International Relations Master's Programs

[port0036]

It's getting to that point in the application process where I'm getting nervous. Too bad this branch isn't more heavily trafficked.

Here's the nitty-gritty:

Programs: Master's in IR at Columbia University (SIPA) and Johns Hopkins (SAIS).

BA English 3.4 GPA
JD (at U of Minnesota) 2.9 GPA

750V / 750 Q (A unknown, took the exam last week)

I have been a practicing attorney at a no-name litigation firm for about a year, clerking two years before that. I did a State Depart. internship in South America and studied abroad during law school, where I focused on international law. Letters of rec from employer, professor of linguistics and professor of international development from my law school.

I am most concerned, obviously, with my grades. My JD program was severely curved and very competetive (is there a way to mention that?), BA grades are what they are. Am I likely to get knocked for 'low' JD grades, or is the law degree just a bonus to my more respectable undergrad GPA?

[Chengora]

You've got an okay shot, but I don't think you should be as worried about your law school GPA. Instead, you probably need a bit more work experience. Three years (give or take) is a bit shy of the standard for those programs, especially for U.S.-based applicants. Unless you have really compelling reasons for going as expressed in your statement of purpose, the admissions committees may want to see more international experience, particularly in your chosen field. Also, SAIS is highly quantitative-based (lots of ties with the World Bank), so keep that in mind in your application.

[port0036]

Chen,

Thanks for the response.

I agree about the work experience. The student profiles in the JHU catalog have me hands down on that (and probably on plenty of other stuff).

Problem is, I'm applying for these programs now precisely because I've had so much trouble finding solid work experience (other than some volunteer involvement with local development aid groups). Frankly, if my international law focus seemed sufficient to get work, I might not bother with a master's at all.

My inability to get work in my chosen field might bode ill for my chances at acceptance, but I had thought that my statement of purpose might pitch me as someone with very solid potential and a proven record of interest in the field going after an early career change. You know: I realized half-way through law school that I preferred IR, so I took internationally related courses and sought IR-type employment. When it didn't pan out, I decided to practice, but have realized that it's just not me and now I need something to get my IR career jump-started.

Does that make sense? Will it work?

[Chengora]

Hmm...it could work, but it might be a stretch. You might even consider British programs actually. They are a bit less particular about the job stuff for non-Brits, and LSE has a program dedicated to international law. (Actually, they have a program dedicated to pretty much every field under the sun.) They only drawback would be that, with the exchange rate, it might not be all that cheaper to be in the UK versus the US, but you'd only be spending one year in school.

But, if you don't mind my asking, where have you looked for jobs? Rule of law work is a smaller part of international development, but organizations like ABA-CEELI often have both DC and field based positions:

http://www.abanet.org/rol/opportunities/positions.shtml

In addition, you may also want to look at the democracy promotion side of things. The focus isn't so much on the law, but knowing how legal systems work can help. PM me (does this board have PMs?) and we can discuss this more.

[port0036]

I don't think there is a PM function. If you'd like, you can e-mail me at port0036 @ hotmail .com

Otherwise, this place is dead enough that I don't have a problem discussing it in the open.

School

I had considered a couple of British schools, including LSE. I gravitated back toward the two year programs for the depth of study and opportunity to network and participate in internships. I'll check through those programs again.

I'm a bit surprised that master's programs are so interested in relevant work experience and would be so unreceptive to a fairly young person with a law degree seeking more education relevant to starting an IR career. When I first started pulling my stuff together, I thought the State Department internship in South America, coupled with my volunteer work and brief time as an attorney wouldn't be terribly impressive, but clearly sufficient.

Students coming straight from undergrad do it, right? I wonder how...

Work

The link is great. Most of the opportunities require (of course) greater experience than I have, but there are a few that are either so esoteric or so related to my IL coursework that I can apply. I hadn't focused on ABA opportunities in part because I thought I was done with law, but a lot of these descriptions seem right up my alley. Some of them are part of pro bono programs, but are full time and overseas. I'm presuming they are still paid positions?

As far as past applications are concerned, I have applied to several positions with the UN, as well as positions with the World Bank, CIA, DoD and a couple of aid/rule of law NGOs (like Chemonics). I regularly check Oxfam, Idealist, etc.

My most amazingly disheartening experience was UN related; I applied for a job as a clerk for the ICC in Den Haag, a post which required a BA in law. I had a JD, studied in Holland, worked in Suriname (a former Dutch colony), spoke decent Dutch and had taken great grades in both ICC classes and a national ICC moot court. No call! It's hilarious!

Anyway, I very much appreciate your taking the time to counsel a random internet applicant.

[Chengora]

Yeah, the IR master's world is really strange. I got my degree from the LSE, but a number of my colleagues went to SIPA and SAIS. (By the way, I hear SIPA has probably about the worst bureaucracy you can find.) And while there are students who come straight from undergrad, it's very rare and I've never found their insight to be all that good. Just not enough experience to relate what they learn to the real world. I think it's usually just a good recommendation, or they went to the same place for undergrad (like a friend of mine who went to SIPA).

One thing about the UK degrees, which you've touched upon, is that you won't get the network that you can have in the U.S. Also, they are much more theoretical in focus. You'll be doing a lot of reading on realism, constructivism, etc., which I really enjoyed, but it definitely depends on the person. I found that the theory is actually quite useful when working, but the lack of a real UK network in the U.S. hurts.

[Elliott Grad]

Just a side note...

A lot of IR masters candidates who were accepted right out of undergrad do have quite a bit of experience. At SAIS, Elliott, SFS, etc it's not uncommon to find students who have had 3-5 internships at top international organizations, have lived and/or studied abroad, and speak multiple foreign languages. It's not that other applicants will have *more* experience... it's that they will have experiences focused more on their intended field of study.

It's important to keep in mind that the top rated IR schools get many qualified applicants (fantastic test scores, high GPAs, etc) leaving experience as the only differentiating quality among students.

I'm not trying to discourage you from pursuing an IR degree but realistically you may also want to look at a slightly lower tier IR school as you simply don't have the experience other applicants do. With a well crafted personal statement I wouldn't rule you out for top tier admissions it's just going to be a a bit of a long shot.

As Chengora already said, I wouldn't be too worried about your JD grades as admissions committees recognize that JD programs are more rigorous then undergrad programs.

Best of luck!