<p>I am finding it difficult to see the differences between the few programs (masters) that are out there. I understand the Ivy ones are more academic centric versus NYU, Georgetown, GW being more diplomacy/policy centric. I am looking for the latter of these.</p>
<p>On a second note, because there are so few programs nowhere does it really go into a class profile of the last incoming class. I am graduating from Northeastern University as a Political Science and Middle East Studies double major. 3.5 gpa, GRE TBD and i have take 16 credits (4 classes) of Arabic .</p>
<p>Grad schools don’t generally do a profile- meaning it’s far more subjective. So your writing sample/LORs/statement count for a lot more than your GRE and GPA. You’d need to be clear on what you want to focus on and why you’re going to their program.</p>
<p>If you’re looking more government/diplomacy/etc than the history/culture/literature of Middle East, look into IR programs and specialize in Middle East.</p>
<p>Indeed, Near & Middle East Studies MA programs (or, PhD programs for that matter) are normally divided between academic and public policy tracks, in America at least. From there, a division also exists in the academic-oriented programs between ancient (Near East), classical Islamic (ca. 700-1700) and modern tracks.</p>
<p>As for incoming student profiles, you might want to compare similar programs of study and see what admissions statistics were like in the schools you’re looking at. For example, the profile of incoming students in the history program at UNC had an average GPA of 3.78 and a median of 3.82. Also, Yale’s NELC department admitted 7 out of 29 applicants (roughly 15%). </p>
<p>Your GPA (3.5 = B+) is the minimum required by most programs in the humanities anywhere, and it will be language preparation that gives you the needed boost. Nearly all Near & MidEast programs require 3+ years of Arabic, reading competency in French and/or German (= 1-2 years of undergraduate study), and some study of another Middle Eastern language (Persian, Syriac, Coptic, Hebrew, etc.) It might be a good idea to spend the summer studying Arabic abroad, before you apply to graduate school; graduating with honors and a thesis would be extremely helpful too.</p>