2D, I would suggest that you try to apply at the GS 9 level. I got my government job through school. I've had it since June 2001. It's a part-time position (since I'm in school), but the good thing is that when I am done with school I will already be in the Fed. job system and will be able to transfer to a better job in the location that I want (the Md/DC area). I started as a GS 3 and have gone up to a GS 5 this past summer. The reason that I suggested applying at the GS 9 level is because once you are a government employee it is easier to move up the career track. This is because some jobs are available only to those people who are currently governement workers. It might depend from dept. to dept. also. I initially worked in the Dept. of Treasury and now work in the Dept. of Homeland Security. If you haven't decided on a specific job you can check out
http://www.usajobs.gov. They have all of the current job listings that are open to the public. If you have any others questions feel free to PM me.