SilkCat

Just to clarify the NGO work I mentioned is at a nonprofit startup, I started back in December and got promoted recently, but my role is in writing and marketing. I'm not sure how these program evaluate high performance or something being 'cool' (maybe the latter is a matter of creating a compelling narrative around it). Thank you again for the advice, I will go into this determined to squeeze every opportunity out of the program / D.C that I possibly can.

Thank you for your advice! Funding is another reason why I focused on applying to regional studies programs, as some of them get FLAS funding (as well some direct funds since the programs are smaller). Alas, I wasn't successful at getting into the ones with FLAS funding opportunities. A lot of SIS students work at least part time during their studies, so I was thinking that would be a great way to get experience while in D.C. As opposed to very academically rigorous programs, which focus on thesis research in the summer and classes during the year. Do you think my undergraduate network would off-set some of the loss in networking opportunities by not going to the "Big 7"? As you can probably tell, I don't understand networking very well and it should be the first thing I research (any resource recommendations are welcome).

Thank you, again, for this conversation. I'm really stressed about this decision and I appreciate your advice. I'll reply using your organization, for clarity. 1) It would be to get access to more interesting coursework or professors (for personal benefit) though I know it won't matter beyond that. 2) I feel like my SoPs this round were extremely good. Probably the strongest aspect of my application, and did tell as much of a coherent story as my resume allowed. I'm a strong writer and had a lot of professional writers give me feedback, which is why I'm confident about that aspect. My GRE score was 1 point off perfect, though that doesn't seem to matter lately with optional scores. So what held me back was almost certainly (1) undergrad GPA and (2) inadequate experience, especially relevant experience, for someone who is almost 6 years out of school and possibly (3) using 3 LoRs from undergraduate professors, since academic LoRs were encouraged by most program directors I spoke with. 3-5) I agree that SIS is probably not as top-tier as the rest, but it can also be what you make of it. At least I'm assuming if you strive to be 1-2/10 impressive SIS students you could stand out and succeed. In talking to you I realize I made the mistake of not applying to general IR programs, and focusing on regional programs only. I could reapply next year, but I worry that I may end up in the same situation. Or worse, with no funding offers at all. I'm unwilling to pay full price for any of these programs because I will never get out of debt. I'm also old. At least older than most of the other applicants; I hear the clock ticking in my head. Someone else applied the old adage "a bird in the hand is worth more..." If I were to reapply, I would be adding an IU summer language workshop in Russian, remote volunteer work with the UN related to the Ukraine crisis, and more work experience in marketing/NGO to my resume. And probably a LoR from a professional source and the summer language professor. Not sure if that's enough to make a difference, or whether it's worth the risk.

What do you mean by "Grad schools are also wary of elite undergrad alums who haven't followed up with a career that can tell a coherent story of achievement"? I guess that's actually an accurate assessment, but not something I can change within one year. Especially since it's difficult to find opportunities without a relevant degree and, as you say, a coherent story. I did live and work in Eastern Europe for a few years and have a very tangentially related job in the U.S right now. Is going into massive debt worth it for Georgetown's Russian program? It's almost impossible for me to justify over 100k in debt (especially with how expensive D.C is). As for scholarships / fellowships I'm not sure if I'm competitive enough for them as they seem even more competitive than the programs themselves. Personally, I would HIGHLY prefer to study Russia and Eastern Europe specifically rather than pursue a more general degree from Yale Jackson, Tufts, SAIS etc. The AU SIS program is sort of in-between in that it will let me focus on Russia but will have a lot of general IR coursework. Though there is also the option to take 2 classes at Georgetown or GWU as part of the degree.

Thank you for such a detailed (and quick!) reply. Just to clarify a bit, for Georgetown it's the Eurasian, Russian, and East European Studies (MAERES) program, and the equivalent at GWU. I figured since I have language skills and an interest in the region, finding a niche within Eastern Europe and Russia was good. In terms of networking, I didn't know about the mafia...sounds intimidating! I do have access to the Yale network (from undergrad), but I'm not sure how much that will help in D.C. My alternative is to reapply next year, as I was unsuccessful in some of my applications to regional programs outside of D.C. Then again, would getting a regional studies degree from Harvard (REECA) or Columbia open up more career opportunities in the federal government than going to AU SIS and doing internships/working while studying? I know prestige is important, but I do wonder how much it actually matters outside of academia or more research-focused roles.

I hope it's alright for me to jump in on this conversation. I am looking at PMF success rates as well, just for for AU SIS (regional studies). I made a thread about it a while ago but didn't get any replies. Since you seem rather knowledgeable about these topics I was wondering if you had any advice. I got 0 money from GWU and Georgetown but a bit over 50% tuition from AU SIS. I already have a top tier undergraduate degree, just in a different field. I'm wondering how much the program will matter for going into work as either an FSO or in the IC. This was the thread I made if you need more info. Thank you in advance if you have time to reply!

Hello, Since a lot of you appear knowledgeable about government jobs and the educational opportunities in Washington D.C, I am hoping you can help me with my graduate school dilemma. I am in my late 20s and I am looking to pivot into a career field involving regional expertise of Russia and Eastern Europe. I'd like to work in the IC (particularly DIA) in the future, but I'm open to other public service positions that would allow me to use my language skills and regional understanding. I will provide some background about myself to further explain my situation: I am an immigrant from Eastern Europe (though a U.S citizen for some time now) who attended Yale for undergrad. I studied psychology and chemistry, though I have some poor grades from math classes and engineering due to some unfortunate circumstances and general lack of direction. I won't waste your time making excuses for myself. I took some language courses during undergrad, including Russian, and dabbled ever so slightly with regional studies at the end of my degree. I would have majored in Eastern European studies or something similar had I discovered this earlier. After graduation I took some time off and then started to work in various random jobs to gain experience. Unfortunately, doing something completely unrelated to my major after graduation (even from a prestigious school) proved to be impossible. I did some unpaid internships where I could; lived, traveled and interned in the region for a few years. The more time that passed after graduation the more difficult it has become to get my foot in the door. Applying to jobs on USAJOBS proved unfruitful (not sure if that's just me or if that's a universal experience for entry level positions). I figured going back to school for a master's degree, building on my language skills and doing internships would be the best way to find opportunities. My priorities, in terms of employment, is to do something I am interested in and find meaningful. I strongly believe that making enough money to live comfortably is plenty, and beyond that I really value the nature of the work rather than salary. My parents also taught me to avoid debt, which I've done successfully so far, and I really want to avoid that at all costs going forward. As such, I'm very hesitant to take out huge loans to afford graduate school especially considering the living costs in most urban areas. I applied this cycle to a variety of regional programs. I have been admitted to the European and Eurasian Studies Master of Arts at GW's Elliott (no funding), and at AU SIS Comparative & Regional Studies (about 50% scholarship). Still waiting to hear back from a few other programs, and have been rejected from Harvard already. I did my undergrad at a prestigious school, and for me the glitter and idealization of elite universities has worn off. Not because they aren't great, but because I don't think the name gets you everywhere nor matters too much outside of academia / finance / consulting. Correct me if I'm mistaken and it matters a lot for government / IR jobs. My questions are: How is the AU program for my goals? Does anyone have experience with it? Should I take AU's offer? Through part time work and internships it would be financially feasible to not come out with significant debt. Should I consider reapplying to regional programs outside of D.C and add-on programs that have FLAS funding, and try again next year? It's possible I have more luck with additional experience, and get more funding at a different institution. How important is it being in D.C for securing a government position? How important is the "brand name" of the institution? I know that master's degrees aren't generally funded, at least not fully, and I am grateful to have gotten a fairly generous offer from AU. I don't know enough about D.C life to evaluate how it is perceived by employers, I just tried to cast a wide net when applying because of my strange background. I also wonder if I should continue to build on my profile and try again next year, and cast an even wider net, to get more funding of get into a more prestigious program. In truth, I feel old. I've spoken to people applying to these kinds of programs and they're often right out of undergrad, and I still feel behind them in accomplishments. I kick myself for not having a sense of direction in undergrad and squandering an ivy league education, but I know I can't fix the past and I also can't spend the next decade(s) crying about it. So, I am trying to figure out the best way to move forward and I would greatly appreciate any advice from this community. Thank you so much in advance!!!