Took his class on Russia and Communism. Fascinating! Animated and organized, this prof cares about his students and it shows in his teaching style. He is also very experienced regarding Russia and especially transitions to democracy.

Transitions to Democracy is a wonderful class to take, and Steve's hotness certainly helps.

I think its 137..anyway, fish is an awesome professor who really cares about his students and the topics he teaches on. he is very well informed, open minded, and easy to approach. and yes girls...he is kinda hot too ;)

He is a great lecturer and very engaging, especially if you are interested in the topic. We didn't have any papers this semeseter, if that helps...sometimes he can et a little empirical with his information. But a GREAT class

Fun, easygoing class with info that will stick with you. He does rely a little too much on the numbers but hes still great. Very approachable and friendly. Is he single?

interesting class. teacher gives a different spin on things especially about women and democracy. Often goes on tangents.

engaging, approachable

the best class at cal, fish is hot!

A really nice, very helpful professor who initiates good discussions in class. I heard some quiet groans and under-breath curses when he mentioned the birth of his daughter at the beginning of the semester. Yes, sigh, he IS taken.

I barely care about Russia after communism, but I love this class. Prof. Fish is an amazing lecturer. And, as others have pointed out, his being good looking doesn't hurt. I highly recommend his "Transitions to Democracy" class.

Prof. Fish is one of the best, most understanding, kind professors I have ever had. His lectures are very interesting and insightful. This man knows more than anyone should know about Russia! I will definitely be taking his other classes!

He can teach too much with anecdotes from the time he spent in Russia sometimes, but his lectures are always interesting, and I still feel like i learned a lot. Also, definitely sexy in the Indiana Jones-Harrison Ford, always unshaven, professor kind of way. And i don't see him wearing a ring ;)

Russia After Communism, good class, do NOT take discussion with Boris Barkanov. or the skinny guy from Harvard. Fish is hysterical and an excellent lecturer. By the end of the class, you will feel like you lived through communism.

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it really depends on your gsi. lecture is good, but section makes or breaks your grade AND your understanding of the material, esp the readings. avoid boris at all costs.

HOT! HOT! HOT! A great class! You won't regret!!!

Ohh he is so hot. Really full of himself, which is mostly just fun to watch. The class is really easy, but also super interesting. Take Wendy as your GSI if you can. Also, volunteering for the in-class debates is worthwhile

Excellent prof. Extraordinarily knowledgeable about post-Soviet politics. Will start a lecture with something like, "In my second interview with Mikhail Gorbachev..." Grading is fair based on expectations given.

Great class. Not too hard but very interesting. I took it during the summer so I didn't feel like doing most of the reading and I got by just fine.

loved this class, one of my favorites! definitely inspiring and got me very interested in post soviet politics

Pretty good lecturer. Funny and knowledgable, but sometimes his arguments are suspect. But this is rare. Always shows up late. Lots of reading.

Not a lot of reading, two tests and a final - easy (especially if Wendy is your GSI). Prof looks like the guy on Brawny paper towels.

Prof Fish is a great guy. Because his area of expertise is Russia and because he is not a Russian. His lectures are very clear. On a personal note, he was a greater mentor. MY response for those who shocking allegations is that I am a woman and I spend a lot of time with him in his office hours. He as always an honorable gentleman.

Lectures are clear and entertaining, he does not go off on tangents, they are easy to follow and are imperative for piecing together concepts and themes for his exams. Section is another story, but overall the class is relatively easy if you do the reading and construct solid essays.

He is extremely interested in what he teachs and wants his students to share the same excitement he has. This was a junior seminar and he realized we wern't grad students but still pushed us to argue and think like grad students. Very helpful in office hours. Lots of reading and a big paper at the end, but totally worth it

Great Professor, humorous and interesting lectures! Great class for those interested in comparative politics and democracy in the developing world. Prof. Fish is very interested in what he teaches, and helpful in office hours. Have to do the readings in order to write the essays for midterms and final.

Prof. Fish is serious about his lectures with good reason. He provides useful, insightful information and makes lectures a general pleasure. The down side is that Fish really knows what he is talking about, it's easy to not know what exactly to take notes on as he may cover so much material. Many people seemed to be in class for AC requirement and not for the course itself. For me, I found a lot of useful information in lectures.

Best professor in the Dept. I wish there were more like him. Organized and clear. Very approachable, friendly, and knowledgeable. Take his junior seminar for sure. He's the kind of professor you'll come back and visit post graduation. Learned a lot from him.

The class offered useful insights on globalization and development, but was very theoretical and not always clear how theories explained in class applied to current situations. There were times he tended to base arguments off extremely subjective observations rather than empirical evidence.

One of the best professors I've ever had. Actually had fun in his class; reminded me of a stand up comedian at times, almost crapped my pants, funny. Very student friendly, won't try to**** on your GPA. He gives possible essay questions in advanced, then picks a few for tests- like russian roulette. I learned a lot, but in a good way! great prof.

Fish is an extremely fun lecturer. the material itself was fascinating and hearing fish talk about it was quite extraordinary as he is incredibly knowledgable, especially on Russian politics. try to get Toby Reiner as your GSI, he's incredibly organized and knowledgable as well! John Yasuda and Abby Wood are really good as well.

Fish is smart, eloquent, and his lectures are always fun and engaging. Anecdotes and jokes fill is stories of USSR and Russia. If you are lucky to get to know him personally, he will tell you much more interesting stuff than in lecture. Do the debate and go to office hours. Fish is also a stud, and one the best professors I've had at Berkeley.

A great polisci prof?articulate, learned & passionate in what he's teaching. He was among the first batch of scholars who visited the Soviet Union! His style/looks is a plus (a pretty much unanimous comment?some other comments are wayyy over the top). One caveat: his course is not for slackers who want to get away with the readings.

Despite his bright sweaters and hilarious shoes, Prof. Fish knows what he's talking about when he teaches and has the field experience to back it up. Interesting, funny, articulate lecturer. DO NOT skimp on the readings. This is NOT a class to take for an easy A and little work.

Prof. Fish is one of the best professors I've ever had. Articulate, cogent, funny...his lectures were interesting and didn't put me to sleep. Overall, the course is very relevant to world affairs; you must do most of the reading and prepare for the midterms/final if you intend to do well. also, there were pretty simple reading quizzes every week.

has reading quizzes that factor into grade which are sometimes hard, sometimes I read and couldn't answer them, other times I didn't and got 100%, he's awesome though, and his stories when he was in Russia are HILARIOUS, he's super helpful and his office hours are always packed, he gives you the questions for the exams 48 hours before &they're easy

Professor Fish is witty, entertaining, and will teach you quite a bit. There's a heavy focus on regime type and change and some of the lectures on political culture can be dull. Overall, though, the readings corresponded well to the material, and most read them because there are weekly reading quizzes in lecture. Exams given out days in advance!

Amazing lecturer.

Great professor. Humorous, knowledgeable and helpful. Going to his office hours is a great pleasure. Quite a few of readings. Essay-format exams. Five questions given in advance, they choose three out of five, you choose two out of three, and complete two essays in the given time. All in all a great course, I've really learned a lot.

great prof!

great lectures by a great professor, and good GSI, but you've got to work in this course

Clear, entertaining, and pleasant. Lectures were always organized and often quite entertaining. The selection of material/books was excellent as well. I would highly recommend both Fish and his class.

he's awesome!

Excellent lecturer. Crystal clear, effective, and knowledge of his material. Has a natural professorial tone of voice that allows him to convey his message well. Humorous and relatable. Also hot. Wish he taught more undergrad classes for non-poli sci majors. I'd definitely take them.

Engaging and captivating professor. Came out of this class sounding a million times more articulate about world politics than before. Fish is HOT and rides a motorcycle? Yes please. Easy class if you read and go to lecture. Worth it.

Fish is a great lecturer. He's always prepared and knows what he's doing. The exams are fair (he gives out essay topics 3 days prior to the exam), but not quite easy, and the weekly reading quiz also makes things worse. A good GSI is necessary. I got Nina Kelsey, and she's TERRIBLE. Make sure you switch section if you're in hers!

Fish is an amazing lecturer. He speaks clearly and will keep you entertained. Class is very organized and tests are fair, if not generous. Both the midterms and the final are just 2 in-class essays and he even gives you prompts in advance. There are one-question weekly reading quizzes which help to boost your grade.

Fish is incredibly awesome!!! He is a true expert in his field and is very knowledgeable in comparative politics in general. Lectures are well organized and clear. He is also very willing to help students. A lot of reading but good materials. Go to talk to him during office hour and you will learn a lot. Highly recommend this course.

Steve Fish is one of the most amazing Professors you will /ever/ have. I learned more from his Junior Seminar, Foundations of Political Thought and Action, than I have in any other class at Berkeley. He teaches not only material, but also develops our ability to think critically and apply theoretical concepts to real-world situations.

Absolutely amazing professor! His lectures are very interesting and his lecture style is engaging. You definitely have to come to lecture to do well in this class. The readings can be a bit much at times, but most were very interesting and you definitely learn a lot. He also gives you potential exam prompts ahead of time. Put in the time to do well

Weekly quizzes based on readings which are annoying but not challenging. Two midterms and a final, no essays or assignments. Prompts for exams are given out ahead of time.

Fish was a great professor and the class was very interesting. This class made me choose political science as my major.

Fish is an AMAZING lecturer and knows how to keep attention of the students even though he barely uses powerpoint for his lectures. Other than weekly quizzes, the class was pretty laid-back. Reading and knowing what the reading about is definately the key to getting an A in the class, so take advantage. I would highly recommend this class.

GREAT PROFESSOR! SO INTERESTING - the class is split into three general units that are all fascinating. LOVED all of the readings - take advantage of office hours, Fish is brilliant.

Professor Fish is really good at lecturing. He's a really interesting man and extremely personable. I thoroughly enjoyed his course.

The class is based on a point system out of 100, so you really know where your grade stands. It is curved at the end of the semester. I found the GSIs to be more helpful and accessible, but he always leaves time at the end of lectures to answer student questions. Quizzes every Thursday based on the week's (usually very long) reading.

Professor: Fish is knowledgeable across and is very enthusiastic about the subject. Pol Sci 2 Class: straightforward class. there's lack of structure to the content and seems like just a bunch of stuff that Fish put together. midterm essays are graded more strictly, but prompts given in advance. Quiz every week, lots of reading.

I really like Fish's lecture because he is interesting and he is definitely knowledgeable in the field. He leaves the last 30 min of the lecture for questions either about the lecture or some other topics you are interested in hearing his opinions. No matter how tricky the questions students ask he can always give an answer. Favorite prof in UCB

Not a major, but this class is very enjoyable. Fish is an excellent lecturer that makes things very clear, and answer all questions without fail. He really knows his stuff, and has an obvious passion for his work. Without a doubt a great professor that you should take if given the chance.

A really good lecturer and speaker, Fish is very straightforward and presents very well. He leaves plenty of time for inquiry at the end, is very accessible and fair to students. Lectures aren't mandatory, but are very helpful.

Professor Fish is truly amazing... Probably one of the best Profs at Cal. He is brilliant, so interesting, genuine, and has real mastery in his field (you can tell from his lectures that this man knows his stuff). If you don't take this class you are seriously missing out. UCB is lucky to have him.

Prof Fish is an excellent professor and speaker. Some say his lectures aren't related to the readings, but I always thought he made sure to tie his argument back into the broader context of the course. The readings are important, but they are supplemental. There's a real emphasis on what we as individuals can do to affect change in our governments

Professor Fish is a leader in his field. Despite being a tenured professor, he seems really passionate about teaching his class. Class was reading-heavy for an intro course, but some of the readings are interesting. Make sure to budget your time. Definitely take this class with Fish if you have the opportunity to. It's totally worth it.

I am not a poli sci major and only take this class for breadth. However, I find the lectures very interesting and informative. Prof. Fish really cares about his students and is patient answering questions after class.

There are no essays in this class. Grade is based on weekly quizzes (your 3 lowest quiz grade scores are dropped), two midterms, one final, and participation. Definitely read everything as much as you can. I had the head GSI, Chris, and he was a hard but fair grader.

Great lecturer, but this class has SO MUCH READING

This class had a lot of reading, beware. But that's college. Fish had amazing lectures (though some can get a bit dry). If you have the opportunity to take Political Science with him, do it. Final, two midterms, reading quizzes every week (I think three get dropped), and attendance to discussions count for your grade.

Professor Fish was an awesome professor! He was one of the few lecturers in which I didn't care how much time has passed -- I was completely engrossed in the content of the class. The readings were heavy, but were very relevant and interesting. The midterms/final are also very reasonable.

Passionate about the material. If you skim the readings, you will do perfectly on the reading quizzes. which are weekly. 3 get dropped. 2 midterms, both essays. 70 minutes to write 2 essays. 5 prompts in advance, he chooses 3. Know how to put an essay together- strong argument- and u will be fine. Extra credit by going to movies hosted by GSIs

Fish is often engrossed in his lectures and his knowledge of policy and political science is unparalleled to any professor I've every had. Though this class is pretty much dependent on how your GSI grades. Fish may also ramble and repeat himself constantly, so sometimes he tends to drone on and on. Do your readings for the weekly lecture quizzes!

Perrrrfect

Prof. Fish is an awesome lecturer. Although he is a bit show-offy, he definitley knows his stuff. Most of his lectures were super engaging and had many examples from today's world. Grading is only based off participation, 2 midterms (in class essays with the questions given out prior to the exam) and weekly quizzes. Highly recommend

Fish was incredibly fair and incredibly interesting. If you want to be a poli sci major or you are interesting in whats going on in the world, TAKE HIS CLASS YOU WONT REGRET IT.

Fish is clear and informative, though may ramble on cyclically in lecture and may take a while to get to the point. Leaves 20 minutes before lecture ends to allow people to ask questions. Heavy reading load - up to 200+ pages a week, though not too dense. Grades dependent on GSI - I had a good one and he graded fairly and gave good feedback!

Fish is amazing. Truly. He has to be one of the most knowledgeable professors I've ever had - brilliant. Going to lecture was something I was consistently excited about and looked forward to. I don't think I will ever meet someone who knows more about Russia then he does. If you have the opportunity absolutely take his class!!

Professor Fish is an amazing professor and I would take him again. We probably read 6-7 full books with reading quizzes each week. So, it is a lot of work and reading, but worth it. The lectures are so interesting and I loved attending the mandatory class. Do the study guides and really prepare for the tests and you'll be fine.

His lectures for Russia After Communism were awesome. I loved how he communicated the facts, but also sprinkled it with his own experiences in Russia and his thoughts on the current political climate. It made everything feel more real and relevant. He takes attendance at lecture sometimes, but you wouldn't want to miss his lectures anyways

So much respect for this man. Random story: He always leaves around 15-20 mins of class time for questions. One time, a student with severe speech impediment asked a question, which got looks from all the other students as it was almost impossible to understand what the kid was saying. Fish answered the student's question without skipping a beat.

Professor Fish's lectures were good at the beginning but tended to get rambly and boring towards the end of the semester. The curves are unnecessary but since their set by Fish the GSI's have no other option (I'm sure they hated him like many students did). Don't take this class if you're not going/considering comparative it'll ruin your GPA.

He is a super cool professor and I really enjoyed the class and readings. That being said, it is very difficult to do super well in this course as the curve only gave a few As and A-s and no A+s. However, I truly feel like I gained a lot from taking PS 2 with Fish.

PS2, in other words, Russia, China, & a dash of the Middle East and Africa, as taught by John Stamos' twin. The GSIs are notoriously pretty bad every year; the professor is such an expert in the field, though his (rightfully earned) ego puts some people off. A good intro to comparative politics, but you have to be a strong/ fast writer for exams.

This was a hard class with a lot of reading, but it was also my favorite. The lectures were engaging, which is good because there were no phones or electronics allowed, so no distractions. The professor really knew the material, and he made it interesting. Highly recommended.

This was my first poli sci course, and it wasn't easy, but the professor made it very interesting. His lectures were really good. He tells a lot of stories and makes an effort to help students participate. He really knows his stuff. Fair warning -- there was a lot of reading, and attendance matters!

Really interesting professor. He leans heavily pro-democracy, sometimes to a fault, but his experience backs it up and he does give readings that provide many different perspectives. Get ready to read in this class - the readings are extremely interesting!

I'm getting a lot out of this class and am now thinking of switching to comparative politics. I was worried the readings might be too heavy, but its not bad and is very interesting. The lectures are clear and he is especially good with Q&A. He offers a lot of insight into current events and really encourages students to express their opinions.

Great class. I've had a hard time dealing with the Zoom semester, but this class is pretty good about it. Its asynchronous, with a lot of flexibility, which makes a big difference. The professor has been good in Q&A, the lectures have been clear, and he's responsive. Great readings! Its been a good experience in a hard time.

Good clear lecturer with a very well put together syllabus that has a balance of materials to learn from.

Fish is a genuinely good guy, and works hard to fuel engaged discussion between students. His class can be very reading heavy, but most weeks are relatively easy. Participation is 30% of your grade and three tests make up the other 70% so show up and do the extra credit (which can boost you by a letter grade!)

Prof Fish was a great teacher. He really tried to get students thinking critically about the material. The readings were very interesting and the lectures were surprisingly good considering it was all pre recorded. He also had great documentaries. He really seemed to care about engaging students in discussion and answering questions thoroughly.

Professor Fish did a great job with lectures and usually summarized the main themes of the week. There were a lot of readings which were very long, but they were mostly easy to understand. Asking questions during lecture and section also helped a lot. Enjoyed taking this class despite it being online!

The readings are absolutely necessary to do if you wish to do well in the class. Though the lectures were not so important. There is an insane amount of extra credit and no busywork. Overall, if you put in the effort, you will get the grade. Fish was a great teacher and chose interesting readings and films for us to watch. Great class.

Professor Fish is one of the most knowledgeable professors I've ever had. There was 10 pts extra credit in this class. You have to read a lot, but it is worth as you become a much better critical thinker. I learned a lot from him about democracy, authoritarianism, populism, etc. You learn how to analyze topics from a multidimensional perspective.

Professor Fish is the best professor I have had in Berkeley (out of 6 I have had since I transferred). His lectures are really interesting, he is highly immersed in the classes he teaches, and if you reach out for help he will help. He has written me a letter of rec, helped me establish a student group, and helped me with research. Must take.

I loved this class. The lectures were great and the readings really interesting. I don't think I had any other class at Berkeley that did more to challenge my assumptions about politics and people. It's a lot of reading, but not boring. Fish was easy to talk to and helpful when I had questions.

I took this class because I wanted to learn more about democracy, and Fish delivered. Democracy is his thing, and it comes through in his lectures. The reading is heavy but diverse, with cutting edge research and thinking. It was hard at times (really hard!) but worth it. He's a good guy who cares about his subject and his students.

My favorite PS class @Cal! 141A is not an easy A. But, it is rewarding and approachable to all majors. This class is extremely reading heavy. The context, however, is memorable if you take notes on readings as the concepts are reinforced during lectures. And, to perform well on weekly quizzes based on readings. Prof. Fish and GSI's are accessible!

Prof. Fish was my favorite POLSCI Prof I have had! Great engaging lectures, with interesting example countries/leaders/speeches. It is reading heavy, but what's assigned was interesting so it didn't seem like a burden. I got lucky because my GSI was also the best. Grading was fair but expect to put in the work/read/study. Sad that it's over

Professor Fish was fantastic for PS2. He had such interesting lectures and I felt like I learned so much. Do the readings, study hard for the exams, and you will do well. Fish is very welcoming to questions and I recommend to anyone at all interested in other countries, politics, and the future of the world.

Great class. I'm not a polisci major, but this is the best class I've taken so far at Berkeley. There was a lot of reading, and didn't love the weekly quizzes. But the lectures were interesting and fun. He cut through a lot of misconceptions about politics, voters, and elections and got me thinking in new ways about a lot of things.

Good class on politics. The prof pulls from psych, sociology and current events. LOTS of reading, but accessible and easy to understand. Some subjects seemed off topic for a comparative class, but still really interesting. No electronics allowed, which I didn't like, but I got used to it. Really good lectures, entertaining and even inspirational.

I learned a lot in this class and the professor was a good lecturer. He was easy to talk to in OH and I think students felt comfortable asking questions in class. He had a lot of time for Q&A. My GSI was great. I liked most of the readings, but wish there was not quite so much of it. You really can't afford to fall behind in this class.

Prof Fish is a good teacher. I didn't like every reading, but most of it was interesting and some of it was fascinating. The best part was the lectures. He did a great job explaining things. He's passionate about democracy and has strong beliefs in other areas. But he was also open-minded when students didn't agree with him and encouraged debate.

Professor Fish was my favourite professor last sem - super engaging lectures, really passionate about democracy vs. autocracy! Make sure to go to GSI office hrs and understand what they want from u on tests bc the essays have very specific grading guidelines. This class rlly encouraged critical thought, which I loved!

This was Fish's first PS2 class. He is a fantastic lecturer and i would 100% reccommend this for people interested in comparitive politics specifically democracies vs. failing democracy/dictatorships. Midterms and finals were in person, and you must memorize citiations and quotes. The hardest I've tried for a class here at Berkeley. Love fish tho!

Professor Fish's POLISCI2 class is challenging but rewarding. Attend lectures, do the readings, and use study tools like unstuck study to excel. The workload is heavy but the content is engaging.

Professor Fish is my favorite professor so far at Cal. His lectures are very beneficial, but occasionally can be a bit dull & redundant. There's a lot of reading but it was very informative and interesting so I enjoyed doing it. His office hours are welcoming and I recommend going. The class was difficult but very rewarding and thought provoking.

quite the character- a GREAT lecturer, super funny and engaging, but strict ! no tech, totally unavailable to students so getting a good gsi is crucial, attendance mandatory, reading mandatory, graded on participation and three tests. Mainly teaches his own theories of comp pol, so take what he says with a grain of salt, but clearly a brilliant guy

Dr. Fish was by far the best professor I had at Berkeley this year. There's a lot of reading, mandatory attendance, no tech allowed in class, and two midterms + final. I occasionally did not agree with what he had to say, but he was teaching a political science class, so what's even the point if you agree on everything. Take PS2. It's so good.

I really enjoyed Fish's lectures until they became very repetitive after midterm 1. At that point it was a lot of his own political theories and material from his book. Even so, he brought SO much insight and you could easily tell he was well accomplished/expert in his subject. I would definitely take this class again- I learned a lot!!

Prof. Fish is a great professor overall and you will learn a lot in this course. Be prepared to read a ton and actively engage in the class as he requires participation. Participation grade is a bit ridiculous, be ready to raise your hand. Prof. Fish is unavailable outside of his office hours so your class grade is mostly up to the GSI you get.

Professor Fish is one of the most influential instructors I have ever had. He is incredibly knowledgeable and his office hours were very helpful. Lecture is mandatory for this class and it's likely you will be lost if you miss any. The midterms and final make up most of your grade, but if you are active in the class they are very manageable!

Professor Fish is a charismatic and hilarious lecturer. Almost absurd no-tech policy (10% grade deduction if caught). Quizzes on readings every other class but they're not difficult. I actually enjoyed the readings because they were relevant and interesting to current politics. Left this class feeling like I actually learned something.

Prof. Fish is a very interesting charismatic lecturer who cares really deeply about the subject he teaches. Granted he didn't let us use technology during class and attendance was taken for a grade but if you care about politics and what is going on in the world this is a great class to take!Make sure to do the readings and talk in discussion!

If you like political science, TAKE FISH, or even if you don't like politics, you will after taking his class. There is a lot of reading, but it's pretty clear and straight to the point. The weekly quizzes and exams may seem intimidating, but if you do the readings and pay attention, you will literally be fine.

Prof Fish is easily the best professor I've had at Cal. He is very strict with his no tech policy, but the class is fairly chill. He spends a lot of the semester presenting different ideas about the causes/effects of democracy and autocracy, which I found both informative and inspiring. His ideas and anecdotes will stick with me for a long time.

favoritve intro course so far. u either love fish or hate him, he has a strong personality. for midterm prep u get 5 possible essay prompts, 3 will be on the test, you have to answer 2 which makes studying VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD (6/4/3 for final). STRICT no-tech policy w consequences. unfortunately not great at complying with DSP proctoring :(

I took his POLISCI5 in spring of ‘25 and I enjoyed the class a lot more than I thought I would. Definitely reading heavy and lots of participation in discussion is required, but I enjoyed the readings and my discussion GSI

Prof. Fish is a very charismatic lecturer w/ incredibly engaging lectures and content. Class has a strict no-tech policy, and prompts for midterms and finals are released beforehand. Material got repetitive towards the end + he spends half an hour of class literally just answering questions, but still one of my favourite classes ever taken.

I took this class spring '25. It is very strict on attendance, participation, and tech. At first I was intimidated by the expectations and all of the readings; however, Prof. Fish is amazing at what he does. My GSI was also incredible.His lectures were great and this class helped build my passion for PoliSci. The difficulty is worth it.