Preliminary steps as a Junior?

[Kevin1990]

I'm a current academic junior who is interested in attending grad school for military history/and or defense and strategic studies.

Over the past semester I've been researching quite heavily into the various programs out there in terms of my areas of interest. However, I've been wondering what steps I should be taking at this as junior despite the fact that I have quite some time left? I'd like to get started on some of the process toasted applying to grad school since I feel time is beginning to go by fast because I'm nearing the end of my 1st semester of my 3rd year. Additionally, I want to signup and start studying for the GRE soon too.

Any opinions or suggestions of what steps I need to start taking would be greatfully appreciated!

[ktel]

You should just try to make your application as strong as possible. Keep getting good grades. Try to get some research under your belt. Start thinking about what you would use for your writing sample. Write the GRE.

[Safferz]

You should just try to make your application as strong as possible. Keep getting good grades. Try to get some research under your belt. Start thinking about what you would use for your writing sample. Write the GRE.

Also build relationships with your professors, keeping in mind that you will need three strong references for graduate school applications. Write an honours thesis if your school has that option, or do an independent studies project, so that you have a well written paper in your area of interest that uses primary sources (and can be used as a writing sample for your applications). Submit papers to undergrad journals or conferences as well.

[Sparky]

Hmm...what about languages? Do you know what era/region you're interested in studying? If you don't already have a/the relevant language(s), this spring would be a good time to look into a beginning class. (e.g. if asymmetrical warfare in the modern Middle East is your lifeblood, hie thee to an Arabic class; etc.).

Safferz's advice about building close relationships with professors is spot-on. Office hours are your friend. If your school has someone in history or poli sci who is a Known Rockstar in something resembling your area of interest (or even the wider field of military history, that region/era's history, or defense studies), try your absolute best to develop a relationship with, or at least take a class with, that prof. For a lot of top programs, WHO writes the LOR matters almost as much as what it says.

(On which note I hasten to add: I had *zero* superstar profs to write me letters, and came from a not-top MA program. Here I am at my dream program. But I'm sort of the exception here; most people in my program have BAs from a full range of schools but MAs from the tippy top, and had rockstars to write at least some of their LORs).

[Sigaba]

I recommend that you:

• join the Small Wars Council and start reading there,
  
• start taking German as soon as possible,
  
• go here and start browsing, downloading, and reading,
  
• go there and start browsing, downloading, and reading.
  
• make sure you know the difference between SOF and SF as well as how the term "SF" is used in different countries,
  
• make sure you understand the boundaries and areas of overlap of grand strategy, strategy, operations, and tactics,
  
• make sure you understand the boundaries and areas overlap between the military revolution debate and the revolution in military affairs debate,
  
• find out as much as you can on what you need to qualify for a security clearance and do all you can to meet all of the criteria,
  
• apply for a summer internship that will allow you to work at a school (if not also for a professor) that offers expertise in your area of interest, and
  
• define what you want to study, how you want to study it, and what you want to do as a career.
  
  • At the very least, this last task will help you narrow down which languages and additional skills--e.g. quantitative methods--you need to develop.
    
  • If you're thinking about anthropology, consult
    
    • ISBN-10: 0759112134
      
    • ISBN-10: 0822342375
      

Also, the following books may be worth your while.

ISBN-10: 0691018545

ISBN-10: 0813320542

ISBN-10: 0029331552

ISBN-10: 0226703193

ISBN-10: 0521479584

ISBN-10: 0521170834

ISBN-10: 052180079X

ISBN-10: 0691027641

ISBN-10: 0199247625

ISBN-10: 0199236631

ISBN-10: 0521566274

Finally, I suggest that as you develop relationships with academics that you clearly understand the boundaries among disciplines, and where those academics stand on key issues that have policy implications. As is too early in your development to know where you stand on those issues, it is in your best interest to understand the 'big picture' and where the players position themselves.

HTH

Edited December 6, 2011 by Sigaba