Straight out of undergrad: Good fit for MIA?

[ccorc3]

Hey guys, I am in the midst of applying for MIA/MAIA/MPP programs in both the United States and Europe. The only issue I seem to have with these schools is that most of them suggest a year or two of work experience, yet I don't have that since I'm straight out of undergrad. 

 

The list of schools that I am currently applying to is SAIS, Fletcher, Sciences Po, IHEID, HKS (longshot), and perhaps Leiden or WWS.

 

Which of those schools would be best for someone with only internship experience (albeit a year of it)? I do have some other interesting things on my resume such as a 6 month long study abroad period in Finland along with a 1 month long seminar of European politics in Brussels, but will the lack of real world experience kill my apps?

 

If you all would be able to suggest other schools which would be a good fit I would be grateful. I was also thinking perhaps Uppsala for Peace and Conflict studies because I really would like to specialize in international security.

[Policykid]

Perhaps IHEID.. They don't seem to care much for professional experience and most of their students are straight out of undergrad.. 

[Gov2School]

It's a little hard to evaluate chances without knowing more about the rest of your application.  Not having work experience will definitely be a negative for most of the US based schools you're interested in, especially WWS. Obviously schools do accept some students who have no work experience, but it will depend on whether the other parts of your application balance out what you're missing in work experience.  

 

It may not be as big a deal for European programs because it's more common for European students to go straight into Masters studies and then go to work afterwards.  The question you have to ask yourself there is whether a European program will set you up well for your future goals and career track.

 

If you're interested in international security, then the SIPA MIA should definitely be on your list. That's a huge program and I met several people at admitted students day who were coming straight from undergrad, so your chances may be better there. It also seemed like from their application that they were more open to counting internship hours as "work experience".  

[thevillagersid]

As Gov2School suggested, work experience is pretty important for the American schools. Even if you're certain you want/need to get an MA, having 1-2 years of experience working someplace relevant before you apply will make your application *much* more competitive at US schools. 

[lsaiki87]

Applying to the mixed program at SAIS (one year in Bologna and the other in DC) might also be beneficial for you because it accepts a lot of European students (and American ones too) straight from undergrad. This is not so the case for the two years at SAIS DC. Students there tend to be older and with about 3-5+ years of work experience (although I'm sure there are some exceptions).

Edited November 27, 2014 by lsaiki87

[Grad888]

I had applied to IHEID (MIA) straight out of undergrad and was accepted. They place more emphasis on high academic achievement and less (although not none) on professional/internship experience.

[Poli92]

I wanted to bump this and get a sense of what candidates straight out of undergrad need to have in their application package to make up for a lack of WE. Obviously, there is no exact cut-off or anything, but from anyone's experience, what has stood out in these profiles enough to get them into top programs.

 

Cutting to the heart of it, I'm applying to MA programs this year straight out of undergrad, and I'm wondering if I have anywhere near a shot where I applied (you can see the schools in my signature). I majored in Econ (3.93) and Poli Sci (4.0) with a 3.9 overall GPA and my GRE scores were 163/162/4.5. I have done two internships, one congressional and one for a global non-profit. I have also studied abroad in MENA and LA. I am conversational in Spanish (though rusty) and beginner in Arabic and Portuguese, with in-country experience with the latter two. I also have a lot of independent and cooperative research experience, as well as multiple conference presentations and one single-authored publication in a regional student journal.   

 

Maybe I'm just torturing myself, but I can't help but be curious what you all think of this profile. 

[Guest]

^ I'm applying straight out of undergrad and your qualifications definitely outbeat mine. The only strong parts of my application is GPA, academic honor societies, language skills (Spanish& Arabic as well), research experience, and perhaps the minority thing since most grad schools claim some type of diversity statement...especially in my field.  I live in an area that does not present many internship and publication opportunities nor have I had the money to travel outside my area for opportunities.  Study abroad seems to be huge advantage.  If you get rejected anywhere, then I would definitely wonder what else they could possibly want for a Masters program?

 

Anyway, I'm sure they will be impressed. I also see that you are applying to Elliott and SIS. Good luck to you.

Edited January 27, 2015 by Guest

[Grad888]

You both sound like great candidates for IHEID to me!

[ccorc3]

I'm heavily leaning towards Johns Hopkins SAIS or Tufts. IHEID would be nice also. My GPA isn't stellar but it isn't bad at all (3.65) and my GRE scores are both near 160 and writing is a 5. Languages are also important too, that's where you all have me beat. My intermediate knowledge of Swedish won't exactly help in a developing country either. 

 

 

Either way I think we both have pretty good shots with different qualifications. I just got the first rejection, but it was from Sciences Po and I realized it's not exactly for me anyway... I'm from NY and Paris is just as expensive in terms of living and that's a huge factor in my decision. Oh well. If I want a good job in the US I would need a good degree from the US anyway. 

Edited February 17, 2015 by ccorc3

[alloy]

I applied straight from undergrad and got offers from SAIS, SIPA and GPPI (with $). I did not apply for Tufts but my friend from SIPA got rejection letter from Tufts saying explicitly "you have too little work experience".

Edited February 18, 2015 by alloy

[Poli92]

I applied straight from undergrad and got offers from SAIS, SIPA and GPPI (with $). I did not apply for Tufts but my friend from SIPA got rejection letter from Tufts saying explicitly "you have too little work experience".

 

Would you mind pm-ing a bit more about your background? 

[alloy]

Sure