<p>After i got accepted, I looked up some info on SIS and i found out that there are only 1500 undergrads enrolled in it. If you do the math thats about 375 students enrolled each year. The wiki article also said that SIS is one of the most competitive/selective Int. Relations programs. After reading all that i couldnt help but feel good all around XD. Just some interesting information you can check out at [School</a> of International Service - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_of_International_Service]School”>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_of_International_Service) . I hope everyone the best luck!!</p>
<p>afvohra~ CONGRATS! you SHOULD feel good, and it's nice to know the quality of AU's SIS is being publicly noted. it competes well or better than most out there, nationally and internationally.</p>
<p>Those of you who attended SIS, do you feel it benefitted you getting into graduate school or looking for jobs offer other schools? I'm interested in doing something with the Foreign Service, possibly graduate school at Georgetown. I'm trying to decide between staying in-state for free or going to American and paying $17K a year!</p>
<p>i've shared this in PMs, but i'll repeat...especially for scarolina. if you want foreign service, you can't beat AU and the DC location. my d as well as any kid willing to explore and use AU's wonderful career counseling center, got into internship experiences within her freshman year. it's hard to find a better location than DC for these areas of interest. my d has a friend at AU whose relative is a high ranking(after many years) diplomat. he said he puts AU's SIS up there at or better than GT's.</p>
<p>How competitive are the internships? Is it hard to get one at one of the international institutions in DC? Is it common to do an internship during the school year (part-time) or is it mostly during the summer? Thanks!</p>
<p>Most students begin internships during the school year their Sophomore year, although, there are many who choose to jump right in as Freshman. Almost all students at American spend at least one or two semesters at some sort of internship. I began at a non-profit in London, followed with a non-profit in DC, worked for the IRS over the summer and this past fall, and now I am interning at a consulting firm in MD. I am an SIS and Econ major, and I have found no shortage of options for interning, either full or part time, paid or unpaid, you just need to be willing to work your a** off to get one and work even harder while you are there. Good luck!</p>
<p>Money is a concern for me, and I will be taking a part-time job if I go to American. Do many students have them and how do they manage?</p>
<p>How would this change if I decide to do an internship? Would a paid one cover my expenses like a job would or is a part-time job AND an internship just too crazy and stressful to handle?</p>
<p>you will find a financial mix of kids at AU. there are some extremely wealthy ones, all the way to kids there completely on loans. many work part-time. as an incoming freshman, i'd be careful to not overextend yourself, until you get the feel of the work:class:social balance. yes, you should be having fun too! the deal about internships, as Britty said, is that they work your a-- off! so, scarolina, i'd say doing both an internship and job and keeping up with school work might be too stressful. and some internships don't pay all that well, because they know students want the name on their resume! am i wrong, or did you get merit money? if so, you need to keep up your GPA to whatever they say, as well.</p>
<p>My Freshman year I worked as a nanny and then interned in London over the summer while my family was there (unpaid). My Sophomore year, however, I worked at a non-profit (unpaid) and then nannied in the afternoons 3 days a week. While it was difficult, it is not impossible if you manage your time wisely. I have since been able to get paid internships, but don't plan on getting paid your first year unless you get really lucky. Most non-profits and congressional offices do not pay their interns...</p>