Need Help Finding Prospective Colleges for Daughter Who Wants to Be an Ambassador

Parents Forum
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<p>cbreeze writes "A lot of times it is not glamorous if you are posted in “hardship” and war-torn countries.</p>

<p>Definitely, it is not a glamorous job. Many beginning FSOs work in consulates reviewing visa applications (equivalent to working at the DMV!). Or, they work in the outback of Africa, Southeast Asia or similar spots for several postings. The pay is not very good but on the other hand many of your expenses are taken care of. The State Dept has, for many years, attempted to favor female applicants to bring diversity to the agency as a whole. While this helps your daughter she should consider that it’s very difficult to find potential long-term partners in the foreign service.</p>

<p>She should give up the idea of becoming an ambassador. Those jobs are almost all political appointee positions given to big donors. Think several million for a prime posting.</p>

<p>Nevertheless, if she is really passionate about travel and immersing herself in foreign cultures then by all means pursue it. French is a good start but she needs the ability to learn more languages (even difficult ones).</p>

<p>Other posters have already mentioned well known foreign service schools (e.g., Georgetown, Tufts, American). But, none of these schools is abolutely necessary. She only has to pass the FS exam.</p>

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<p>I’m Lizzy, chaievermorning’s daughter, and I want to clarify a few things: I have no interest in being an ambassador, and from everything you’ve been posting, you all understand why. I am interested in being a foreign service officer, but I want to learn more about what it entails. I’m planning on doing the peace corps after undergrad. I’m currently working on planning my summer, and I’m considering a homestay/study abroad program in France. Do you think that would help? Do you have any other suggestions? I might consider a semester abroad program, although it would have to be for junior year. Thank you so much for all your comments!</p>

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<p>Take a look at the Pitt alumni link that I posted. It has a list of different types of jobs that international relations grads get. It is kind of a backwards way of looking, but it should give you some ideas of different things people are doing whoo may have interests similar to yours.</p>

<p>There are lots of different programs where you can get experience working and volunteering in other countries. Good luck with the search.</p>

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<p>Others have helped me here a lot in a short time with lots of great info so I will pass this on in case it helps:</p>

<p>There is no such thing as “Finding Prospective Colleges for Being an Ambassador.”</p>

<p>As others have mentioned, one way to be named an ambassador (to the “nice” places in the world) is to donate a lot (LOT) of money to the president and to be named as a political appointee.</p>

<p>Assuming that is not the case . . .</p>

<p>Career ambassadors are few and far between and all have risen through the ranks of the foreign service and are most were (repeat, most often) “coned” as poltical officer generalists. Sorry for use of jargon.</p>

<p>To enter the State Department foreign service is a two-step process (other than security clearances and all that stuff).</p>

<p>First is the Foreign Service Exam … a multiple choice written exam.</p>

<p>The next step are the “orals” which is a full-day role-playing kind of exercise.</p>

<p>Several thousand people take the written each year. Only about a couple of hundred enter the foreign service …most as consular officers and admin officers.</p>

<p>There is no college or type-of-major requirement. I repeat, NONE. I know lawyers in the foreign service, accountants, bankers, doctors, military veterans and on and on.</p>

<p>More info here: [Foreign</a> Service Officer - U.S. Department of State](<a href=“http://careers.state.gov/officer]Foreign”>Foreign Service Officer - Careers)</p>

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<p>My D has similar interests in international relations and has strong linguistics skills. </p>

<p>I agree with post #16 about studying languages. Look up the list designated by the State Dept as 9 critical languages and see if D is interested in learning any of them. People who know those languages will be sought after later either by government or business. </p>

<p>Since she’s in 10th grade, did she take the practice PSAT last October? There are some good merit aid opportunities for students who score well on the real PSAT in October of their junior year. It’s a one-time shot at it so even if she needs to pay for some test prep before then, it might really pay off for her later if she qualifies as a National Merit Finalist. So also take a look at colleges who offer good merit aid to NMF kids and cross-reference that with the other research you’re doing. The NM website has a list of all their participating colleges on page 18 of their online student guide. Be aware that some schools might drop out of that so keep up to date with the schools you’re researching. </p>

<p>Overseas experiences or language study programs might help her during her college application process. Check out the State Dept’s NSLI-Y program. It’s like a foreign exchange program for high schoolers but with required daily language immersion classes. Kids can go for one year, one semester, or a summer program. If a kid is selected, family pays for their passport, immunizations, and spending money. Everything else is paid for. This is to get high school students interested in either 5 or 7 of those 9 “critical languages” so they continue with them in college. They open up their application process around September, notify finalists in Dec, do local interviews with all the finalists in January, and announce the selected students in either late Feb or early March. Students can also be selected more than once. If she doesn’t want to spend a semester or year in another country, she could try to get accepted into their summer programs after 11th and 12 grades. If she’s interested, start practicing those interview skills now if she doesn’t have experience in that area. My kid was really adept at that in her group interview but not everyone else was and it may look worse when the kid next to you is much more comfortable with it.</p>

<p>If she’s already had 4 years of one language in 10th grade, how far can she go with that at her high school? Will she be able to continue with it through 12th grade? If not, maybe she can continue her languages studies at a local college.</p>

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<p>Well said, DadinPA</p>

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<p>Woody, that NSLI program is phenomenal. So glad we learned about it here. Lizzy will definitely be applying for the summer between junior and senior year. I’m sure its incredibly competitive to get in, but why not try?</p>

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<p>

As someone who grew up in the foreign service, I’d just like to say, despite moving every two years, I loved my childhood. I lived both in the Far East (Thailand, Japan) and Africa (Somalia, Tanzania). I learned to make friends quickly and by attending international schools I was with other kids who were used to the same. My Dad was in fact very interested in Africa (had an M.A. in African Studies) and did eventually end up being ambassador to a country that was considered pretty dangerous at the time. In my opinion the hardest thing about being in the Foreign Service is that you are often stuck representing administrations whose ideas you don’t approve of. One of the reasons my Dad liked working in Africa was that it was enough of a backwater that for the most part it wasn’t a major part of the US Foreign Policy so he could advocated for what he believed in and have a chance of being listened to.</p>

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<p>Take a look at all of these: [The</a> Top Ten International Relations Undergraduate Programs | Foreign Policy](<a href=“http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/01/03/top_ten_international_relations_undergraduate_programs]The”>http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/01/03/top_ten_international_relations_undergraduate_programs)
Rankings were done just a few weeks ago by surveying IR scholars and professionals, including policy makers and foreign service officers. Really can’t go wrong with any one of these schools</p>

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<p>Thank you all for such great information. This will take us far in our research and gives us a lot of good food for thought. What rich responses!</p>

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<p>As I mentioned above, other Federal departments have foreign service positions and/or opportunities for international work. See for example: [USDA</a> Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)](<a href=“http://www.fas.usda.gov/]USDA”>http://www.fas.usda.gov/) and [U.S&lt;/a&gt;. Agency for International Development](<a href=“http://www.usaid.gov/]U.S”>http://www.usaid.gov/) and especially this: [International</a> Relations Jobs in the Federal Government](<a href=“http://www.makingthedifference.org/federalcareers/internationalrelations.shtml]International”>http://www.makingthedifference.org/federalcareers/internationalrelations.shtml).</p>

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<p>Georgetown (school of foreign service)</p>

<p>Tufts</p>

<p>St Andrews (Scotland)</p>

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<p>I am going to add two more cents and will then shut up for good.</p>

<p>Personally, I would not recommend “International Relations” at all as a major for anyone seriously considering a career in the foreign service. People in the foreign service do not make policy. Most of what a “typical” FSO does is visa (and other Consular) work, American Citizen services, GSO (general services, meaning managing maintenance workers) and administrative functions such as personnel, housing, etc.</p>

<p>Classes to be taken should include: Economics, English Writing, English Grammar, Employee Management, Inter-personal relations, Communication, Public speaking, Conflict Resolution.</p>

<p>The skills that will help you succeed in your career include: being flexible, able to handle stress, contentment (not a whiner), a hard worker, a very hard worker, being able to work long hours, being able to handle jet lag, being able to handle packing up and moving every two to three years, able to work with others, must be in perfect health. Did I mention working very long hours?</p>

<p>Those are the skills you need. No one in an embassy or consulate cares if you’ve memorized the treaty of 1516.</p>

<p>And let me also make a point about “studying a foreign language.” </p>

<p>It is much more important to be very, very good at learning languages (including English) than being able to speak a specific language. If one got an ‘A’ in German in college that is all well and good. But if the bid list comes out and there are no German-language posts on the list, that doesn’t do you much good.</p>

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<p>You should check out Claremont McKenna College.</p>

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<p>Off topic, but for an interesting tale of ambassadorial intrigue, Google “Doug Kmiec”.</p>

<p>Edit: Hope this isn’t too political. I just think it’s an interesting story. Delete if inappropriate.</p>

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<p>The reason to do school in DC (GT, AU, GW) doesn’t have to do with their International Relations programs per se (all very fine and in the top 10), but the availability of in-term internships and opportunities and contacts that simply don’t exist at other excellent schools that offer IR programs. They make a big difference in helping students clarify career options and directions.</p>

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<p>Mini, you repeat the need to be in DC for everyone who asks about Poli Sci and IR. And it’s just not so. There are in-term internships, and schools which encourage them (and facilitate them) everywhere. There are college students at the UN (NY), at every single state house in all 50 states, and at virtually every foundation of significant size that invests or donates overseas (Clinton Foundation- both Boston and NY; Ford Foundation, NY, Gates, etc.) You do not need to be in DC to study international relations or Poli Sci, and there are lots of programs with superb (and some might say, superior to AU, GT and GW) networking opportunities. Your comment that strong contacts don’t exist at other schools is absolutely false.</p>

<p>Moreover, it is not necessary to study IR as many posters have already pointed out. The companies that I have recruited for who hired people for policy/government relations roles had a wide range of backgrounds- area studies, economics, agronomy, geology, history, etc.</p>

<p>Agree 100% with the advice that it’s important to be good at languages, and strategic languages are important (right now Farsi, Arabic, Mandarin, etc.) But if you’ve got an ear for learning language that works too.</p>

<p>Friend of mine just recruited a very senior “Director of Sustainability” for a Fortune 100 company in the US. His job is to work with the heads of different government organizations across the globe on climate change treaties/Kyoto protocols/environmental policies which impact clean water, air and carbon emissions. He has a degree in chemical engineering and probably never went near a class in IR as an undergrad. There are lots of ways to effect global change.</p>

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<p>You don’t have to study IR. You can study anything. But the in-term opportunities in international relations in DC are vast. Try finding a three-day a week in-term IR-related internship if you are Princeton, Claremont-McKenna, Tufts, Pomona, Dartmouth, Cornell, Smith, Wellesley, all with excellent international relations-related academics, and excellent academics generally speaking. Just try. I think you are just denying the obvious. </p>

<p>I also work in a state capital city. I work directly with the our legislature. There aren’t any internships. None. Nada. Zero. Budget cuts five years ago did away with all of them. Of course, these wouldn’t be IR-related in any case. We don’t even have our high school ‘introduction to work’ program in state government anymore. </p>

<p>Yes, there is politics everywhere. And you can work on a campaign anywhere. What does that have to do with international relations? There’s a reason that three of the top 10 undergraduate IR-related schools are in DC (and it doesn’t have to do with superior academics). There is a reason that certain schools have 80% of their students participating in in-term internships during their college careers, and certain schools (including those my older d. has attended - Smith and Princeton, both politically active schools) do not. </p>

<p>If that’s not important to a student, then it doesn’t matter. But there is no denying that the experience is different.</p>

<p>(and if you want to support global change, come work for me!)</p>

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<p>DadinPA wrote an excellent post. Don’t expect to find the usual suspects of tip-top IR colleges at the parking lot of the Foreign Service Institute. Sure you’ll see GWU, American, G-town, but a bunch of George Mason and UCLA too.
The best thing to do is be in the Peace Corps as that is a path many have used to ascend the ranks. However the current climate is challenging in the Federal Government with potential for job freezes/cuts ahead in 2013…</p>

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<p>As a college professor, I’m always turned off by the slick students who waltz in and tell me they want to be an ambassador or Secretary of State. I’m much more impressed by those who name an academic interest (genocide, biological warfare and pandemic planning, the treaty on landmines,cyberterrorism) than I am by those who name a position they would someday like to occupy. I’d rather hear about how much you want to learn about something, rather than how much you want to be paid or what perks you would like to have. Telling people you want to be an ambassador is sort of icky.</p>