Switch from media to IR acceptable?

[Vedamup]

Hi all,

Thanks for all the informative posts!

I'm Veda, writing in from India. I plan on pursuing a masters program in IR fall 2015. Schools short listed-

SIPA (top of my list), SAIS, Sciences Po, Elliot

I graduated with a degree in economics (gpa 3.31) from a top ranked university in the country. I then worked with a media house for a little over a year. (Movie marketing). I also earned a post graduate diploma in marketing while I worked with the company.

I quit my job a while ago to pursue what I've always wanted to do- IR and development. I'm giving my gre in the next 20 days.

Is my irrelevant job experience a major disadvantage? Does it make sense to apply to these schools at all or would my application seem a little too random? I'd appreciate all the insight that I can get in order to make sure that this isn't a complete shot in the dark!

Thanks,

Veda

[Kaneisha]

Hi Vedamup, no your background won't seem 100% random. You will want to demonstrate a commitment to public service via your extracurricular activities, volunteer work, and leadership in service of the public. Furthermore, you will need to make sure you have a crystal clear career vision.

 

I suggest you answer:

 

• Why do you need to go to SIPA / SAIS / SciencesPo / Elliott to study IR specifically?
• What is your career goal immediately after graduation?
• 3-5 years out?
• Your ultimate career goal?
• For each stage of your career, cite specific organizations you'd want to work with, causes you'd want to impact, and what you'd want to learn in the role.

 

Film marketing seems quite interesting to me, especially if you can tie it into your future career goals. While I was at HKS, I had one or two classmates that I can think of off the top of my head who were documentary filmmakers, and I thought that was super-cool (apparently so did the admissions committee since they were there). I understand that you were on the marketing side, but that almost makes it easier to make your case. You could bring those same marketing skills to the public/nonprofit sector to help get the word out and engage viewers to take action on whatever particular cause or issue you are working for. Considering how inundated people are with information/misinformation, your film marketing skills could actually be really useful to governments, nonprofits, and mission-driven businesses.

 

You just need to know how to frame nontraditional experience! Best of luck!

[thevillagersid]

Many people are coming back to graduate school to change careers, so it won't seem unusual at all. As Kaneisha, mentioned, you just need to make a convincing case as to how your experience and educational plans fit in with what you hope to do. 

[Bombaygunner]

I'm in a similar situation. Applying out of India, with 2 years experience (3 by the time I join) in the media, albeit at an int'l business magazine. I think you should certainly leverage the India angle. The movie industry in India is probably more influential on poor people than anywhere else in the world. I'm sure you, like anyone who has grown up in India, has seen a lot that can be improved. And I'm sure working in movie marketing has given you a lot of the tools you need to capture an important narrative and spread the message. Maybe you can put 2 and 2 together. 

 

For my part, I'm trying to show them how the stories I've written have had a focus on development, international relations, etc... I found being in the media meant I scored really well in the Analytical writing section of my GRE. I hope the unis care about AR as much as Quant and Verbal! Good luck for your GRE.

[Vedamup]

Thank you so much you guys. I'm going to go ahead and apply.

Are there any other schools that you would reccomend? All the schools I've mentioned are exceedingly hard to get into. Any other schools that are definitely great curriculum wise and can be considered 'safe'?

[Vedamup]

Patrick- what's your list of schools like?

[thevillagersid]

Syracuse (1 year!), UPenn Fels, and Michigan all seem like good schools that might be a bit less competitive.  

[Bombaygunner]

Thank you so much you guys. I'm going to go ahead and apply.

Are there any other schools that you would reccomend? All the schools I've mentioned are exceedingly hard to get into. Any other schools that are definitely great curriculum wise and can be considered 'safe'?

 

Sorry for the delayed response. I've applied to SAIS, SIPA, WWS, GWU Elliott, Yale Jackson, Fletcher and American SIS. And you?