordham. That experience taught me how to manage competing personalities and cope with failure.

Those lessons have proven valuable well beyond politics. Before finding my current role, I was rejected from numerous jobs, and I've made plenty of mistakes in my professional career. Learning how to respond to setbacks, accept feedback, and improve has been essential to getting where I am today.

What advice would you give for students who aspire to hold a job like yours?
Aside from the obvious (studying hard for the LSAT), I'd encourage students to develop strong writing skills and become comfortable speaking in public and professional settings. Getting a job requires a strong written application and the ability to interview well. Succeeding in many careers, meanwhile, requires the ability to think on your feet and explain complex ideas clearly. Those skills have been indispensable in my own work teaching and supporting adult learners.

If you're interested in becoming a better writer, I recommend Style: Toward Clarity and Grace by Joseph M. Williams. It had a major impact on how I think about writing. I'd also encourage students to take advantage of their professors' office hours and the Writing Center. And while tools like ChatGPT can be useful, don't let them do the writing for you. College is the time to develop your own writing skills and find your own voice.

Finally, lean into what you're good at. I never expected to work in LSAT prep, but I happened to have a knack for the test and turned that skill into a career. The job market is tough. Find something you're good at, keep improving, and make yourself undeniable.