<p>Well, the OP could just as easily major in something practical and still join the Peace Corps.</p>
<p>Things like Jewish Studies (imagine having to go for a job interview non IR related and explain how knowledge of Jewish stuff is helpful to their company), really only get noticed once you get your advanced degrees, usually a PHD.</p>
<p>Besides, why would the UN need a person who majored in Jewish Studies? They could just hire a person who is actually Jewish and is from Israel, makes much more sense, huh?</p>
<p>Anthropology is ok, if you want to be in academia. For you to really be an “anthropologist” you will need a minimum of a MS, and a PHD will be necessary for you to have research grants awarded to you. </p>
<p>If the OP wants to work for the UN (remember, every Poli Sci/IR major wants to work for the UN or State Department), there are many better avenues of education to help you along the way.</p>
<p>Language is great - but it’s doubtful. Every IR kid says he’s gonna learn Arabic but then finds out it’s a very difficult language to master and it takes years of intensive study and immersion. Two years of college Arabic does very little. Of course, study abroad will help you, and most likely you will become pretty proficient, but fluency is the ultimate test. Besides, native speakers are over-whelmingly perferred so competing with them is nearly impossible. The Army would be a better avenue if you want to speak Arabic in a work setting, because they have a higher demand and a lower ready applicant pool. The UN will get applications from all over the world, which all will be native speakers - think about it.</p>
<p>If you want to figure out the best pathway, figure out what IR organizations really do, then acquire those skills. For example, medicine/health and infrustructure are MAJOR components of IR missions, in fact they are probably the biggest. So going to school for medicine and civil engineering are MUCH more desirable than something like Anthropology.</p>
<p>I bet Pharma would be good, probably Public Health, althought I don’t know the later’s curriculum very well.</p>
<p>Economics would be a better choice as well.</p>
<p>I’d look into law school. JD’s are coveted in government, because most attorneys prefer to work in private practice or the corporate world rather than the government, which has significantly lesser pay.</p>
<p>The OP is making a very common mistake made by many younger people. They think organizations hire based upon knowledge, which is not true. The hire based on skills.</p>
<p>Knowledge, for the most part can be quickly and easily taught to an employee, especially subject’s like current affairs, history, politics, ect. However, skills are not easily taught to employees. For example a government agency could easily take an employee (civil engineer) and teach them the necessary knowledge that is needed for an overseas assignment (politics, current affairs, IR stuff), however - a government agency COULD NOT teach a person with a person with an anthropology background to be an civil engineer, or a doctor, or a pharmacist. </p>
<p>Medicine or Civil Engineering would be the best route. Having a person who is capable of providing medical care or implementing clean water systems is much more desirable (should go with out saying), than a person with an Anthropology degree, or a Jewish Studies major.</p>
<p>Plus, if things don’t work out, you could easily find a nice job in the private sector. Which will be very difficult with a major in Jewish Studies.</p>
