MRoy

I appreciate everyone's feedback. None of this was meant to be controversial or downplay the value of an advanced degree like an MA in International Affairs. I am like many individuals on this forum who have been fully invested in the field of international affairs for years, and like them I seek to make the best decision. I am looking for a very tangible mix of theory and practice, and upon a great deal of research, I am now confident that top-quality IR programs provide this to students. An example as to why I now put great emphasis on skills transfer as part of the educational experience: having come straight from a Political Science degree, I would have benefited from a more hands on approach to sustainable development, financial processes, proposal writing, etc. at the beginning of my Peace Corps service. This of course all comes with time in the field, but the point was that I want to be certain that my MA will help me acquire certain skills sets on TOP of advanced expertise (GWU's professional skills courses for instance: http://www.gwu.edu/~elliott/gscd/skills/advanced.cfm ) I was recently told by a mentor that although she has no regrets about her MA degree, "paying back $80,000 of student loans has been an ongoing challenge." The costs of higher education in the US are of course a major factor for many of us here. It ties postgraduates down for years and sometimes decades after graduation, job or no job. The investment is worth it but one that should be extremely well thought out. The other reason I posted this former board topic was because I had just heard from a PhD student of PoliSci that advanced theory-based degrees sometimes provide less of a certain skills set sought after by employers. It was also noted that more specified degrees may have an edge in hiring circles (MBA vs. IR). The bottom line is that successful students make the most of their education regardless of circumstances, and that IR programs spark my humanitarian/intellectual passions as they clearly do others in this forum. One additional remark: posting my stats was purely a tool to learn of others' opinions of my candidacy for certain programs. In no way was it an outlet to brag...in fact a month ago I was worried sick about getting stacks of rejection letters like a few of my friends have. Many of us have posted our stats to gage which programs suit us and are within our reach. Doing so and receiving trustworthy feedback has already been invaluable in helping me decide on the nine particular programs to which I am applying, and I am now much more confident. Applying to graduate school is daunting enough, it is a soul search in itself, and doing it from across the world as I prepare to move from one country to another to yet a third has been an added stress. I thank you all for making the process a lot easier for one another, and for me as well! I come from the same outlook as riz1: "Government Affairs" is not intended to be a cutthroat sector. All is based on (1) what you know, (2) WHO you know, and (3) how much you're willing to work with others, often whom you've never met. These are the things that will sustain our race and ensure a future that's slightly more peaceful than our past. And Carpe, I say take the plunge, and good luck!

Okay here's the deal people... I'm applying to fall 2010 graduate programs in international affairs and international development. I am just at the end of my Peace Corps service and it seems like the logical next step for someone pursuing a career in Foreign Service (the State Dept, the UN, etc.)... I'm getting everything together to apply to the eight following schools: 1-Columbia University/SIPA 2-JHU/SAIS 3-Georgetown University/SFS 4-GWU/ESIA 5-American University/SIS 6-Fordham University/IPED 7-NYU/Wagner 8-American University of Paris HOWEVER...something feels just a tad off. Is it the best academic direction to take, is it worth the exorbitant cost of attendance? I wrote to some people with PhDs and the such, and they told me that advanced degrees in PoliSci-related fields may not BEST unless one is pursuing a PhD. That foreign service workers often don't need MAs to get to where they are, work experience having counted more, or that they pursued MAs in fields such as Public Health, or MBAs, or JDs, and specialized... !!! So, I'm asking you guys heading in the following direction what you think about this? What do you expect to get out of MAs in IR? Indeed a top program gets you the right connections and the necessary TOP NOTCH education for the field. But??? Why not get a JD in international law, or specialize in Public Administration or something more specific that international organizations seek out? While I'm at it...maybe you guys will give me insight and assess my chances at the above top schools :mrgreen: ? -Bachelors in Political Science and French (3.584 GPA) -Fluent French, Spanish, Bosnian + decent Serbian, Croatian, Bulgarian, Arabic -Studied at Sorbonne 1 year in Paris -Weak GRE scores (will explain why in applications--crossed disputed border to take them)(aiming to retake and get at least 1100) -Peace Corps volunteer in community development -Interned for high-profile Congressman -Will intern in the Poli-Econ sectors of the US Embassy in a war-torn developing Former Yugoslav nation -Learned 2.5 years Arabic & worked at Middle East Cultural Center -Interested in researching the interplay between socioeconomic development and violent conflict, international law and peacebuilding THANKS to all for your invaluable insight on this board!!!