AMP Global Scholar 2019 Review

GSalumna2019
Tue, 05 Nov 2019 20:18:34 +0000

This review is very unfair: it completely does not reflect my opinion of the program and I feel sad to know that it might prevent someone from applying to such a great program right in heart of Washington D.C.
The program was not disorganized at all. We were given schedules on the first day and knew what to expect - the time was filled up with many interesting things to do or meetings to attend. In fact, we also were meant to prepare before going to places like the UN Foundation, World Bank or meeting with our Senators, so it was not that we had no clue what we were doing. We got to explore both practical and theoretical aspects of international relations, social justice, and public activism.
While I am also interested in international relations just as you are, indicating from your review, I consider the program to be a valuable experience and something which I would recommend doing. It is true: we did not waste hours going through classroom-like theory of international relations. We get straight to the practical and living aspect of it by visiting various institutions and talking to experts and workers in the field of diplomacy, as well as public and foreign service. We were; however, given a reading before the program that gave us an overlook of the most important parts of the academic theory of IR and what we were doing over those two weeks, was putting all that you can read or learn about, in a context that might seem abstract.
If it was not for Global Scholar, I could have dreamt of many things, like speaking to the Ambassador of Niger, meeting with a senator in their office, asking the diplomats about their daily life at work or getting to know all the inside-out of many international organizations, including NGOs or thinktanks. This program was very broad and encouraging to put everything in a broad perspective. Before I came there, I had a completely different view on what I think one who is interested in international relations can do, but after this program, I have seen so many options opened.
I have also met wonderful people during those two weeks, both from the US and abroad, which was also a part of priceless experience. Besides, the staff at the camp was very helpful and welcoming. They were very honest with us and showed us positive and negative aspects of institutions we were visiting, encouraging us to always form our own opinions. They did not impose any point of view on us whatsoever. In fact, I never felt as comfortable with talking about my perspective as I did there. They spent so much effort to ensure that everything runs smoothly. We had daily evening meetings during which we were informed about the plans for the next day, so WhatsApp was not the only form of communication, but a facilitator of it and a reminder of where to go next in case any of us has forgotten.
Overall, I can only wish that your words do not do harm to the program as it would be a shame. It was the best summer camp that I have been to and I hope that people don’t get a biased image of it just because of one frustrated voice on the internet.