beberabozo

UCLAri,

Thanks for the prompt reply.

As for your questions:

1. I'm interested in middle east, Africa, and to a lesser extent LatAm. At UCSD I'd be focused on LatAm...but this seems very limiting (i.e. what if there just aren't that many jobs out there which focus on LatAm given all the turoil in middle east or the rising tide in China). I am also interested in East Asia but I don't believe I could master the language requirements for these countries, one of the main reasons I selected LatAm at UCSD.

2. As for what I want out of my degree, I'd like to be an expert (or something approaching an expert) in a region of interest and a core discipline, particularily int'l politics. Most importantly, I fear going for a degree which will vastly limit my employment options, as I stated about RE: LatAm concentration.

3. What do I see the degree doing for me? Helping me pass the state dept FSO exams, for starters. I don't want to rely too heavily on this because I know only a small percentage of applicants become FSO's. So if I fail the application process at State Dept, then I would like to know there are ample opps for which I am qualified. My degree/internship will be my only experience because I worked on Wall St past 7 yrs and did nothing in an Int'l Relations capacity.

Lastly, as for my questions RE: degree, I should clarify. Master in Public Policy at American versus the other 2 Int'l Relations programs at Syracuse and UCSD. I wondering about whether employment opps would be vastly different if I studied Pub Policy versus Int'l Relations. These degrees, while different in some respects, seem quite similar in others. Would you have any advice on studying something slightly less desirable (Pub Policy) but which will offer the DC networking opps at American and the better name recognition of American compared to UCSD/Syracuse?

Thanks so much!

beberabozo

One more clarification RE: my future plans in the field. If FSO doesn't work out and an alt. career in diplomacy is unlikely (I'm an American and probably couldn't land a spot at the UN) then I'd like to do something involved with shaping foreign policy. Maybe working at a think tank or directly for a politician. I really don't have an interest in doing econ/develpoment, more foreign relations / policy, etc.

Hope that helps.

UCLAri

beberabozo,

I know of at least one person who went Africa in this program. It might sound odd, but despite IR/PS's regional focus, it does a darned fine job of preparing people for almost any region.

The thing I'm finding the longer I'm in school is that regional focus is somewhat moot after a year or two. For example, one of the 2nd years here is working part-time over at SPAWAR (Navy intelligence sort of work). Within a month of getting there, he got a bunch of Southeast Asia stuff on his desk because he was the closest thing to an "Asia guy." He focused on Northeast Asia! Really, with the kinds of generalized skills you get here, you could position yourself in Africa quite easily.

The nice thing about going into IR is that the workforce is by nature eclectic. Your time on Wall Street will be seen as interesting, at the very least. I wouldn't worry much about jobs if you have trouble with becoming an FSO. Then again, I wouldn't worry much about getting a job in the field, either. If a young, no-proven-talent guy like me scored an internship with the State Dept. at 23, you'll manage. There are tons of jobs out there for you, but most of them aren't very visible. I'd definitely be willing to help you follow some leads no matter where you go.

I personally don't think that the PP vs. IR debate is very meaningful toward jobs. Every employer I've spoken with, with the exception of one person at the CIA, has said that they just want an MA from an APSIA school. This is not a field with a low tolerance for diversity, that's for sure...

Oh, and think tanks? Stay away unless you go for your PhD. I can elaborate more if you want, but suffice it to say that MAs almost always start of at sub-$30K salaries...

georgiamom

Anyone have thoughts on Huntsman vs. Princeton?

UCLAri

None whatsoever, sorry.

Groenveld9

UCLAri (is Ari your name ?),
Do cany of these schools have a good IR/IS or even Poli Sci dept. with a good focus on the middle east ?
Wisconsin U, American, Ohio State, UT Austin, Indiana U, USC, U Miami, Clemson, MSU, UGA and last but not least Texas A&M.
This seems like an awful weird list for IR but that is just how the cookie crumbles haha.
Thanks !!!

UCLAri

I know that American does some good work on the Middle East, as does USC. I'm not really well-versed on the rest, sorry.

Groenveld9

no problem, thanks!

RecentlyAccepted

I see a few familiar names in this thread, so those of you that have answered my questions in other forums, bear with me...

I was recently accepted to both USC and GWU, and am wondernig what the opinions are on the overall strength of the IR programs at these two schools, comparatively speaking...

While I've seen GWU undergrad IR consistantly ranked among the top 10 in various rankings by various people in this very long thread, I also want to take into consideration my undergraduate experience. It seems to me like USC is more of a cohesive environment and has a sense of community...I've heard from other people that at GWU there's no sense of unity...

While GWU may have an arguably better IR program, will going to USC, which doesn't have a bad program, adversely affect my chances of getting into a good IR grad school?

U.S. News ranks USC as being a stronger university in terms of undergrad (USC - 27, GWU - 52). As an IR undergraduate major, should this have bearing on my decision? Yes, GW has location location location, and is more well known for being an IR school, but again this is only undergrad. Is it flawed thinking to say "this is only undergrad?"

For some reason I see USC as being the stronger more prestigious school, but I can't get beyond the fact that GW is in the capital (I was admitted to Elliott School by the way...I suppose that's important to know). Maybe its because I grew up in CA that I'm mildly biased/

I have no idea whether I want to go into business or policy or academics after undergrad, and in fact it doesn't really matter to me at the moment. Will going to GWU or USC offer me some advantage potentially in one of those fields?

As you can see I'm pretty muddled when it comes to making this decision...any insight will be much appreciated!

acidten

not so sure about international relations but the international business ranking is here (at the bottom of the webpage) :
http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/rvp/pubaf/0...20Programs.pdf

perhaps it might be similar. i think they only list the top 5 universities though.

Incredulous

To RA:

Have you visited both schools? Do you think either one would be a good fit for you?

I ask this 'cause if so, you are asking good questions, as I see it. If not, you are asking the wrong questions. I think you need to look at fit first. The Elliot School and USC will both give great opportunities, and if you do well, set you up for a lot of good things. So fit is first.

Now I am going to answer you assuming you have done all your other homework (at the very least visited both campuses) and figured out that either one could fit:

If you grew up in California, you should go to GW. It's really simple. First of all, you can have amazing internship and other kinds of experiences there. Secondly, you need to diversify your cultural experience. Go to DC and find out about a completely different kind of place.

USC is a great school. Certainly if you want to stay in California, it would probably be the better choice ultimately. But if as you said you want to go to grad school in IR and then go one to work in the field as a diplomat or some such functionary, I would go to GW and keep your focus and do a lot of things to build up your experiences and resume, things that would be hard if not impossible to do at USC.

I lived in DC for seven years and have spent a lot of time around the GW campus. I can't say it's my favorite place on earth. But the Elliot School has a great program, and I think is getting better and better.

That's my two cents.

For business, though, I'd give USC the edge. But did you get into Marshall, or even apply?

RecentlyAccepted

Incredulous,

I have visited both campuses actually. I think both leave something to be desired,though USC's is an actual centralized campus (in the traditional sense) and GWU being more of a sprinkling of buildings hither and thither...I grew up in California and left to live in Memphis, TN when I was 11, plus I only lived in San Diego, so both LA and D.C. share the same exotic/new quality...I think you may have misunderstood my future intent, yes I believe I want to do IR in grad school, but as far as career direction I have no idea. I don't know if I want to go into the foreign service or business that's the thing.

You said you spent a lot of time around the GW campus, can you expand on that? I'm interested as to why it didn't quite strike you as great...I agree the Elliott School has a great program (and a new building), but do you think its so good that I should pass up USC? Again USC seems to have the stronger overall undergrad rep/program, though not neccessarily in IR.

And to answer your other question, i applied to USC's College of Arts/Sciences, and would then go on to their School of IR which is incorporated within the CAS.

Thanks in advance

happycollegemom

i would not pass up USC for GW. GW is thought to be extremely costly and equally overrated.

RecentlyAccepted

Opinions of GW seem to vary from what you say happycollegemom to high praise, I'm having trouble discerning what's what...USC in general i haven't heard that kind of criticism of

xxj3uuaxx

mm yeah im kind of in the same situation deciding between usc and nyu for IR...and the only thing keeping me from nyu is their lack of of campus and lack of a college feel.

if anyone has any advice/input that'd be great :]