<p>How is the IR major at W&M? What paths do grads follow? Any acceptances into top grad schools or Foreign Service? Also, would you recommend the IR program at W&M or the joint program at St. Andrews in terms of depth of study in IR?</p>
<p>the IR major is very strong. W&M offers semesters in DC, an undergraduate think tank, lots of study abroad, the chance to do research, and a summer security institute (you can google for more info). Not many schools match this, honestly.</p>
<p>You can go here: [Outcomes</a> info](<a href=“http://career.wm.edu/CFM/OutcomesIndex.cfm]Outcomes”>http://career.wm.edu/CFM/OutcomesIndex.cfm) and search by IR to see a sample of what the students do. Lots of them seem to go into the federal government (State, Defense, IC, etc) or defense contracting. Likewise, you can see the list of grad schools, that includes Georgetown, George Washington, London School of Economics, Cambridge, Harvard, Columbia, Hopkins, etc. Regarding the Foreign Service Exam… anyone can sit for the exam (though there is a limit in attempts per year, I think). It has many parts, and is generally considered to be quite difficult, but W&M will give you the education and skills that you can use to prepare yourself for the exam (I think when I was there they also offered a prep class).</p>
<p>I personally don’t have any experience with the St. Andrews program, though I’m sure it looks very attractive to grad schools and employers. But, as you can see, a W&M degree alone also looks very attractive.</p>
<p>Thanks, this is really helpful!</p>
<p>you are welcome! here are the links to the other stuff I mentioned, incase someone else happens on this thread later:</p>
<p>study abroad: [William</a> & Mary - Global Education Office](<a href=“http://www.wm.edu/offices/revescenter/studyabroad/index.php]William”>Global Education Office | William & Mary)
think tank: [Institute</a> for the Theory and Practice of International Relations | PIPS (Project on International Peace and Security)](<a href=“http://irtheoryandpractice.wm.edu/projects/PIPS/]Institute”>The Project on International Peace and Security | William & Mary)
semester in DC: [William</a> & Mary - W&M in Washington Program](<a href=“http://www.wm.edu/sites/wmindc/index.php]William”>http://www.wm.edu/sites/wmindc/index.php)
security institute: [William</a> & Mary - National Security Institute](<a href=“http://www.wm.edu/sites/dcsummerinstitutes/prospective/institutes/security/index.php]William”>http://www.wm.edu/sites/dcsummerinstitutes/prospective/institutes/security/index.php)</p>