Kevin1990 Posted October 7, 2011 Posted October 7, 2011 I'm a junior undergraduate seriously starting to thinking about and look into graduate school for ether security or defense/strategic studies or maybe intelligence. I'm also a current history and international studies major. Overall, I've been told I have a pretty strong record as I have decent grades(Well above 3.0), I should do well on the GRE(haven't taken it yet), and I have an extensive background in leadership and political activities as well as study abroad. Additionally, I'm looking into seeking an internship at a think tank in Washington. I mainly want to do research going forward in terms of a career, with my interests being modern warfare and it's evolution, insurgency and terrorism, and military operations/organizations. However, even though I'm highly oriented towards these subject areas I'm still trying to figure out where my interests lay obviously. I've been steered towards the following schools if anyone has any information on them including the good, the bad, and the ugly. Georgetown GWU John's Hopkin's SAIS Institute of World Politics(IWP) Missouri MIT University of Kansas Ohio State UNC Chapel Hill If anyone could provide any insight for me that would be great, and if there is any other schools I should be looking at(even though it is still very early) that would be great!
maeisenb Posted October 7, 2011 Posted October 7, 2011 Are you looking for an MA or a PhD? Have you done any substantial independent research projects in that field?
flyers29 Posted October 7, 2011 Posted October 7, 2011 (edited) Probably better answered in the Government Affairs forum. Also, the first 4 are more policy-oriented...I wouldn't recommend going the "MA in political science" route if you're not looking to go on to the Ph.D. Edited October 7, 2011 by flyers29
Kevin1990 Posted October 7, 2011 Author Posted October 7, 2011 Are you looking for an MA or a PhD? Have you done any substantial independent research projects in that field? I'm looking for ether an MA or MS, I'm hoping to go onto a Phd in this field eventually. Research-wise, I have done plenty of projects and papers in the field during my time in undergrad so far. Additionally, I'm slated to do a couple of large scale ones this semester for a couple of classes. I'm also regarded as someone who is quite capable of doing graduate level work by my faculty Probably better answered in the Government Affairs forum. Also, the first 4 are more policy-oriented...I wouldn't recommend going the "MA in political science" route if you're not looking to go on to the Ph.D. Like I mentioned above I'm interested in going research route and getting a Phd. However, even though I'm still early in the grad school search I'm having a hard time finding a program geared towards what I want to do. Would it be any big deal regardless, if I went into a policy program for a MA/MS instead of a research one?
maeisenb Posted October 8, 2011 Posted October 8, 2011 Just a quick question of clarification, if you want a PhD, then why are you interested in an MPP or something like that. They are somewhat separate in what your long term goals are, although I'm sure people have gone from MPPs to PhDs. Look at some of the books/articles you really like and see where people are teaching as that is always the best way to do it. Since you have another year before applications, I would also figured out exactly what you want to work on, rather than something as broad as it is now
flyers29 Posted October 11, 2011 Posted October 11, 2011 (edited) I'm looking for ether an MA or MS, I'm hoping to go onto a Phd in this field eventually. Research-wise, I have done plenty of projects and papers in the field during my time in undergrad so far. Additionally, I'm slated to do a couple of large scale ones this semester for a couple of classes. I'm also regarded as someone who is quite capable of doing graduate level work by my faculty Like I mentioned above I'm interested in going research route and getting a Phd. However, even though I'm still early in the grad school search I'm having a hard time finding a program geared towards what I want to do. Would it be any big deal regardless, if I went into a policy program for a MA/MS instead of a research one? Nothing wrong with getting your master's from a policy-oriented school before going on to the Ph.D, I did that myself. I guess I made some incorrect assumptions about your intentions. As for why you're having trouble finding programs with your exact interests, it might be because you're framing them too much in "real-world" terms for academia (this coming from someone who has the same interests as you). Not to say that there aren't people who don't do these things and/or you won't be able to do them yourself, but a lot of them are probably selling it more as broader security/strategic studies. Just a few scholars that might be your speed off the top of my head: Robert Pape (Chicago), Peter Feaver (Duke), Dale Herspring (Kansas St), and Andrew Bacevich (Boston U). Edited October 11, 2011 by flyers29
JAubrey Posted October 11, 2011 Posted October 11, 2011 I'm a junior undergraduate seriously starting to thinking about and look into graduate school for ether security or defense/strategic studies or maybe intelligence. I'm also a current history and international studies major. Overall, I've been told I have a pretty strong record as I have decent grades(Well above 3.0), I should do well on the GRE(haven't taken it yet), and I have an extensive background in leadership and political activities as well as study abroad. Additionally, I'm looking into seeking an internship at a think tank in Washington. I mainly want to do research going forward in terms of a career, with my interests being modern warfare and it's evolution, insurgency and terrorism, and military operations/organizations. However, even though I'm highly oriented towards these subject areas I'm still trying to figure out where my interests lay obviously. I've been steered towards the following schools if anyone has any information on them including the good, the bad, and the ugly. Georgetown GWU John's Hopkin's SAIS Institute of World Politics(IWP) Missouri MIT University of Kansas Ohio State UNC Chapel Hill If anyone could provide any insight for me that would be great, and if there is any other schools I should be looking at(even though it is still very early) that would be great! Georgetown GW SAIS and MIT (though their program is on the small side) should be your top choices. Also for a PhD do consider the Rand School.
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