Someone in D1’s class is astate employee and is in a full time masters program right now paid for by State. Now she is a pretty exceptional person, someone I’m sure they want to hang on to.
My youngest had an FJO from an agency within the DOD. One of the benefits was reimbursement for graduate classes and up to one year off, at full pay, for school. The federal government is very generous with education benefits, and I assume that’s why you are seeing so many employees with advanced degrees. I have no idea at what level these benefits begin, but don’t get a master’s to get a job in government…get a job in government and then go get a masters!
Not likely to receive full funding from a college, if that is what you are asking.
Grad school aid is largely merit based and is awarded based on the strength of the application AND the school’s desire to have the student as a member of the grad school cohort. Aid comes in the form of scholarships, grants, assistantships, fellowships, sometimes work study, and…LOANS.
In terms of working for the department of state…is this person planning to take the foreign service exam? If so, getting a great score on that is important. Probably more important than a masters degree. What exactly does this student want to do for for employment with the department of state?
Another thing that is well recognized in terms of government jobs…completion of a Peace Corps assignment. Maybe that is something to consider.
Where exactly is she planning to apply to grad school?
This doesn’t mean they all started their government positions with masters degrees. Your kid won’t be getting a “top position” even with a masters. She will need to work her way up through the system. She can get a masters while employed. For example…as a foreign service officer (should she be selected…very competitive), she may find that her interest lies in economics, and she would like to get a masters related to that. She might want to specialize in refugee affairs…so would get a masters related to that. She might want to specialize in a certain geographic area…so would get a masters related to that.
Not so sure political science would be as valuable.
Why not international relations?
Check out the MAPSS Program at the University of Chicago. Most student receive some sort of funding (ex: 1/4, 1/3, 1/2) and they offer a specialization in Political Science.
@CupCakeMuffins We found the undergrad professors very helpful in this regard. They will have contacts and know about possible funding opportunities at other schools.
This kid has a yearning for learning so probably will end up taking loans if no aid available.
It’s unfair that 21 year old has to submit parent’s information to apply for financial aid when he is the one getting and paying loans.
Unfair in what way?
Most regular grad programs do not require parent info on the FAFSA form. The grad student would complete this themselves, and would be eligible for Grad Plus Loans up to the cost of attendance.
Some law and medical schools DO require parent information. But so what? At those places the vast bulk of financial aid is loans, loans and more loans. Again the student would qualify for those grad plus loans up to the cost of attendance.
@CupCakeMuffins your kid applying for political science masters programs likely will not need to provide parent information on the FAFSA for grad school. But that doesn’t mean spit in terms of need based financial aid eligibility. There isn’t need based aid at the grad level the same as undergrad. In other words…a FAFSA EFC of $0 might still net you with loans…loans and more loans.
Unless this student is lucky enough to be awarded a grad school assistantship, fellowship or grant…and that is possible…but has little to do with what is on the FAFSA.
ETA…I still don’t understand why this kid wouldn’t apply for jobs where grad school funding might be partially there as a benefit.
I am amazed by how many graduate programs are now offering funding. Even some MBA programs are, which was NEVER the case. If a student wants to go to grad school & not pay for it, there is probably a school out there that has TA positions with tuition remission & maybe even a stipend. It may not be a school that has a great reputation for that grad program, but it’s a degree for free. If that is what they want, it may be out there. There are graduate websites similar to CC - they may provide some ideas for schools.
If she was my kid, I would recommend taking the job and getting the degree later when she has money or employer sponsorship or taking a loan and getting the degree now from one of the top programs. She sees no advantage in going to some random program just because it’s free.
Most aid for grad programs is merit based, not need based.
And parent info or not, grad schools don’t have a large pot of money to give away anyway.
I’m confused. On who’s behalf are you asking?
To me, that is not a good enough reason to get an MA.
fwiw: A MA in Poli Sci will be almost meaningless for UN jobs without overseas experience for a US citizen. (Those jobs are really hard to get.)
Same difference. It doesn’t matter if question is from X or Y, general approach would be similar for everyone.
However, as you mentioned Poli Sci isn’t the most lucrative major for most people and UN jobs require a global mindset and experience.
Majors are not lucrative or non-lucrative. Jobs and careers are. Without going to grad school, a poli sci major can have a very lucrative career in investment banking, real estate, entrepreneurship, or many other areas.