<p>I have heard good things about the IR program. Having looked through it's components, I can say that it's vastly superior to UVA's "foreign affairs" major; which lacks cohesion/structure, a methods course, foreign language, and important courses like econ. Being someone who plans to either do graduate school or IR-related work after graduation, I was curious about how IR graduates fare in the job market and graduate school admissions. I'm aware that my post-graduation success will largely depend on my own performance, but it'd be interesting to know how others have done - especially given our rough economic times. It'd also be helpful if IR majors could offer some suggestions/advice in regards to internship opportunities and study-abroad.</p>
<p>W&M’s IR program is top notch. You can use this website: [Outcomes</a> info](<a href=“http://web.wm.edu/career/CFM/OutcomesIndex.cfm]Outcomes”>http://web.wm.edu/career/CFM/OutcomesIndex.cfm) to see where people with various majors end up regarding jobs or grad school</p>
<p>Something that W&M offers that is unique, is the W&M in DC office: [William</a> & Mary - The Washington Office](<a href=“http://www.wm.edu/offices/dcoffice/index.php]William”>http://www.wm.edu/offices/dcoffice/index.php) You can spend a semester there, and I believe an internship is part of the program, so they will help you find one. Further, they have this resource: [William</a> & Mary - IR & National Security Internships](<a href=“http://www.wm.edu/offices/dcoffice/employment/internships/index.php]William”>http://www.wm.edu/offices/dcoffice/employment/internships/index.php)</p>
<p>You can study abroad almost anywhere… my friends at W&M have studied abroad in India, Spain, Costa Rica, Egypt, Japan, Ireland, Russia, Italy, Czech Republic, England (Oxford), and Botswana… just to name a few. If W&M doesn’t have a program there, you can hook up with another school’s program or use an established “study abroad” organization. W&M coordinates study abroad through the Reves Center, which can be found here: [William</a> & Mary - Programs](<a href=“http://www.wm.edu/offices/revescenter/studyabroad/programs/index.php]William”>http://www.wm.edu/offices/revescenter/studyabroad/programs/index.php)</p>
<p>And to put it bluntly, the job market sucks right now. Plain and simple. Lots of people are going back to grad school, but people are finding jobs too. W&M has a strong alumni presence in the DC area.</p>
<p>I can share my personal story, as an IR grad, I suppose… I didn’t do any internships, b/c I filled my summers with DCI, which is a musical activity that tours nationally from June to August. Then, instead of looking for a job senior year, I planned a glorious european backpacking adventure which was the best decision I ever made. Then I returned and got a job with Americorps which ended at thanksgiving, and this semester I am enrolled in graduate classes in the DC area at 2 different schools to test out the programs.</p>
<p>W&M IR grads tend to do very well (as do most W&M grads in general). Former admission ambassadors who were IR majors are doing everything from Teach for American to writing for an Arabic language journal in DC. Several have gone on to grad school including programs at Georgetown, Oxford, and others. W&M’s proximity to DC lends itself to many distinguished internships in that field which lead to great networking and job hunting opportunities.</p>
<p>fwiw, one of my D’s best friends (both are juniors) is an IR major. She’s a real go-getter–seems to live and breathe international issues and interests–and has managed both an internship and a travel research opportunity through W&M contacts. I expect she will do well upon graduation.</p>