<p>My D got accepted to AU School of International Studies undergraduate, and the financial package is not that great. I wanted to find out how much a job in her profession will pay, so we can decide if taking a large loan- about 150,000 for four years- will be worthed at the end. Also, it seems this is the only school she got accepted into that has a well known program in this field. She's also waitlisted for George Washington,and she was deffered from Georgetown early action, so there is no guarantee for acceptance, nor a better financial package with these two. Any advise is greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>mother, I too was accepted to AU’s SIS for International Studies (although I will most likely plan to change my major if I attend - maybe). Foreign Policy Magazine recently ranked AU’s SIS #10 in Undergraduate International Relations programs. #1-8 were all Ivy league (minus Stanford) with Harvard and Stanford the only ones with lower tuition costs. #9 Was George Washington University. So it’s safe to say that AU’s program is regarded highly in the IR community. However, I will give the caveat that NO undergraduate degree - in any field - is work plunging $150,000 in debt for.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, while these programs may be highly ranked (and ALL rankings are skewed or subjective), the undergraduate level can never carry as much weight as the graduate level of the same schools. For example, if your D was trying to work in the local DC IR community right out of undergrad, then it will be most likely that she will be competing with the recent graduate level students as well. IR may seem like it’s one of those fields that is eventually necessary to back up with a graduate level degree. There are special opportunities that may interest an IR major outside of the straightforward job placement, like the Peace Corps or international Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). But to stay in academia, research, or direct IR community employment may be difficult for an undergraduate.</p>
<p>Does she plan on going to graduate school? Does she plan on doing any of those special routes listed above? Does she plan on staying in the DC area after undergrad? Are you willing to sign for PLUS loans? Generally speaking, if she’s a dependent student, the max she can borrow for her education in her name is $27,000 since Federal Stafford loans are offered per year in increments of $5500 (Freshman), $6,500 (Soph), $7,500 (Jr & Sr). Anything more and she will need you to co-sign a private personal loan or a PLUS - all of which may have higher interest rates than the Stafford ones. I don’t think even an undergraduate Harvard degree is worth a $150,000 price tag, but that’s just me.</p>
<p>What I meant to add before the timer ran out:</p>
<p>What you may be able to do is email a professor (or two) from the program (or visit and speak to them if you’re close enough) and ask them these specific questions in regards to undergraduate students’ employment opportunities in the IR field. I did this with the University of Alabama and the professor I was able to contact actually took the time to write a lengthily email back about job placement from his program, so you may be surprised at what they can tell you. You may also suggest to your D to research what some entry level IR opportunities in the DC area might be. Google or whatever, and see what she comes up with. She can check the required qualifications for these types of positions and see what pay may be offered. This will give you, and her, a much more solid footing on if SIS at AU would be a feasible option.</p>
<p>Also, she would always have the option of branching out into career fields that typically require a degree in any field and have that kind of requirement just to ensure that their candidates have higher level critical thinking and problem solving skills. Of course, if she is SET on IR as a career, then this would be a sour option in her opinion.</p>
<p>Overall I would speculate that the program is actually great, but not 150k great. Some of the more unique amenities offered by AU (and all other DC schools that she applied to) is the location - the proximity that they are in to the Capitol and all it’s magical offerings of opportunities not really provided in the same form anywhere else in the nation.</p>
<p>EDIT: In case it might not be known to you or her, jobs in the Department of State or United Nations are going to be the most competitive and most WILL require extensive work experience or graduate level degrees, so those are most likely out of the question as a fresh undergrad when searching for jobs.</p>
<p>I second turtlerock in no undergraduate degree is worth a $150,000 debt. A better option might be to go to a lower cost undergraduate program and then apply to some of the higher rank graduate programs.</p>
<p>I recommend no way for $150,000! Go somewhere cheaper for undergrad and you can apply to the “usual suspects” for grad school if your kid wishes at that time.</p>
<p>Jobs in this field are very competitive and the entry level jobs for the federal government generally pay slightly over $40K in a high cost of living area (DC). Jobs with nonprofits likely pay less. Highly doubt you will find higher than $50K for any job in this field right out of school.</p>
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<p>This ranking sounds highly dubious.</p>
<p>Also, it is important to keep in mind that the schools you want to go to in order to get a PhD so you can teach are not necessarily the same schools you want to go to in order to get a real job in the field.</p>
<p>Edit: I just googled this ranking and it is for PhD programs… not surprisingly schools like to hire instructors with Ivy League degrees to give their programs credibility (rightly or wrongly).</p>
<p>OP, have you run any loan calculator? Let’s say if she repays it in 20 years, at 6.8% interest rate, the monthly payment would be $1140 (~$1726 in 10 years!). And even if you are willing to do so, do you know if your credit worth the loan amount? Your D can borrow up to $27,000 for four years. Anything beyond that you or someone has to co-sign her loan.</p>
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<p>All of them are. I provided it merely for rank comparison as if the OP was in that mode of “Where does it rank?” i.e. where does it stack up to other similar programs according to media outlets.</p>
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<p>CY 2012 pay rates for GS-05 Step 1 (the most common entry level GS plan for entry level with a BA/BS) is $34,075. It’s good to point out that the job openings in DC will be competitive, however still rather more abundant than other locations throughout the country. I will also advise that an individual can climb the GS ladder rather quickly depending on the series (specific job) in which they are employed.</p>
<p>turtlerock - i agree with everything in post #7.</p>
<p>Federal government also brings people in at GS7 level right from undergrad if they have a 3.0, which gives slightly more money. DC is definitely the place you want to be for the IR field, but it’s still very very difficult. For example, in Summer 2010 I applied to the State Department “entry level” program and for the non passport related jobs, the only people that made the cut were military veterans due to their hiring bonuses. There was no possible way for a plain old civilian to make the cut.</p>
<p>Once you get in though, things are better (though you still won’t be rich working this field).</p>
<p>I’ll agree that no undergraduate degree is worth $150,000. If her goal is State Department, yes, you can get away with just a Bachelors, but those jobs are competitive. The IR field is growing and by the time she graduates, a Masters may not be necessary, but highly desirable. </p>
<p>I would advise she go to the best school with minimal loans. If the school she goes to doesn’t have a strong reputation, try to get into an Honors program. Regardless, maintain a high GPA and apply to graduate school. Financial aid for grad school can be more difficult so if she’s going to need loans, it’s better that they only apply for a two-year Masters, rather than 4 years of undergrad. If she gets into a top IR program for graduate school, that’s what will really matter.</p>