Study Economics or IR and Economics in US or Asia?

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<p>Greetings!!</p>

<p>I have just finished my seventh semester, out of eight, in the major of International Relations and Political Science. I am planning on going to grad school on the second half of 2012. Since two semesters ago, I started studying foreign policy and economics of East Asia (specially Japan), and I ended going to Korea as an exchange student for one semester, I also visited Hong Kong and Tokyo for fun. Right now I am doing my thesis on Human Rights Foreign Policy of Korea and (maybe, I will consult my thesis advisor) Japan.</p>

<p>Currently I am ranked number 1 in my class and I have earned tuition waivers because of my grades, plus one scholarship from Sempra Energy (an American Energy companies that operates in Mexico). </p>

<p>I have worked as a research assistant in two projects: one was the elaboration of a book which compares trade policies in Mexico and Brazil, and the other one was foreign policy of Mexico. Next semester I will start working with a professor who is a specialist in Korean economy. Maybe I will work temporarily for Sempra Energy or anything that can give me money to survive while I’m preparing for the master (because my parents live in another city and they will stop sending me money).</p>

<p>As you may have guessed, I can speak Spanish and English fluently, and I have been learning Korean, which I find relatively easy. I used to study French and Japanese, but I dropped the first one, because I did not find the language that attractive, and I stop studying Japanese after deciding I was going to Korea. After learning more Korean, I will start studying Russian.</p>

<p>THE POINT is I don’t know what should I do. I would like to study a master in Economics (or International Political Economy) or in International Relations and International Economy, with a concentration area on East Asia. I am in love with the Johns Hopkins SAIS program, and I find very interesting UCLA San Diego too.
I have two problems: </p>

<ol>
<li><p>I took economy classes in all the semesters of my career (basically introductory courses or international economy courses), but I don’t feel confident enough on taking the Economics master, because despite the fact that I am good at math, I don’t have the current technical skills to study a master in Economics, I could catch up, but I don’t know if I will be admitted with my current knowledge (and with the knowledge I get during this year of preparation outside of school). Besides I don’t know if I would feel well studying only economics without making reference to foreign policy or international law. The question is I don’t know if I should apply for a “only” economics master program.</p></li>
<li><p>I don’t know the place. My dream is SAIS, UCLA SD is very good too, if I can pass the test and get scholarships I will go for any of these schools. However, I have to apply to other schools too: I want to learn Korean well and I know it’s very easy to get scholarships in Korea, if I go to Korea, I would likely study Economics (life in Korea was fantastic, so I guess I could make it my home for a few years). But I think I’m just focusing on Korea, there might be other better Asian options like Tokyo or Singapore (I don’t consider Hong Kong because I think the city was…not good for me, I was a little disappointed, and Taiwan, I am not interested in Chinese AT ALL and I don’t feel particularly attracted to Taiwan). If my interest is to study economics with a concentration area on East Asia let’s say Asian Tigers, I think it would be very good to study in any of those countries (duh!). However I don’t know if I will be able to adapt to the life in Tokyo, Singapore or even Korea.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>According to my profile and what I wrote, what do you think I should do? I have an idea, but I would like to have your opinions. Thank you!!</p>

2

<ol>
<li>You stated that you took courses in intro economics and international economics. You also stated that you’d prefer not to study economics without reference to foreign policy or international law. So, I don’t know that you have adequate background to do a master’s in economics, and I’m not sure that you could do very much with only a master’s. In addition, you seem to want a broader type of degree. So, my suggestion is to forget the master’s in economics. Go for an interdisciplinary master’s in international affairs (with a track in East Asian regional studies) at an IR professional school. Alternatively, you could consider a interdisciplinary master’s in East Asian Studies (with a focus on Korean Studies). The question is where a master’s in those fields takes you with respect to employment opportunities, and that depends on your interests and plans. I don’t know whether you’re thinking in terms of an academic track (in which case, you then might pursue a PhD in international relations or political science) or a professional track (in which case, you might benefit from a business or a law degree—possibly, as a joint program with the area studies master’s).</li>
</ol>

<p>Check this link. On the right hand side of that website, you’ll find link to Korean Studies programs at American universities. [Opportunities</a> in Korean Studies | Korea Institute, Harvard University](<a href=“http://korea.fas.harvard.edu/opportunities-korean-studies]Opportunities”>http://korea.fas.harvard.edu/opportunities-korean-studies).
Also check this link for IR professional schools, since for matters of admission and funding, you’ll need to expand your focus beyond just SAIS, UCLA, or UCSD: [Association</a> of Professional Schools of International Affairs](<a href=“http://www.apsia.org/apsia/index.php]Association”>APSIA 2018 Career Networking Reception - Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs (APSIA))</p>

<ol>
<li>You said you would study economics if you went to Korea, yet earlier in your post, you said you might not have an adequate background for economics and/or you’d also want to study it in reference to foreign policy or international law. So, I think it’s not the best plan to study economics. You need to clarify why you’d want to go to Korea. Is it just to learn Korean well? If so, you can do that as part of the programs mentioned above, which could include study in Korea (though availability of scholarships for Korea might be a factor to consider.) You said there might be better option than Korea, like Singapore or Tokyo. Why do you think that? If it’s because they are “Asian Tigers”, then there might be value in studying in those places. But you are confusing that value with the question of your interests and the question of whether you think you would like to live in those places. First, you dropped Japanese and you don’t know if you could adapt to living in Tokyo, so I think you should stick to Korea. Second, while English is widespread in Singapore, you stated that you have no interest in Chinese and that you don’t know if you could adapt to living there, so again, I think you should stick to Korea. That said, you contradict yourself in that you said life in Korea was “fantastic”, yet you don’t know if you could adapt even to living there. It seems like Korea is your main interest, but you need to clarify that for yourself.</li>
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3

<p>Korea is one of my best second options (my plan B), because the acceptance rate to master programs in Korea is very high for foreigners plus there are many scholarships available. </p>

<p>My formation in economics is good, however I did not take the “advance math part” in economics, the things that my fellows economists are studying in their major. Let’s say I took courses equivalent of 3 (yes) or 4 (at most!!) semesters in economics out of 8.
So even if in this moment I am not that good in the advance math of economics, I could be accepted to good universities in Korea with scholarships.
However in the case of US, even if I am accepted to a good university in master of economics, I might not get a scholarship given the fact that at the beginning I am not one of the best applicants.</p>

<p>I liked Korea, but since I am not that fluent in Korean yet, I was not able to fit in. A girl from Panama who’s been studying her major in Korea, told me the same happened to her until she became fluent in Korean. So that’s what I meant: I might not be able to fit in, however that could change when I become fluent in Korean. Another reason for not fitting in, Korea is a relatively more homogeneous society: in US you don’t assume someone is a foreigner until you talk with that person, in Korea is practically evident who’s a foreigner, just by looking at them, you’re always stared when you’re walking in Korea, you might even feel VERY different (this might be a stupid reason, but it is something that I think about).
I always thought: I am in Korea for only six months, I will go very soon, I liked my exchange in Korea and my life there, it was very good, and Korea as a country is fantastic. However, living there for 3 years is something COMPLETELY different, so I was not contradicting myself, I just omitted information.</p>

<p>HK, almost everybody can speak a little English, but I don’t feel attracted to Cantonese or China by itself.</p>

<p>About Singapore, Tokyo and even HK, I was thinking that maybe I should consider also these countries for my master because they have very good programs and education as well. As far as I can remember, Singapore also gives many scholarships, Tokyo gives some. According to international rankings (which might be much more useful to determine the quality of master programs than undegraduate programs), Tokyo, HK and Singapore have very good universities, even better ranked than Korea’s universities. However, that doesn’t prove anything, just the overall ranking of the university. THere might be even smaller institutes that are better than the big universities.</p>

<p>I’ve been told that despite the fact that the students in my Institute are not economists, the overall level of economics is for us is very high.</p>

<p>I was thinking on these options, the first one is my favorite, the second the second favorite and so on:
Master in International Relations and Economics in US (in a program I like) and study Korean language one year or six months as an exchange student (my favorite)
Master in Economics in US and study Korean language one year as an exchange student.
Master in Economics in Korea.
Master in Economics in Asia.</p>

<p>I like IR, however, I think I might have better chances of getting a better job if I go for economics, that’s also something I’ve been thinking about. Plus I like a lot economics.
A third option would be a master in US in IR and economics, finish it and then a master in economics anywhere else, even Mexico.</p>

<p>Thanks for your advice, I will consider the option of Asian Studies.</p>