For students passionate about public administration and international relations, the Maxwell School has also introduced the option to earn a degree through the 4+1 accelerated bachelor’s to master’s program, which allows a student to earn both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree with just one additional year of study. Students with substantial AP credit can do both programs in four years. These programs are cost-effective, save time and allow students to gain valuable internship experience.

Meet four students currently pursuing their degrees—and their dreams—in the Maxwell School.

Jenna Poma ’25

It was a beautiful summer’s day when Jenna Poma ’25 first heard about the Maxwell School from a lawyer—a Syracuse University  College of Law and Maxwell School alumnus—during an internship at a law firm. Initially interested in both politics and law as potential career paths, Poma did her research. “I really liked the experiential learning of the Maxwell School.” Poma ultimately chose Syracuse because she was able to start in the Maxwell School from her first day as a dual major in policy studies and citizenship and civic engagement. “The direct admittance into the Maxwell School is what made me decide to attend Syracuse. I had that security of being able to study what I wanted right away.”

Her favorite class, Introduction to the Analysis of Public Policy, opened her eyes to other career fields she hadn’t previously considered, including consulting.

Poma, a  Renée Crown University Honors Program scholar, is also a member of the Maxwell Leadership Scholars Program and the Phanstiel Scholars Program. She is grateful that she gets to make connections with peers and faculty and will be part of an active and passionate alumni community. “Getting to know alumni and learn about what they do has been beneficial since I’m still undecided on my career path,” Poma says. “The Maxwell community is huge and being part of that has opened so many doors to network with alumni.”

Aden Solomon ’25

Aden Solomon ’25 came to Syracuse University with a purpose. The New York City native knew when he worked on the political campaign for Congressman Max Rose that he wanted to study public policy. “I was looking at the best schools for public policy. I found the Maxwell School's curriculum to be one of a kind,” Solomon says.

Solomon applied to the Maxwell School as a policy studies major and was able to begin meaningful and relevant coursework right away. “Applying directly to the Maxwell School allowed me to be focused and jump right into public policy the minute I got to Syracuse,” he says. “I had immediate access to the policy studies core classes my first year, and to all these great professors, which I wouldn’t have had without being directly admitted.”

As the representative for first-year students for the student body assembly, Solomon acts as an advocate for freshmen, voicing their concerns, discussing bill proposals and passing resolutions that go to university administrators. “I’m interested in advocacy and possibly attending law school so I can advocate for others,” he says. “I love being able to impact change, whether big or small.”

One way Solomon has done that is through the Association of Jewish Students, the Syracuse University chapter of the nonprofit organization he started last year, which allows students of all academic disciplines to engage in pre-professional programming alongside Jewish students through workshops, a public lecture series and conversations with on- and off-campus leaders.

Even with all the experiential learning Solomon is engaging in both inside and outside of the classroom, he’s quick to point out that it’s not just the practical knowledge that is making his experience at Syracuse University so meaningful. “There is no one thing that defines Syracuse more than school spirit. It feels like one big community.”