<p>That's hard to say. UCSD has a great, if underappreciated undergrad program. You get a great location, kickass academiccs, and a small college within the greater university all rolled into one.</p>
<p>I think that there is a lot to be said about their undergrad, but there may be better opportunities as an undergrad to study IR.</p>
<p>Hey guys just wondering what u think of Vanderbilts Political Science/International Relations program? I know Gtown is the best but...</p>
<p>not a very dedicated program to international relations/affairs/politics, or even comparative politics. Its basically a polisci program that allows you to take more classes in IR if you desire. I'm sure the PoliSci program is very good, but as for IR, its lacking</p>
<p>OT question: How do you know so much abour IR AJK?</p>
<p>whats "OT" </p>
<p>I'm an IR Grad student... and i've had to research many schools to see exactly which program I wanted to go to. I also have friends who are IR Grad students and they have told me many things about programs around the country. </p>
<p>But I should say that I don't know much beyond the top 10-15 programs. I knew Vanderbilt's, because I looked it up to answer that kid's question.</p>
<p>OT = off topic</p>
<p>So where do you attend now as a grad student?</p>
<h1>10 (or will be, in the Fall)</h1>
<p>hm i chose the IR of mt. holyoke instead of International Studies of UCSD. it was a very tough decision for me.. although there is nothing to change since college decision is already made, i would still like some of your honest opinions on this choice (i discovered this forum after decison made). and another question, is an IR major "appropriate" or "easy" for MBA, investment banking, or any other international business?
replies would be much appreciated. thanks a bunch!</p>
<p>Tufts also has a great international relations program (and also a graduate school for further international relations education).</p>
<p>nerdude,</p>
<p>There's no such thing as an "appropriate" major, just the one you enjoy. The only appropriate thing to do is to study lots of math and econ to give yourself a leg up on the competition.</p>
<p>Besides, you're not going straight to an MBA anyway. Trust me.</p>
<p>nerdude, </p>
<p>though I would have advised you to go to UCSD, if your future intent is international-business, you've made an okay decision. Elite schools love small private schools... and an IR degree will be fine for eventually going into an MBA, or Internationa-Business program...</p>
<p>like UCLAri said, you should take some economic classes to even the race with those graduating with business undergraduate-degrees. Perhaps, you should even minor in business (international business if its available)</p>
<p>I think the most important thing for you to do is diversify yourself, to fully understand what you want to do in the future. College is the best place for that (this is the notion of the "college experience" and "self-realization") The likely hood of you pursuing exactly what you want 4 years from now is slim. As an 18 yr old (i'm assuming you are), its far too difficult to fully grasp exactly what you want to do with the rest of your life (though there have been cases).</p>
<p>I went to school pursuing philosophy and religion studies. Ended up completing that, and a degree in Computer Information Systems, before finally deciding on International Relations. So my advice, YES, stick with your IR at your small school, but also minor or double major in Business or economics. It will help you to understand what you want to do. And definitely do some traveling and internships!</p>
<p>(Yes, I'm long winded and could have said all of this in 4 lines.... but I like my readers to fully grasp exactly what i'm trying to get at.)</p>
<p>Thank you very much for the advices, UCLAri and AJK.
I chose the small school because it offers more interactions with professors and alumnae connections, internship opportunies than the big university.. There are lots of courses I want to explore in college. Maybe I'll major in IR with minor or double major in Econ, or I will just switch the major to Econ paired with French. I don't really have any solid idea, and hope the professors will guide me through this road. I will definitely try to do as many varied Internships and traveling as I could!
And, don't worry, AJK. You could say as much as you want. I would be lucky to hear wise words coming from college grads who have been there, done that.</p>
<p>is american a good school for undergrad IR?
I am also seeking an MBA, possibly from somewhere very competative so I figure going to a less competative undergrad and doing very well will look better than getting by at an ivy.</p>
<p>I really like the service and international aspect of American and I might possibly be able to get really great scholarship which would be very helpful since law school is so expensive...</p>
<p>measure,</p>
<p>I don't know if that's a good idea per se. If you can't hack it at the more difficult undergrad, what makes you think you're going to even enjoy a top MBA program? </p>
<p>First off, get rid of the silly notion that you're going straight to B-school for an MBA after undergrad. That's a waste of your time. You want good work experience to get into the good B-schools. In fact, here's what Harvard says (all emphasis is mine): </p>
<p>The average number of years of full-time work experience for the class entering in fall 2004 was approximately four years. Please bear in mind that HBS does NOT require a minimum number of years' work experience prior to entering the MBA program, and it is important for you to assess your own readiness when deciding to apply. Successful candidates are able to demonstrate strength in our criteria regardless of the number of years of their work experience.</p>
<p>What is the average age of the MBA class?
At the time of enrollment for the class entering in fall 2004, the median age was approximately 27 years.</p>
<p>I think that makes a pretty strong case for work experience. Sure, they don't require it, but they allude to it with some level of clarity.</p>
<p>i meant JD... i don't know why i said MBA... i guess from reading the previous posts i had it on my mind..</p>
<p>but that is very interesting that work experience is such a factor in buisness...</p>
<p>measure,</p>
<p>as I indicated at the start of this thread, American is #5 on my list of top IR programs (and is arguably equal to #4). So, yes, its a good program.</p>
<p>As for going to American to eventually get into an MBA at a better school, I don't think thats the best idea. Don't take the easy road. "Successful" people are the ones who work hard all the time. If you want to get a great job after graduating, then eventually get into a great MBA program... then you should constantly challenge yourself to work hard from the start. That means, go to the most challenging schools, and do well there.</p>
<p>Obviously, there are many people who do very well financially (any by other measures) taking the easy roads. But its much fewer then those who actually put in the work. Like I say to the high-school kids I tutor... "you can be a freakin genius, but if you have no work-ethic, you'll get no where in life."</p>
<p>Not to say you don't have work ethic, but you should definitely challenge yourself. And imagine what kinda internships you could get at Harvard, as opposed to American (not that American is a bad school).</p>
<p>ALSO,</p>
<p>is there anyone on this board who will RANK THE IR PROGRAMS??</p>
<p>I like the questions and answers, and helping those who I can... but I'm really interested in how other people view the Top 10-20 IR programs.</p>
<p>Why shouldn't it be? They want people who know what business is about! </p>
<p>About the JD... I still recommend you go to a challenging undergrad instead of looking for the "highest GPA." If you want to go to American because it's the school you want to go to, go there. Otherwise, choosing a school based on GPAs being higher on average is just a waste of a spot for someone who sincerely wants to go there.</p>
<p>If you can't succeed in the challenging environment of a top undergrad, how do you think you'll do at a top 15 law school?</p>
<p>i asked this question on another thread but i never got a reply...how good are the IR programs at Vassar and Lehigh?</p>
<p>Vassar:
doesn't look to me like Vassar even has an IR/IA major. The only thing I see close to it, is international studies, which doesn't lead into any serious IR/IA/PoliSci degree. Maybe I just can't find it. Also, it doesn't seem like the school has a strong (or existent) graduate program in IS or PoliSci... don't know how good an IR/IS major could be if they don't have a graduate program.</p>
<p>Lehigh:</p>
<p>Does have a specified IR degree, but doesn't offer a graduate program (again, as far as I can gather). Its in my opinion that if an undergraduate program doesn't have a graduate program attached to it, then it most likely doesn't have adequate funding/research. Therefore, the quality of professors is not always the best. But I really don't know how to compare it to well known programs, since I dont know much about these programs.</p>
<p>If you're serious about IR, choose a different school. If you just want a good liberal-arts style education at a small college, go for these schools.</p>