I’m currently a freshman undergrad at UCSB, and I am studying Middle East Studies. I want to go into foreign policy eventually. I was wondering if employers and grad schools in this field care about specializing in a region or being well-rounded. Should I spend more time in the Middle East to show that I am very familiar with this region and language, or should I spend summers in different places like China (I can speak Chinese), Latin America (I am very proficient in Spanish), and also a Middle Eastern country?
This is not my field exactly, but my sense is that they would prefer someone who specializes in a field (or two) rather than a generalist - other than at very high levels. Now, speaking multiple foreign languages is always a plus. But if your major is Middle Eastern studies then you should probably study abroad in the Middle East at some point.
Now if you mean you are going to do a semester/academic year program in the ME and then are deciding where to spend your summers - I don’t think that matters. Also, I think you should do things because they are fun and you like them and not just for employers or grad schools.