Nico Corr

This is of course anecdotal testimony, but from things I have read on this board, and from discussions I have had with others, these places give aid by varying degrees: WWS(Virtually everyone gets substantial aid), HKS (many get aid to some degree), SAIS (very little), MSFS (Almost none). It also depends on your background. The better you test on the GRE, the more real world experience you have and any other skills you might have that are unique (advanced quant, computer skills, language skills) the more aid you will receive. As far as ROI and job outcomes, from what I have heard, pretty much everyone who goes to WWS has their pick of the best jobs in the field with virtually no debt. Grads from HKS usually have moderate to considerable debt, but they are well off enough that their starting salaries compensate for the debt. SAIS and SIPA set their grads up with gigs that pay upwards of 80K, but they are saddled with crushing debt that prevents them from taking public/non-profit positions. MSFS grads have the inside track to posh federal jobs, but the federal hiring freeze and some other unforeseen events have thrown that off.

I got accepted to American University, but have yet to hear back on funding. Still waiting to hear from GWU. Even if I get accepted to both, if I don't get funding, I will consider those rejections.

Many of them stipulate that you must demonstrate a high proficiency of understanding in a foreign language before you graduate. I myself consider myself to have a moderate-proficiency of Spanish as I use it at work and in my personal life on almost a daily basis. If it's anything related directly to my current job, soccer, or food, I can get by. I don't know that I could necessarily use it in a political context. I also have a very basic understanding of Arabic and am trying to hone my Arabic skills via a CD language set. I figure between now and before I begin my studies I can really clamp on studying the language enough to pass the language exam.

I have heard of CIPA, and at one point considered applying there but heard from someone that it is geared more towards people interested in careers in academia than policy. Decisions for programs such as these are usually released mid March.

I got my confirmation of acceptance last Friday. I bombed the quant section of the GRE and have little practical experience in IR, but I have a 3.7 gpa and solid LORs. I too applied for the M.A. in IR and U.S. ForPol. Still waiting to hear back on funding.

Thanks for the responses pinoysoc and kitcassidance. I haven't heard from this one professor at all, and my deadlines are on January 1st, 15th and February 1st, so I am starting to get a little antsy. I'll call and see if he's on campus.

I had planned on applying to three graduate school programs for the Fall 2018 application cycle, and need two for each school I am applying to. I reached out to two professors who I thought could write me great LORs, and only one has acceded to my request. The other I haven't heard from and I'm starting to worry that it's getting too late in the game for me to ask an alternate LOR writer. I don't have this professor's direct telephone extension, so I was thinking of calling the department he works in to see if he was still in the office. Is anyone else going through something similar? How did you handle it?

I plan on applying to Elliott, SIS and Maxwell to study foreign policy/security issues, but I've been looking at alternative schools as well, and came across Maryland's School of Public Policy. It was highly ranked (I realize rankings can be subjective) seven years ago or so, but they don't seem to be on the radar so much at present. From what I can gather from older threads on this board, and other sites, their International Security and Economic Policy (ISEP) program was highly regarded, and were I to apply, I'd be most interested in ISEP. Does anyone have any insights on Maryland and the ISEP program?

I realize this is an old thread, but I too am interested in UMD's ISEP program. Is it a viable alternative to some of the bigger D.C. Schools?

Took the GRE once in the Spring, and got a Qualitative score of 158 and a really low quant score of 140 with Verbal 4. Most of the programs I am applying to have a Quant score range of between 150-155. I've been studying a bit, and planned on taking the test again to get these scores up with a retake in December, but I am already strapped for cash as it is with the holiday season upon us, and I really only have money to either pay application fees, or retake the test. I also learned one of the schools I am applying to is test optional now (which also happens to be my #1 choice), so I'm wondering if I should even bother retaking it. I am thinking of just applying this cycle with the scores I have, get good LoRs and write good SoPs and hope I get at least waitlisted. If anything else, I'll just wait to retake the test again in the spring to reapply in he fall for Spring 18. What should I do?

Thanks for the feedback, everyone. I actually talked to someone from one of the schools I was going to apply to told me they decided not to make GRE scores a requirement. This coupled with the fact that the holidays are around the corner, and I'm currently strapped for cash as it is makes me think I should just apply with my current scores, and if anything else, I can just study over the spring/summer and apply for the next admissions cycle in the Fall.

That is probably not too far off the mark.

I think it really all depends on the type of program you're in. From what I have heard anecdotally, No one really cares, or expects you to follow through with whatever your intended interests stated in your SOP. The important thing I think is to sound focused in your SOP and be able to tie your interests at the time of application to the program itself. Once you've gotten in, then you can work with advisors and professors to focus on a specific subject. At least that's how I would think it would be with more interdisciplinary programs.

Any tips for people who have 10+ years of non-IR experience prior to grad school??

I spoke to admissions staff in two IR grad schools this week about possibly holding off applying in order to improve weak Quantitative GRE scores, both of which indicated that they recently decided to make GRE scores optional, and didn't think that was necessary. One of these schools is a top 10 program. Will this set a precedent for others? Is this a good or bad development? I certainly think it will help ease the already considerable financial burden Grad students must surmount.

Yes, I support dependents, so it's difficult for me to participate in these kinds of programs. I have found a number of smaller internship programs that only last a week- 2 weeks abroad and I am considering those. I figured 3/4 of the people participating in Peace Corps were doing so for career benefits in the same way people do City Year or Teach for America.

I cannot remember off hand what the criterion for their rankings were, but I think it was based off of a survey sent out to various IR professionals. I do think there needs to be a lot more accountability and more data on outcomes and ROI of these programs as there are for Law schools.

I've been looking in to numerous IR Master's programs and plan to apply to two or three "traditional". I have also recently been looking at Executive Master's programs as well. From what I have gathered from talking to Admissions folks from these programs, they are much more hands on with students, offer evening classes and are more receptive to taking in students who have a dearth of experience in their policy areas. I have specifically targeted SAIS' and GW Elliott's Executive Programs. Do the executive programs defer in any way from "traditional" programs in any way besides the type of students they cater to? Do employers take them as seriously as a traditional Master's program?

I am planning on applying to Maxwell myself. From what I have heard, It is a solid program with great resources whose only real disadvantage compared to other programs is its distance from "traditional" policy hubs like DC, NYC and Boston. Maxwell puts a lot of emphasis on experiential learning a tad bit more than academics. Internships and workshops, from what iv'e gathered make a large component of the learning experience there.

Every year, I looked forward to Foreign Policy's "Inside the Ivory Tower" rankings of IR programs. They stopped posting it a couple years ago, and I heard a rumor that this was done due to the mounting pressure some of schools were putting on FP because they claimed it was hurting their brand.

Yes, PMF is extremely competitive. I know someone who works for Dept. of Interior through it. Maxwell I just learned has an executive IR Masters program in cooperation with CSIS here in DC. Probably will be much cheaper than GW, SIS or similar programs. It's actually my #1 program of interest.

What I meant by that was I do not have the luxury of time or money to go around the world doing the wonderful work the Peace Corps does.

Thanks for the response. I agree with you on pretty much all points. Being 30 I don't think i'm necessarily "running out of time", but I am trying to make this switch urgently, because I know i'tll be harder to make this change the longer I wait. I know IR is competitive, but I figured that my proximity to DC and my already substantial work experience would give me if not at least a slight edge over other people seeking jobs in this field. I didn't realize the market was that bad. Forbes recently listed a Master's degree in IR to be one of the best investments in 2016; https://www.forbes.com/pictures/fjle45gfkg/no-5-best-masters-degree-for-jobs-international-relations/#79f02b65414c I have actually looked at Grad programs in International Education at one of the bigger schools like Harvard, Penn etc., but I don't know if those would interest me, and even if I were to do them, I'd be stuck in the same field. I don't make a lot to begin with in my current position, so I don't know how much of a pay cut transitioning would be. I know a few people in State and within the DoD, but I don't know if I would be able to parlay those connections into a job. One of the people I know at State told me they could give me a good work reference, but they couldn't help me get a job at State.

A job with the foreign or civil service of State, analyst positions with a four letter agency or the private sector are what would interest me. I have tons of experience working with foreign nationals at my job, and people whose primary language isn't english. Haven't really had the time, opportunity or $ to live or work abroad. Peace Corps would be great, but I don't have the luxury of spending two years doing it. Maxwell is actually one of the schools I am looking at.

I've been trawling this site and many like it for the past 2 years as in preparation to eventually apply for graduate schools specializing in my desired career path (international relations). I've been working full time while attending undergraduate classes from a top 5 Public School. I got pidgeonholed while seeking work after high school, and have been stuck in the education field, mainly in school administration for the past 10 years. I've had my eye on making a career switch for some time, but haven't been successful for lack of having a degree, no connections to anyone in IR that could help make the switch, etc. I graduated in May, and have upped my efforts for the upcoming application season. I've taken the GRE once, and look to do so once more before the deadline to improve my scores. I've always been under the impression that in order to make such a career change, the most appropriate way to do so is to go to grad school in the desired field to get a degree which will allow you to gain the requisite knowledge, experience and connections to get a job. The more I talk to some people in the field, and the more I read other poster's threads, it appears to me that that notion is questionable. I've read some threads on here and other places, that affirm that it's best to already have at least internship experience, connects, military experience or Peace Corps experience before even applying. Someone else I talked to that works for the federal government told me its better to get your foot in the door first, then get your employer to foot the bill for your degree. These points are problematic for me on a number of counts: I was never interested in joining the military. Because of my personal and financial situation, I haven't had the luxury of taking on unpaid internships that often times help students get their foot in the door. I also don't have the luxury of spending two years on some foreign adventure with the Peace Corps to teach children in remote parts of Africa English, or help people in Rural Mongolia dig a well, as much as I would like to do those things. I also don't have "connects" that can help me snag a job in this field. It also seems to me that most of the people who apply for and get these jobs already have years of experience as well as advanced degrees. My question is, is grad school the best way to make this career switch, or would it be best to some way find an "in" to the IR field before attending grad school?