<p>I am junior at Hendrix College. My major is Spanish Literature. I am currently studying in Spain for the academic year. I thought I wanted to go to graduate school for Spanish Literature a few months ago, but now I think I am leaning more towards International Relations. I guess I would like to continue with Spanish, but apply it to a career in business, law, international relations, etc. rather then teaching or something of that sort. The problem is my background as of right now is pretty much all Spanish literature, Latin, Etymology, etc. I have studied Microeconomics, and I can surely study Macro senior year...but the majority of my senior year courses will be in Spanish literature and last minute requirements for my major (finishing up latin courses, an art requirement, and possibly macroecon). I have taken once course called Contemporary European History....and a global religions course...but to be honest my background in IR is very weak and I don't have the time nor the ability to fill in the gaps next year when I am preparing to graduate. Plus, I have never interned anywhere or have any "professional" experience like most applicants have in IR. I have been over-involved in my university with activities, and of course I am studying abroad, etc. but my background again falls short...</p>
<p>Are there are decent IR programs out there that open their admissions to strong candidates of all fields versus candidates who they "strongly" recommend have B.As in economics, IR, Poly Sci, etc with intern experience etc? I know I am not cut out for Tufts or a top notch IR program because I am not qualified like the top IR students..but my grades are good and I can get good recs...</p>
<p>I really would like to graduate with a masters in 2 years, 3 years max.
Can anyone help me!? Please let me know that its not too late to study IR!</p>
<p>PS: Anyone know anything about the International Studies Masters Program at the University of Kansas?!?</p>
<p>I havent taken the GRE, but i have bought a prep book so I am sure the scores could be worked on (how many times do graduate schools like you to take it?)
Although I have taken calculus, my math grade was a C (eek!) and I don't know how well I will do on the math, nor how well that will look with admissions (I am a literature person obviously)</p>
<p>but the problem is I don't know when i will have time to incorporate work experience? Sure i have waitressed at a lot of places and such, but its obvious by work experience they want an internship or something. I will be in Spain until the middle of July (the school year runs differently) and by the time I get back, I will be starting school in Arkansas around August 15...I don't know if I could get an internship near my school, but I don't have a car there, so I am not sure what I could do..will this really hurt my chances?</p>
<p>Area wise....
I study Spanish, but oddly enough I am also applying to UPitt to study Bulgarian over the summer in their intensive travel program. Needless to say, I have a lot of friends there, I have visited numerous times, and I would like to learn the language and maybe eventually work there or with a company based in Eastern Europe. Eastern Europe and Spanish really don't match up...but I guess I would have to say Western Europe is my first priority, and Eastern Europe is a close 2nd.</p>
<p>BTW i am sure i will get chewed out for asking this, but can you specify where SAIS, SIPA, and IR/PS are? I just started researching IR graduate school since I just recently changed my mind about things. Sorry if I sound uninformed! :(</p>
<p>Well without official work experience (although I have been President of my Hall council and 1st Vice Chair of a charity organization at my college, as well as working part-time job during college), I still think that kind of knocks out the top schools...but, could you tell me more about the programs at</p>
<p>U-Kentucky
U-Denver
U-Pittsburg
Syracuse</p>
<p>I think these schools may be good matches for me, not exactly the top schools like SIPA, but still competitive and realistic for what I want to do...They dont seem to be ideal locations for studying IR (like NYC or DC) but they do apparently have good reputations so maybe the location isn't everything.</p>
<p>They all seem like interesting 2 year programs that cater to my interest with foreign languages and regional studies, etc.</p>
<p>Anybody feel free to comment on these schools, I am interested in what you have to say! I am new to the IR search, so anything would be appreciated.</p>
<p>I want you to stop for a second and think. Many of these programs can cost upwards of $25K to $50K in additional loans. What do you realistically think your job prospects are like afterwards? </p>
<p>I know you really really want to get started on your MA, but you need to sit down and ask yourself if getting an MA RIGHT NOW is going to be the best decision. If you can work a couple years first and then go to a better program, you will see a much bigger return on your investment.</p>
<p>Why are you in such a rush to go and get this degree?</p>
<p>i dont really want to work and then start school again, i prefer to go straight through school because to be honest, im really sick of studying. i have the drive to learn but i dont think working a few years and then going to school later on is for me. i think if i start working and making money and get out of the "academic routine" then it may be harder for me later on to start studying again.</p>
<p>besides whats wrong with schools like syracuse, kentucky, pitt, etc. are you saying that unless i go to harvard or columbia that i am not going to have any sort of success? i think these boards tend to push people to the top programs, which of course is fine, but why is there such negative feedback on the other schools....i dont want to be in a masters program when im 27...i want to be finished school by 24 or so...i guess i have a different idea of what i want my life to be like, and working three years and then studying again doesnt really seem like what i had hoped for..</p>
<p>You missed my point, I think. I'm saying that you need to consider the cost/benefit analysis. These programs can cost a lot and return little (financially.) </p>
<p>Furthermore, you may not want to be 27 and in school, but realize that most of your classmates will be, and that will have an effect on the experience. I AM one of those people who almost went straight to grad (spent a year abroad teaching). I do not recommend purely out of personal experience with how much I get out of it, how emotionally capable I am relative to classmates, and my job prospects out the door. </p>
<p>I'm not pushing you to a top program because it's a top program. I'm pushing you to a top program because you need a job, and MAs in IR aren't notorious for netting those unless we talk about the very small top strata. I'm saying this because I don't want you to spend two years paying for an MA and find that it's really really really hard to find a decent job.</p>
<p>I go to one of the better programs, and it's been a nightmare finding a job. The biggest reason? Entry level tends to want entry level (BA), but anything that's not entry level is very hard because I have no work experience. You see the problem I face? I'm in job seeking limbo.</p>
<p>so would you say IR is a hot major right now and unless you are in the top programs, there are better opportunities to study other things else where?</p>
<p>Well, for one, I think you need to be very clear on WHY you want this degree. There are more financially sound careers out there, but go get an IR degree if you really really love it. </p>
<p>But be realistic about the job opportunities.</p>
<p>so would you say IR is a hot major right now and unless you are in the top programs, there are better opportunities to study other things else where?</p>
<p>did not mean to double post! sorry
I guess I haven't studied IR so I can't say for sure if I would definitely love it.
I do know that I love traveling, reading about and understanding foreign cultures...foreign policy and development/relations with other nations interests me, it seems like something i would enjoy studying. i am not exactly from the most financially sound background, so i guess i would expect my masters to make me some sort of money....i guess im scared with what i should do after my undergrad. i dont want to stop school, thats for sure. i want to stick with it. i like spanish literature but i am abroad right now and having doubts about spanish literature graduate school, what kind of job it will give me, etc. IR seemed like something that would allow me to use my Spanish, but also allow me to find jobs globally (not just teaching spanish/english, etc.) its just so confusing right now, i guess i get anxious about how i am going to pay back all of my loans and how i am going to survive after all of this studying!!! i surely dont want to move back home with my parents! :(</p>
<p>You need to think about what you want to DO, not what you want to study. If you are interested in international business (which it sounds like you might be), you should try and find a job out of undergrad with some sort of firm and get the best MBA you can in a few years. If you are interested in law (which I believe you also mentioned) you can just apply to law school straight out of college and go. If you have no idea what you want to do, you should NOT get a MA in IR. </p>
<p>I have a friend who graduated from a Top 10 undergrad with about a 3.8. She didn't know what she wanted to do so she got an IR degree from American. With no work experience she couldn't find a job. Right now, she's about 30k in debt and working in an entry level position with a nonprofit in DC. Undergrad is the time to study things for the intellectual pleasure of it; not grad school.</p>
<p>I've got that beat. Thankfully, I had an idea of what I wanted to do... but even that changed a bit.</p>
<p>Entry level is going to be entry level pretty much everywhere unless you get a professional degree. That's the point, as samonite16 made clear with that example.</p>
<p>IR degrees for the sake of it are a quagmire of wasted cash. Grad degrees are PROFESSIONAL degrees, which is why the poster in the other IR thread who said he wants to work in Pacific studies and then claims he might not want to go to IR/PS because it doesnt have the same "name recognition" as other IR programs is obviously not ready for grad school. I don't mean this as an insult, but grad degrees at American schools cost serious money and unless you know how and when you wil repay that money, you are looking and serious and long term financial difficulties, especially if your grad degree is in a relative non-money making field such as IR.</p>