Apoorva Navale hates limiting herself to one interest. That fact is what drew her to the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University.
The first-year student from Vienna, Virginia, is studying public administration, and she loves the freedom of the major.
“[It] is a very good mix of public sector and private sector, which kind of aligns with both of my interests,” she said. “I knew I didn't want to tie myself to one field.”
The versatility of the public administration program sets it apart from offerings at other top schools, including William and Mary and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which Navale heavily considered.
But George Mason “was the only school that really had this public administration program. This major is not common, and it’s also broad enough where it covers a variety of things,” Navale said. “I'm someone who likes to try everything before I commit to one thing.”
The Schar School’s undergraduate public administration program offers a rigorous and flexible curriculum, renowned faculty with real-world policy experience, strong research opportunities, and excellent career outcomes. Students gain hands-on experience, leadership skills, and valuable connections that launch impactful public service careers.
In addition, George Mason is located just miles from key institutions in Washington, D.C., making it convenient for internships that help students become career ready upon graduation.
In fact, “George Mason was probably one of the best decisions I could have made as a stepping stone to my goal, which is to ultimately go to law school,” she added.
During high school, Navale explored various interests including law and politics. She interned at the Smith Currie Oles law firm during the summers of 2022 to 2024. The real-world, real-life experience solidified its appeal. She was one of the first core staff of the Centre for Voters Initiative and Action, a nonprofit focused on youth voter empowerment. There she met with notable politicians both at the state and federal level.
Arriving at George Mason, Navale decided on her major, public administration. It is, she said, “very open-ended, but I knew that I had skills that were not just in advocacy and in the public sector. I could do [nongovernment organization] work, work in economic policy analysis, or also management and administration.”
These specialties feed into the concentrations Navale is thinking of pursuing: economic policy analysis and administration and management. She is also considering a minor in finance, an interdisciplinary education between the Schar School through the Costello College of Business.
A driven student, Navale is also a University Scholar within the George Mason Honors College. As a University Scholar, she is among a small number of the most motivated incoming Honors College freshman selected through a competitive process to join a four-year cohort of student leaders, receive a full-tuition scholarship, and participate in enhanced academic and professional development programming. To be chosen, Navale participated in the University Scholars Selection Weekend in February, an invitation-only event for finalists.
“I was just completely wowed by the program,” she said. “After I left Scholars Weekend, I was still grappling with the choice [of George Mason], but I knew, I knew I was going to pick it. It's an amazing opportunity.”
She has not taken this opportunity for granted. Navale is leaning into the support of the Honors College, the Schar School, and the broader university community through meetings with academic advisors and professors. She is forging a two-way relationship with the university community, and it is paying off.
“Knowing that your hard work is being recognized is a really gratifying feeling,” she said.