HopefulIR

Oh hai Flyers. How are ya? He's right about the competitiveness. While some of us got these great internships, many did not. I know a couple that are going back home and applying for local police this summer. I should note, that the ones that got great internships were particularly competitive w/ some work experience between undergrad/grad. The ones that did not got internships came straight out of undergrad. So take that gap year kiddos!

A little of both. Korbel's career center puts on a multitude of workshops/info sessions every quarter. They were very aggressive about us getting internships right from the get-go. There were workshops on cover letter writing, resumes, interviews; the works. They put together a career fair, of which many agencies attended. The CIA and State Department come every few months with their info session/interviews. However, in the end you're still the one going to USAJOBS.gov and applying online yourself since it's government. Most agencies have, in some form or another, a paid internship system. The FBI, for example, have both honors and volunteer intern programs; the honors interns get paid and the volunteers do not. I have a few colleagues that applied for NGA, and they are getting paid, as are some State Department interns. There are a few State ones that are unpaid though. Another one got a DIA paid internship, but one got a CIA (but she was hush hush about it.) If you're an attractive candidate, they'll pay you. Have a great resume/cover letter/interview, and you'll make it. 16/hr was what I got automatically due to OPM pay scales.

I'm doing a government internship this summer: paid, 16 an hour + free housing.

No problemo! I seem to be Korbel bashing, but I really do enjoy it here. Most programs have around 12-14~ courses give or take for a MA, but Korbel hovers around 17. I think I fit better here since we're all kind of young, (I'm 24 soon) and it'll just be weird going to a DC school with a lot of mid-career folks. If you have any other questions, shoot em. Good luck for SSP!

@mlerette The CIA has come to recruit almost every quarter I've been here. FBI came one time in the Fall, and State now and then. So yeah, dunder heads. As for tanks, I've seen some for other majors, but nothing particularly security related. However, a lot of the professors have tank connections. Larsen, for example, works at SAIC, Korbel is just this part time gig. Boevers, Northrop Grumman... Viotti has ties to Denver's CFR (assuming he also knows CFR NY)... that's the few I know for security, probably way more for development/human rights. Korbel security seems to be geared towards feds rather than tanks. I haven't heard a peep from CSIS, RAND, or Brookings. Then again, I don't really see Korbel as a policy school like HKS, GPPI or Harris. Most of us are of the younger generation (under or equal to 25), idealistic and wanting to work for "the man" instead of third parties. That's just my take though. Did I mention the weather? @Meg11 I have a buddy at Gdubs. I haven't talked to him in awhile, but from what I heard from him last (and a little FB stalking) I think it's a great program. Go. To. Elliott. Unless of course you get into SSP. I like Korbel a lot, but frankly, it is only worth it if you got a full ride. Why pay more money and get your ass handed to you with the quarter system + a 90 credit graduation requirement? EVERYONE ELSE HAS 40~ CREDS, WHAT GIVES!? Here's what I think, if the Army comes through with your funding, it doesn't matter where you go because you're pretty much set (assuming the money comes with strings. good strings.) Korbel's workload is intense like what your friend said. If you want to ease up creds (also if you want to keep your sanity) go to Elliott. Did I mention Elliott? Yep.

Secdef sucks hard, but you learn a lot. I never took a real research class during undergrad, beyond the required english comp classes, which seems like child's play now. If you join us next year, there are two professors teaching them, Griffith and Larsen. Griffith teaches both SecDef I&II and Larsen teaches only SecDef I. With Larsen, you get a lot of outside information that he brings in (former Air Force man and all), like how to build a nuclear bomb. With Griffith, he sticks to the syllabus and teaches you how to methodically break down studies and to build your own (who is sorta an Air Force guy since he taught at the AF Staff College.) Personally, I'd take Griffith all the way because his SecDef I syllabus is more streamlined with his SecDef II class. He is also a huge nerd, of which he will readily admit himself. During a powerpoint presentation this quarter, we saw a folder on his drive that said Lord of the Rings Online. Overall, great prof and is very accessible. Does funny voices too. I see that you got into Elliot and UCSD as well. May I ask what your preferences are right now? This is my recommendation (not that you asked for it) but go to Elliott. As a security studies major and your inquiry about Peg Sanders, I'm assuming you want to join the IC. Elliott's proximity to all the major agencies is a huge advantage. Assuming you don't have a TS w/poly sci yet, an internship with either the Company, DIA or even DoS INR will get you one. I wouldn't go to Korbel unless a.) you got a Sie fellowship (full tuition) or 2.) at least a Founder's Scholarship (15k). If you got some funding from Elliott, definitely take it. However, if you have some exp under your belt already and perhaps got your clearance already too, Denver weather is awwwesome. It's also probably cheaper to live here instead of DC as well. Everyone is super nice, but sometimes CORD (Center for Rights Development) gets on people's nerves like kicking people out of the cyber cafe (a good place to study/to meet up with friends) only to show a movie that only 4 people will watch. Okay enough procrastinating, I need to finish this research proposal for Griffith since it's due at 9 a.m.

Hmm... I don't believe so. That's weird. And here I thought I knew almost everyone from the security program... If she deferred the fall quarter, she missed Security and Defense Methods 1 since it's only offered then... all incoming security students had to take it and Secdef II the following winter. But since she didn't take Secdef I, I'm guessing they'll make her take the sequence next year instead?

Is your friend security? Most of the gals are in Human Rights/Development. I can count only 9 first year security girls off the top of my head.

Hi Meg11, I haven't heard anything about a replacement for Peg Sanders. I believe they're still actively searching. She was a great prof though. Told us stories about CIA rendition. She taught two intelligence classes, "Intelligence and National Security" and "Strategic Intelligence Problems." Unfortunately, I won't be taking her Strat Intel course since it conflicts with another course I wanted. But, I will be taking part of a simulation this April that is being ran by the CIA. Supposedly it is a requirement for Strat Intel, so hopefully I get something out of it. On the other hand, I will be taking "Strategic Intelligence Data Collection" with Boevers instead. This is his bio if you are so inclined: http://www.du.edu/korbel/facultyresearch/adjunct/Boevers,_Bruce.html He has some DIA experience, so that's kind of cool. Hi Phili, I'm not quite sure how long the waitlist is. The admissions office people (Brad and Nicole) are super friendly. I suggest you contact Nicole if you haven't already. Maybe there is something you've done recently after the application that should be noteworthy. If anything, they didn't reject you. I'll sit down with some pen and paper and write some reasons why you applied to Korbel. I think if you emailed her or Brad and asked for a phone interview to plead your case, it'll go a long way. Afterwards, be sure to send a hand written thank you. You have to show them that you really want this. If you can get another letter of recommendation or a phone call from a prof, that couldn't hurt either. Best of luck to you.

5 years from now? I don't think either really matter if you're going into government (assuming that's what you're going for.) I think the intervening variable is what you've done in the past 5 years that will be more important. That being said, the program you studied will probably determine what you do during the first few years after graduation Then again... I think it really depends on which sector you're working in, (federal government doesn't really care, but the swanky private sector is more picky.)

You apply for it at the end of the 1st quarter. You do an internship + take some courses. They say it's competitive and that it's ranked by GPA (the end of your 1st quarter GPA), but everyone pretty much gets in. You have to apply for the internship yourself, but the career development office helps out. An relevant internship is required to graduate, so everyone applies for a summer one. Many apply for the Fall DC program as well (just in case their summer applications are rejected, but I know a few people who will possibly do both just for more work experience. I recommend trying to do both if you're coming straight out of undergrad with less than 2 years work exp.) As for the language requirement, 1. you can get it waived if you majored in a language for undergrad, 2. bilingual/international student (assuming you're from a country that does not speak English), 3. pass 3rd year language course with a B or better, 4. a Berlitz proficiency test (I know 2 people that might do that), 5. take the proficiency exam. @Flyers29, my Middle East concentration buddies say there's a new Arabic test. I'm not 100% sure since I'm not a ME person myself, but if there isn't a test, I think about 3-4 people are screwed. Are ya'll security students?

Congrats on your acceptance. I'm a current security student here, so if you have any questions, feel free to shoot.

I'm attending Korbel now and I can confirm that as a first year student, classes fill up pretty darn quick. I think it's very much in part of the different programs being able to register for any subject they wish. For example, a security studies student can register for a course in human rights and vice versa. This bugs many students because perhaps a human rights major with a much later registration time (than that security student) would be shut out of that class. However, I must note that it is fairly easy to petition and get off a waitlist for the class. Usually the student affairs office is able to override the class to accept you. They do this sometimes because students realize the class isn't for them the first week and so it kinda evens out to the normal number after the add/drop period. Or, it's a core requirement and the professors (the ones I've met anyway) don't have a problem with getting a couple more students (as long as there's chairs available in the room.) Seeing that students change their mind perhaps halfway through the quarter, one should always monitor the webcentral registration website every now and then. I know of several friends that had a later registration time that got into a section I wanted, but it wasn't open during my earlier time. We all complain about the registration, but I do appreciate them letting me register for a entirely different subject if I was interested in it. As for myself, I've gotten into every single class I wanted my first year. And I mean every single one. The only ones I couldn't get into was because of conflicting times. However, I do think it's really lucky/rare for me to do so (my colleagues, not so much.) Also, on a side note, for any security student looking at Korbel. I think it's only fair to warn you that our intelligence expert (Peg Sanders) will be leaving at the end of this year, thus if you were hoping to take some courses with an ex-CIA officer, a bit of bad luck I'm afraid. They're looking for a replacement for her now, but I don't know how easily it is to reach out to Langley for a new retiree (that also wants to relocate to Denver/and teach grad students.) But there's also rumors that Dean Hill, as in former Ambassador Hill to Iraq, will be teaching a course/seminar next year (exciting!)

Current Korbel student here, except I'm not in MDP (although I've met some MDP students.) I think from what I've heard from the rumor mill is that they will only have cohorts every other year instead to keep the program small: benefits being smaller class sizes/better interactions with profs. If you're interested in development, there's a regular MA in international development here too, but it's not very field intensive like the MDP. However, the development students I know are very happy with what they're doing.

3.0 cumulative I'm assuming? What was your avg GPA for JR/SR year? Or... what was your avg major GPA? If you did poorly in the beginning (freshman year gen ed, it might not matter so much if you got As in upper level econs. Ex: a 3.8 in your final two years) It will also be paramount to do well on the GRE 1350+ to make up for a cumulative 3.0. SAIS I think might be out of reach, unless you were working for a major investment bank. Fletcher school at Tufts has a Master of International Business. (but Tufts is also up there... like SAIS)

Hi Ahab, I'm a current 1st year security student at Korbel. There's a lot of guaranteed funding available if your incoming GPA/GRE scores are at a certain level. I believe there's a chart or something on the website. It's typically 15-10k a year. I would also suspect rent is cheaper here than DC. I'm paying around 600~ a month and I'm very close to campus. If you live a little farther away you can def get cheaper rent. (Note: there are some that get full tuition, they're called Sie Fellows.) It will also really depend on what you want to study. I know our human rights program is very good (supposedly.) Security is up there as well (I'm not sure if you heard about our new Dean Amb. Christopher Hill.) It seems like GWU/Gtown's security prog are a tad bit better, but I would say we're in the top 5 in the nation for it. From a security student standpoint, a lot of our profs used to teach at the Air Force Academy in CO Springs. We also have an ex-CIA officer that teaches the intelligence classes. If accepted though, I think you should definitely take a DC school because of the availability to do quality internships during your semester. Korbel operates on a quarter system so it's kind of intense. We have to do 90 credits before we graduate unlike most other MA programs that do maybe only half. This can be a good thing (you get to learn a whole lot more) or a bad thing (holy crap this is an insane schedule.) On the whole, what the OP is doing is a Fall Semester DC program that Korbel/Pitt/Syracuse operates. If you excel at Korbel, you will be elligible to apply for it, that way you can do your plain ole summer internship + a fall one in DC. That would probably put you on par with other security students in DC as to the amount of work exp you have. (not to mention a gazillion more courses that you took.) (Note: I didn't apply to GWU, only Gtown. Got rejected, but it seems they take much of the older crowd that are already working in DC.)

damn seriously? the results show that many only got their acceptances on the 22nd/one on the 23rd. I have vain hope since last year they had acceptances on the 20th and then a second wave on the 26/27.

I called earlier today but no one picked up. I guess no one would be in on a weekend =\ I'm just gonna wait till Monday. If no word then I'll give them a ring.

If you applied to pickering, I assume you want to join the foreign service? In that case, I'd take GSPIA over GW. To become a FSO, I think it's more about doing well on your written/oral/QEP than where you went to school.

Okay, so I haven't received an email or snail mail. (It should have reached me by now, I think, since I live in NYC.) Do you think I should call in and see if they even read my application? I'm getting super paranoid because there were complications in early Feb with transcripts. It's creating scenarios in my head where my file is stuck in a cabinet somewhere and no one ever glanced at it.

I think so. At least from what I hear on this forum. SSP seems geared towards only security, whereas MSFS is broader.

I am like a hawk on gmail. If you check results search, someone got an email today. So... today might be another day of acceptances. Although I think some rejections were sent out in the mail last week, so they might come this week too =[

Have you found the career services stats for both of them? I'm not familiar with SAIS's but I know for SSP, it seems a plurality of alumni work for in the public sector. Take a look at this, it might help: http://cpass.georgetown.edu/documents/Security%20Studies%20Program%20Career%20Placement%20Report%202007.pdf

congrats! no email here... now I will dread opening my mailbox when I get home tonight. :X

May I ask what concentration in SSP did you apply for? I would suspect SSP tries to spread out its admits evenly (or not) between them.