Graduate School Abroad?

Graduate School
1

<p>I graduated last spring (May 2011) and currently am working at a nonprofit think-tank doing state policy. I'm really interested in international affairs and I would say my dream job is with the State Department. My academic interests in undergrad evolved over time so I never studied abroad. Had I known freshman year my academics would ultimately have an international focus, I probably would have studied a language other than German. I tried applying to Peace Corps, but was rejected since apparently some of their business development programs were shut down and they're scrambling to move people around (bad timing on my part I guess).</p>

<p>I think I would want to do a Masters in either IR, Public Policy, or something like that. However, my undergrad GPA wasn't all that great. It was a 3.4 from Cornell University. I'm not sure how much this compensates for the GPA, but I did double major in Economics and Government, and double minor in International Relations and German Studies. Another key drawback on my resume given my interests is I never did do study abroad, but on the flip side, I had leadership positions in 3 student organizations (1 of them I would describe as a major leadership position). </p>

<p>Ideally, I'd like to start a new language in graduate school, probably in a "critical language." And I know it's hard, but I'm thinking Arabic. Despite my minor being in German, I ultimately took 6 undergraduate classes related to the Middle East (5 politics, 1 literature).</p>

<p>I've been trying to research grad school abroad, but I'm finding it REALLY hard to find information. But I think doing grad school abroad, given my interests, would be a good plan for me given my lack of abroad experience, plus it's nice that grad schools abroad are generally cheaper. </p>

<p>I know nothing about grad school admissions, except that my GPA is low for any good schools in the US. Like I said above, I'm not sure how much it coming from Cornell compensates or how much the double major/double minor helps me. So with that, I know even less about how competitive admissions are abroad, especially at reputable schools. </p>

<p>Here are places I was thinking of studying:
1) Schools in Germany, given my German background, but realizing studying another language would be difficult, since I'd probably be working on German fluency.
2) Schools elsewhere in Europe that teach in English. No idea how hard it would be to get in, but maybe Sciences Po, HEI in Switzerland, or somewhere else (no idea what schools would be a good fit).
3) A school in the Middle East where I can really focus on language skills. The only two schools I really see are American University Beirut and Tel Aviv University.</p>

<p>Any general advice would be appreciated on what career experience I might need before grad school, if I should do grad school abroad, and if so, which school would be a fit.</p>

<p>I had posted this in another forum, but I think it's more appropriate here. All input is appreciated as grad school admissions, especially abroad, is something I know very little about.</p>

2

<p>A 3.4 GPA is fine. It’s not phenomenal, but for getting into a master’s program it’s fine. I got into every master’s program I applied for and a PhD program with a 3.4, and my adviser tells me I would’ve been competitive for others.</p>

<p>I don’t think you have to go to graduate school abroad to get experience abroad. In fact, if you want to work for the State Department, you should probably go to a U.S. school that has connections with the State Department. The only schools I can think of that would make you as competitive would be Oxbridge or LSE. What you should do is take this time between undergrad and grad school and see if you can get international experience that way. Apply for a Fulbright or another teach-abroad experience. Your nonprofit experience will be great.</p>

3

<p>What US school in IR would be worth applying to with a 3.4 GPA? I’m still studying for GRE’s, but I think I should be able to get 90th percentile. </p>

<p>It seemed to me that more important than school connection for the State Department is learning a foreign language and having abroad experience. Although I suppose if I study in the US, I can make sure anything I do over the summer is abroad, or perhaps do a semester abroad as a grad student (is that common?).</p>

<p>I think my goals are 1) Earn a MPA (or some equivalent) and 2) At least become proficient in a critical language. Preferably Arabic, but given its difficulty, more likely Persian (which I’ve heard is much easier).</p>

4

<p>Convenience sample:</p>

<p>[At</a> Evans | Evans School of Public Affairs](<a href=“http://evans.washington.edu%5DAt”>http://evans.washington.edu) has an MPA which allows you to take graduate level courses from the Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations as well as Jackson School of International Studies. I’m in a blended undergrad/graduate course right now in their interdisciplinary program and more than half the students are Ph.D students. I love it.</p>

<p>Ranked 13th overall and there are a lot of students from elite LAC and Ivy League schools (+Chicago) in the graduate programs that I’ve met already.</p>