The_Great_Seagull

@ benegyll That's encouraging news from your friend at King's. I was part of the Cambridge College Programme from America four years ago, and the experience was as enriching as it was enlightening, cultivating a great deal of respect for British academia since. Does your friend know anything about intelligence opportunities regarding MIIS (or King's), or do you think MIIS is more a research school? International development as a broad program has been relatively slow of growth lately, but if you concentrate on sustainable energy needs (for non-industrial nations) or something to do with the green revolution (advanced industrial nations or NICs) <http://www.usaid.gov/press/frontlines/fl_jun10/p13_science100620.html> I'm sure you'll be able to find a job. And bilingualism in Spanish will give you an abundance of freedom in your options for job placement, too. The Spanish-speaking world is growing, especially here in the States as a pan-American arrangement looms on the political horizon. Monterey's language requirements are challenging, but they're a welcomed addition to the curricula, due to their sterling reputation. Good luck! It will be an exciting career, that's for sure! Despite MIIS's reputation, it is rather expensive, and it's sound counsel to eschew aggregate student debt exceeding the salary of your expected first job out of school. That's why it's tough for me to decide. Missouri State has a Defense and Strategic Studies program located in Fairfax, and they've offered me a full ride plus stipend. DC networking is a priceless intangible benefit. Problem is, MizzState's program is relatively unknown. I've heard it said that one's alma mater is quintessential to the first job after school. However, from there on out one's career depends primarily on job performance and networks therein, rather than old schoolmates. If Monterey is my choice, I'll be going for the Master's in Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies under Potter and Wehling. They've offered me a research job at CNS, a merit scholarship, a fellowship to the immersive language program this summer, and being part of Middlebury is equivalent to Ivy League. I've always been a stickler for status, to my own detriment perhaps, but public service jobs don't really pay enough to warrant shelling out $50,000 or higher for a Master's. Your thoughts? Respectfully, The Great Seagull

@ benegyll Hey! I'm leaning toward MIIS right now, too, in regards to this fall, 2011, for their MA in nonproliferation and terrorism studies. Word on the world wide web is it's the creme de la creme in NPT programs. What area of research are you interested in cultivating? Have you heard anything about MIIS that you haven't been able to find open-source? Squawk!