Guelph Grad Q&A: Ritika Gupta

Political Science Gives Grad Core Skills for Law Career

Ritika Gupta graduated from the University of Guelph in 2020, majoring in Political Science. She chose Guelph’s political science program not only for the wide selection of law and politics courses offered but also for the welcoming culture she experienced on her first campus tour.

Now in her third year of law school, Ritika continues to utilize the skills and education she gained at the University of Guelph. The program’s strong emphasis on reading, understanding, and critically analyzing complex texts provided her with the core skills needed to excel. 

Keep reading to learn more about Ritika’s experience as she continues to pursue a career in law.

Interview with Ritika Gupta

Tell us about yourself and why you chose to study Political Science at the University of Guelph?

My name is Ritika, and I am a Guelph alum, BAH '20, with a major in Political Science and a minor in History. I chose to complete my undergraduate degree at the University of Guelph for a few reasons - the Political Science Department offered a wide variety of courses, the campus is beautiful, and most of all, I really connected with the people I met during my campus tour. Everyone I spoke to expressed how much they loved being a student at U of G. As a proud Guelph alum, I certainly share this perspective -- the University's students, staff and faculty are overwhelmingly kind, supportive, and fun. It was the best place I could have started my post-secondary education. 

What did you like most about your program? Is there anything in particular about the courses or professors that stands out to you?

I really appreciated the wide variety of courses that were offered by the Political Science Department. I took courses in a number of areas including public policy, comparative politics, political theory, and law and politics. Trying out these courses helped me nail down what I was most interested in -- law and politics -- and gave me the confidence to pursue law after my undergraduate degree. Also, the professors made my time at the University of Guelph special. They were clearly passionate about the courses they taught, and offered me guidance, mentorship and support long after I graduated. 

Where are you currently working and what is your role?

After my time at Guelph, I worked at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as a Constituency Assistant for Kiiwetinoong, a beautiful riding in northwestern Ontario. Currently, I am a third-year law student. Over the summer, I worked at a law firm in Toronto and next year I will be completing my articles as a Judicial Law Clerk at the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. 

How did your degree and time at the University of Guelph help get you to where you are today? How do the skills and education you gained help with your current work?

It's hard to overstate how much I have relied on the skills and education I gained at the University of Guelph. During my undergraduate degree, I gained a solid foundation in reading and critically analyzing complex texts. I also learned how to formulate evidence-based arguments and convey them clearly and concisely. These are the core skills of a law student. Additionally, by taking courses like Law, Politics and the Judicial Process, and The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, I gained some understanding of the law itself. It was a great feeling entering my first-year Constitutional Law course already knowing the Oakes Test!  

What advice would you give someone considering the Political Science program or applying to the University of Guelph?

At the end of the day, all of the Ontario universities are excellent and they all offer great Political Science programs -- you can't really go wrong. I made my decision based on where I felt most comfortable. I would say go with your gut, and pick the place where you think you will be happiest -- that's what I did, and it worked out in my favour.   

Bonus Questions

Where was your favourite place to eat on campus and what was your go-to food order?

The Bullring! The grilled halloumi with turkey was my go-to. 

What are your top 5 favourite things about U of G? 

In no particular order:

- The Arboretum (and how beautiful the campus is in general, especially during the Fall!)  

- All the friends I made and the professors I learned from!  

- Painting the Cannon (and seeing what others painted)  

- Bob's Dogs  

- Frosty Mug