Location: BC '73, Parent of: USCGA '09; Seton Hall '11; Smith '15
Posts: 2,526
School of Diplomacy
Anyone interested in a career in the fields of diplomacy or international relations would do well to investigate the John C. Whitehead School at Seton Hall.
The Whitehead School is rapidly becoming a leader in this field. The faculty includes several former UN Ambassadors and officials as well as leading scholars and PhD.'s. The proximity to New York is crucial to accessing internships along with frequent speakers in the school's many programs.
Seton Hall itself is a beautiful campus in South Orange, NJ, a small, upscale community. The facilities and amenities are excellent, there are fantastic activities, and a thriving Greek community.
I visited the campus with my parents and we stopped at a Chinese restaurant for lunch. We must have gone out the wrong gate because the area was dicey to say the least. The campus is beautiful but the security was more than I had ever seen on any other campus visits. I loved the program of Whitehead but don't know if I would want to stay for four years in that environment, I'd probably want to enroll in DC courses and study abroad semesters to get away. It's really a shame because the Whitehead program sounded perfect.
Location: BC '73, Parent of: USCGA '09; Seton Hall '11; Smith '15
Posts: 2,526
Well your reaction surprises me...and the opposite of my daughter's experience. She has had no problems there and travels to NYC frequently as well as into downtown South Orange.
Is your daughter a student in the Whitehead School? How often does she have access to events at the UN? How is the travel between NYC and SHU? I know there is a shuttle to the train station but is that becuz going through the neighborhood to get there is bad? Does your daughter spend much time on campus or does she travel away on weekends? Thank you for all the information.
Location: BC '73, Parent of: USCGA '09; Seton Hall '11; Smith '15
Posts: 2,526
Yes she is in the Whitehead School. They have a lot of interaction with the UN including several former diplomats on the faculty.
Travel to NYC is no problem. She often walks to the train station although there is a shuttle. From there it is an easy trip into the city. She also takes the train from Grand Central home to Connecticut when she needs to, although most weekends she spends at school. There are plenty of activities including basketball games and coffee houses etc.
I have a question. When she got her admission decision, did it say in the letter she got into the Whitehead school, or did another piece of mail come at a later date?
After doing some real soul searching about schools, I wanted to put out these thoughts for others to consider:
1. Wouldn't you rather be a "big fish" in a small pond - the Whitehead School only takes 100 kids per year. Your chances at being at the top of that class are much better than struggling to be at the top of a class of over 1000 or more at a larger school;
2. With a smaller class size, you have a much greater opportunity to be remembered by your proff instead of just being a number. When they remember you, you are able to establish a relationship that might lead to all kinds of internships, etc.
3. Because Whitehead offers a masters program in five years, you can start out a lot faster than someone from maybe Columbia who will still be in teh classroom for another year or two.
4. Because you will have contact with the UN for at least 4 years, you can establish relationships that might get you in the door earlier than other schools who only have professional opportunities their junior and senior years.
5. Why spend all your money on a high tuition bill for undergrad when you might need that money to travel or pursue graduate studies elsewhere? Everyone I've talked to has told me to spend more money on grad school than on undergrad, but at Whitehead you get the best of both worlds.
6. If you want to be in International Affairs, how more "international" can you get with the UN as your main source of education and professional opportunities?
I was really confused as to whether I wanetd to go to DC or Whitehead, but after focusing on what I really wanetd to do with a career, I now realize that Whitehead is where I should be. Thanks for letting me ramble and I hope my thoughts help some one out there decide too.
Thought I'd add some information here. I am a recent dual degree grad from the Whitehead School. In my class alone, I know people who are now at: US State Dept., US Dept. of Commerce, Bank of NY, Goldman Sachs, Columbia Law, Fordham Law, Seton Hall Law, St. John's Law, UNA-USA, the Peace Corps, various NGOs, etc.
As for me, I am living Texas now working for an rather profitable oil company and, thus far, I have not been affected by the bad economy. Couldn't be happier. Needless to say, the prospects are good after graduating the Whitehead School and the opportunites are national in reach. Just thought I'd add my two cents.
Any questions, happy to help, leave me a message or post.
Does anyone know how hard it is to get accepted here. The problem is that I am still a freshamn at Rutgers but I am sooo set on going to grad school at the Whitehead School. But since graduation is so far away I am afraid that admissions at Whitehead is getting harder by the year. If anyone knows anything about it, pleeease help! Thanks!!!
Also, before I forget to ask, is there any specific major in college that is required to get a masters in diplomacy. I mean, would I have to be a IR major or is it better to have a different, more diverse major??? Will poly sci do? Also, how much does it help that I speak fluent spanish?
