<p>No second thoughts yet. In fact, I'm more excited than ever!</p>
<p>I talked to some IR/PS folks (students, grads, and staff), and it seems that the general outlook for grads is very very good. You get good recommendations, you have good training in both qualitative and quantitative work, and you're usually very well-focused in what you want to work on. All these things are important for people looking to go the PhD route.</p>
<p>UCLAri (or anyone else), can you rank the terminal/professional master's IR programs for east asia? </p>
<p>also, how much do IR masters programs cost? i know they're different for each program, but can you give me some general comparisons, like IR/PS vs. the more expensive ones that you turned down?</p>
<p>If you're looking ONLY at East Asia, I'd say that IR/PS, SAIS, and SIPA are probably a toss-up, with Georgetown and KSG coming in strong as well.</p>
<p>I'll get slammed for shilling, but I personally would say that IR/PS, the only program with a clear East Asian focus, is probably the best program for you kfc. But again, I'm just waiting for the, "OMG NOT PRIVATE YOU'RE A SHILL" comments from someone. </p>
<p>Private programs usually run $35-45K a year, and public programs are usually around $12K in-state.</p>
<p>I don't know where I got this impression, but I think you're interested in Japan, right? So you're going to focus on Japan and the Japanese language?</p>
<p>Also, what career track are you going to focus on? Policy, managment, etc.?</p>
<p>Thanks for all of your insight into this program. If I can ask, what are your long-term plans? Department of State? Intel? NGO? Business?</p>
<p>I'm thinking I might get serious about this.</p>
<p>I most certainly am fairly Japan-centric, but I think I may "branch out" while at UCSD and go more toward China. But we'll see in a quarter if I don't just fall into my comfort zone as usual.</p>
<p>I'm focusing on security.</p>
<p>Oh, and as for long-term plans...err...I'm not entirely sure. I'm not really worried quite yet, but right now I'm basically going research track. We'll see where my capricious interests lead me in a quarter. :D</p>
<p>What about Elon University in North Carolina? How are they for undergrads in IR and other international fields?</p>
<p>This may sound stupid but UCSD is up and comming (and comming up fast)</p>
<p>Not as stupid as you might think.</p>
<p>I'm a bit of a shill for IR/PS and the UCSD program in general. The poli sci (and IR program) are both easily top 10 programs and VERY well-respected in their fields.</p>
<p>I am currently a not-yet arrived incoming undergraduate freshman to a LAC called Lewis and Clark College in Portland Oregon. I am signed up for International Affairs classes, which is one of its stronger fields, but was wondering if these birkenstock,clove-smoking vegetarians hold any cred in this field? Turned down UCSD because of red-tape issues (putting a non-math major in a math and sciences specific sub-college) and its emphasis on the East which isnt a perticular interest of mine.
Will most likely supplement my IA degree with a double major in Foreign Languages(Spanish and Mandarin) and possibly try and do Arabic on my own. Post college was entertaining thoughts of a 2-year stint with the Marines/Army to see how much undergrad debt/ grad school money they will contribute to. Also may be fall back career if it turns out academia escapes me.
Any thought to recommendations for Securities/Intelligence related IR/IA grad schools. Reccomendations in general? Does Berkley have an undergraduate IR program to speak of?</p>
<p>Erus,</p>
<p>Just for the record, UCSD isn't JUST East Asia focused. In fact, some of its best faculty (including Gary Cox) are not really wedded to the area. Even IR/PS, the so-called East Asian specialist among APSIA, does more than just Asia (Latin America as well.)</p>
<p>Berkeley does not have an IR-only program as far as I know, but who cares? Just major in poli sci and do the IR track and you get pretty much the same thing. </p>
<p>Oh, and for undergrad you'll be in great shape at a LAC.</p>
<p>i thought columbia (undergrad) doesn't have a IR major? only political science...</p>
<p>I'll punt to UCLAri regarding undergrad and grad programs. </p>
<p>Regarding your questions about national security, I'd strongly suggest learning Mandarin, Korean, Arabic, or Farsi. Of all of these, Mandarin will be needed for the long haul--that's definitely not going to go away. The need for "Axis of Evil" languages probably won't be going away any time soon, either, but who knows what four years will bring? Arabic will probably be needed for the next 50 years--less clear to me about Farsi or Korean (let's hope not). I think some of the Pakistani tribal languages are needed, too, but if you're looking for the biggest bang for the buck in the short term, learn Arabic. Long-term, I'd say Mandarin. Russian might be another one of those languages that we're going to wake up in 10 years and discover that we need, as well, but for the time being, Russia is more of an inconvenient annoyance than a serious threat (but note a perk of learning Russian-Russian girls!)</p>
<p>In the past, you didn't need to have either military experience or exotic language skills to get into the FBI, CIA or NSA (unless you wanted to do the spooky stuff). But things are changing, I think. I don't think the FBI is hiring anyone right now who doesn't either have military experience, exotic language skills, or a law degree (go figure).</p>
<p>The Marines won't give you any bonuses for language skills. They don't have much trouble finding people who want to play in the dirt. The Army, however, is a much bigger force with different needs (more inclined for occupational tasks than the Marines) and have been known to give pretty big bonuses to people going into things like intelligence--but that's on the enlisted side. I'm not sure what they offer to officers with language skills. </p>
<p>For Marine officers, you're not going to serve 2 years. After commissioning, its 3 1/2. Not sure about the Army or the other branches.</p>
<p>Also, I won't say that learning Spanish for the purposes of obtaining a job relating to national security is a waste of time. It isn't. But it's a pretty easy language to learn, and there are tons of people who speak it fluently. If you really want to carve out a niche for yourself, knock off Mandarin and one of the "Axis of Evil" languages while you're in college. You'll need college to enforce the discipline for these difficult languages. "Learning it on your own" is probably pretty unrealistic (at least in my case! I get so distracted!).</p>
<p>Sorry! One more thing...</p>
<p>To benefit from the G.I. Bill, you have to serve before going to college. The G.I. Bill does not retroactively cover college debts you've already incurred. So the only retroactive loan repayments you might get will be MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) specific. For example, although the G.I. Bill won't cover past student loans, the Army does have a repayment plan for enlisted personnel who go into intelligence. I think it covered something like up to $50,000 of federal loans when I was looking into it.</p>
<p>That's for enlisted, though. I don't know if the the Army offers the same type of incentives for officer programs. I know the Marine Corps does not, however. Every branch is different.</p>
<p>
[quote]
i thought columbia (undergrad) doesn't have a IR major? only political science...
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Yeah, but the undergrad concentration in IR is pretty much the same thing...</p>
<p>hey guys, i'm currently a high school senior who needs to narrow down her choices of colleges and after reading 16 pages of this i still don't know which schools have a very strong IR program for undergrads, so if someone would be kind enough to put a simple list out, i'd appreciate it very much, I want to apply to 15 colleges so my couselor told me to narrow down my choices but i don't know how b/c i don't know how for ex. JHU compares to Gtown. Thanks alot</p>
<p>crazyace,</p>
<p>For undergrad I wouldn't worry all that much about IR program strength, especially since many of the best IR programs don't offer undergrad majors.</p>
<p>Worry more about overall program strength, resources that interest you, and fit. For undergrad, the difference between a major in poli sci with an IR concentration and international studies and IR are negligible.</p>
<p>You've started the program, right?</p>
<p>What do you think of it so far?</p>
<p>Hey there!</p>
<p>Yes, I have started. So far, I'm quite impressed with the program's ability to mesh together many different disciplines as a foundation for later studies. I'm also excited by the wide variety of internships and job opportunities available to IR/PSers.</p>
<p>I just wish that UCSD's local housing market wasn't such a pain. My apartment's a bit too far, and morning traffic is no fun at all.</p>
<p>...I'd love to hear about some of those internship and job opportunities.</p>