Grad Life @ SIS

Springtime in Paris

2008-09-23T13:38:00.000-07:00

One of the benefits of being a graduate student at SIS is the opportunity to study abroad at a leading university. I will be taking full advantage of this by heading to Sciences Po in Paris, France for the spring 2009 semester (also my final semester of graduate school). This program is particularly suited to me since I am in the field of Comparative and Regional Studies with a concentration on Europe. This semester is sure to hold many surprises for me.

While at Sciences Po, I will be taking graduate courses (en français bien sûr!) on European economics and politics, which will complete my course requirements for SIS! However, the classroom will only be a part of what I gain from the experience. Paris attracts students from around the world, and many of them—myself included—will be at Sciences Po. It will be after class, around an outdoor table at a café, with a glass of vin rouge and friends, that knowledge will be tossed around through discussion and, as is often the case, even (slightly) heated debate. Much like at AU, my peers at Sciences Po will teach me far more than I can ever hope to teach them.

Another block of my time will be consumed by my ‘substantial research paper’ or SRP as we call it in SIS. Sciences Po’s location in the heart of Paris is particularly apt for my research topic about how vintners are harnessing globalization. The chance to take courses in Paris greatly facilitates my ability to realize this project, since I will be able to visit the major wine producing regions in Europe (and France) to conduct interviews as part of my research.

The remainder of my time (if there is any) will be enjoyed at the cafés and markets in search of that joie de vivre for which Paris is so famous.

Brian Calhoon, 2nd year Master Candidate in SIS Contact info: bc0044a@student.american.edu

Internships are About Talking Too

2008-04-09T12:39:00.000-07:00

What will I be doing all day? The answer to that question is a top priority for graduate students when deciding on an internship. It is right up there with, “Does it pay?” As a Public Affairs/Government Relations graduate intern at MWW Group, I get to do a variety of things for a variety of people. I have some flexibility in choosing projects, as there are a lot of people who work in the office and not many interns or junior staffers. Throughout my internships, I have found that the fewer there are of you (interns/early-to-mid-20-somethings) the more substantive the tasks become.

My office particulars. The firm I work for does government, corporate and public relations all in one office. This has allowed me to work on several different projects. I was hired during “budget season,” to help compose reports on appropriations. (Side note: if you are not sure you want an internship, wait until the semester starts, there are always companies looking for interns throughout the year.) I am now solid at locating and analyzing bill text and can explain how different departments in congress get funding. International business development is also a part of our services, and I have done research for web content for different international organizations. Many public affairs firms follow current issues in telecommunication, energy or local politics for clients, and I have done a fair share of monitoring and writing briefings on different relevant issues. This experience is great for public relations type interviews, as you are always asked to speak about an issue you are following in the news. I have also gone to the hill to attend hearings, composing summary memos upon my return to the office.

How do I find cool projects to work on and avoid getting stuck with delivering the mail? Talk to people when it is slow—that is the time to walk around the office and ask people what they are working on now, find out what projects they have coming up and put in a plug for yourself when you find something really cool.

If you just hide, waiting until someone comes to find you to do something, you’ll probably end up delivering documents to a think tank or the hill (not without its advantages at times), instead of engaging in something that will develop a skill, like preparing press kits or background info for a business development project or conference planning. When it’s slow, that means not only do you have more time to talk as an intern, the people in your office probably do to. When everyone is running around the office going to meetings and taking conference calls, this is not the time to ask your boss what they are up to.

Also, when I find myself without a project or near the end of one, I try to put the word out to people I know that are working on something I want to learn about. Speaking to people in the office will not only give you insight and first dibs on really juicy projects, but also shows you are interested in the organization and excited to play a part. You will learn how each person fits into the company’s mission, and if this is a company you would like to work for after graduation (which is another question on the forefront of grads’ minds when picking an internship), this deep knowledge about the organization will be essential when describing how you can contribute as a full-time employee!

Socialize—it’s good for your career.

-Kate

Interning in DC

2008-04-01T11:32:00.001-07:00

One of the things that really attracted me to SIS was its location in DC. During the summer, the government, nonprofits, and all other assorted organizations are choked with interns coming from all over the country. The fact is, its hard to find a summer internship – especially one that you actually want. But being located in DC means that as I go to SIS, I can get an internship during the semester, when there’s much less competition for the most desirable internships.

This is the type of situation that has enabled me to intern this semester at the Arms Control Association. I study International Politics for my degree here, but the real reason I came here was to work on nuclear nonproliferation issues. But being that there are only a handful of nonproliferation-focused nonprofits here in DC, its easier to find an internship at one of them during the school year than during the summer.

At ACA I am getting a lot of great experience working in the nuclear nonproliferation field. What I’m doing there is mainly helping them write Arms Control Today, one of the leading nonproliferation publications. When I took the internship, I figured on a typical internship experience. You know the deal – you do all the research and hard work, someone higher up puts their name on it and gets the credit. Instead, they’ve had me write news articles for ACT. So not only am I really delving into the issues I care about, but I even get credit for it.

Since starting in January, I’ve written an article for each of the two issues that have been published. My first was on two biological research labs that are opening up inside two of the U.S.’s nuclear weapons labs. While it doesn’t really seem that any biological weapons research is going on, other countries tend not to take you at your word when you say, “Don’t worry about that biological lab inside our nuclear weapons facility… its not making biological weapons.” My second article was written about a new hotline that is being installed between the Chinese and US militaries, and I also did an analysis of the Pentagon’s new 2008 Military Power of China report. So even though I still have to do some of the usual intern activities (stuffing envelopes, anyone?) I’m also getting into some really good, substantive stuff and am getting to produce my own work on it.

Anyway, the point here is just that great internships are few and far between, and youre a lot more likely to snag one for yourself if you are in DC year round and are available for fall and spring internships.

-Jeremy

Thesis or SRP?

2008-03-11T14:35:00.000-07:00

As an SIS graduate student, you have lots of academic choices. Choosing whether to write a master’s thesis or another type of capstone work is one of them. Many people thinking about grad school wonder, “Do I have to come knowing what I’m going to write my thesis on?” The answer at SIS is no—but if you have an idea, great, if not you’ll find it while you here!

I’m not an academic guidance counselor, but I made the choice between an Significant Research Project (SRP) and thesis, as everyone else at SIS does. This blog is what I feel might be useful for those of you choosing a grad program or stressing about thesis.

The Technical Note: For the vast majority of SIS master’s programs you may complete either: 1. a substantial research paper (SRP) for 3 credits and a 3-credit internship, 2. a 6-credit thesis, or 3. a 6-credit research practicum. People choose SIS for graduate school for many reasons, and the research and writing requirement allows you to accomplish your own goals. In my last semester, I am taking a 3 credit internship and writing an SRP.

Roughly, the master’s thesis involves an 80-100-page paper representing an original contribution to the literature existing on your topic, the coursework is spread out over two (or more) semesters and accompanied by an oral defense at the end.

The Personal Note: I chose the International Communication program due the professional nature of the program, and writing an SRP and taking an internship for credit met my professional goals. I used the internship requirement (work in a field related to your academic coursework) to take time during this semester to explore a career I am interested in after graduation—I’m currently a government and public affairs intern at MWW and writing my SRP on the corporate sector’s contribution to public diplomacy in Eastern Europe.

If you’re really good, you might also be able to directly connect your internship and SRP. For instance, if you are working for an NGO and your job is to track and report on the recent democratic uprising in Burma, you can integrate the two for your SRP.

I had a good idea of what I was interested in when I started at SIS, however, I had no clue as to what topic I wanted to devote myself to researching for my SRP until recently. Professors, especially in the International Communication program, encourage you to find your knowledge niche—an area/topic that you can explore in your class research projects and papers and develop as your base of expertise. The majority of paper topics are open, and you can test out your depth of interest in an area in many courses before you decide what it is that you’re passionate about before you commit to developing around 70 pages on it. And the SIS graduate academic advisors are always available to help you figure things out.

Bottom line is you don’t need to stress about what you’re going to write about, you just need to be motivated to explore.

Happy Academic Travels,

Kate

Master’s Candidate 2008

International Communication

Knowledge Niche: Public Communication & Eastern Europe

DC internships

2008-03-05T12:13:00.001-08:00

This post was written by Kate Bartosik, a second-year MA candidate in International Communication.

Internships in D.C., I have had a few. Private sector, public sector, corporate, non-profit, paid, unpaid, for credit, not for credit… DC offers it all, and as a graduate student at SIS, internships give you the ability to test out professional life.

I finish my graduate degree in international communication (IC) this May. Right now, I am an intern at MWW Group, a government and public relations firm. It’s my third internship in DC and this one I am taking for credit to meet a requirement of the IC program (you can complete a master’s thesis or write a major research paper and do an internship for credit—SIS offers good program flexibility).

How do SIS students get internships? Methods vary, but I use resources like the SIS networking events, the AU CareerWeb (AU’s Career Center’s online job and internship database), SIS listserv messages (alumni and professors post job/internship openings and the career center sends out a weekly list) and my own contacts. These resources are tailored for SIS students, making your search for a relevant internship experience much easier.

The Career Center offers quick drop-ins in the SIS coffee house, which I used when I first began applying for internships. A quick edit from Olya Dadressan, an SIS career advisor, and my resume was markedly better. I was able to secure my current internship and one last semester at Mazda’s Government and Public Affairs Department by applying online through AUCareerWeb.

The Career Center and the SIS Graduate Student Council (GSC) also host networking events on campus throughout the year, giving current students the chance to interact with alumni, professors and career center advisors. These provide opportunities to find out about internships and get advice from professionals.

I was able to get a job for last summer through the GSC’s spring speed-networking event. I had not planned on attending the event, but my class got out early, so I went. I had been at work earlier that day, so I was dressed professionally and had a few business cards on me (I’ll admit I design/print my own on my computer). I went with the expectation that I might learn more about possible career paths and maybe make a contact. My initial contact with an AU alumnus at the event turned into a communication job at the National Association of Realtors. Networking opportunities are everywhere, being aware and making the time is the key!

This time around, I had the most success using the AU CareerWeb. After submitting applications (standard cover letter, resume and writing sample) to about seven companies, I was offered four interviews, three at public relations firms and one at an NGO, the Council for a Community of Democracies. I did prep for the interviews: read the organization’s websites, spoke to someone I knew who had interned there before and checked other publications that had covered the organization. Contacting the career center to see if they have any alumni contacts with the company to which you are applying is also useful. I sent thank you letters to those I interviewed with and at the end I had a few offers on the table. I choose MWW, because the job content fit closest to my career interests.

If you are just moving to DC, sans job, registering at a temp agency, like The Choice, Inc., is a good place to make some cash while job/internship hunting. Graduate school is about the last time you’ll be able to “test-drive” a career through an internship. You’re in DC—internships help you build your resume even if you’re not taking them for credit! It’s a very real possibility to find a part-time job or paid internship anytime of the year in DC, and balance with a full class load at SIS.

Important Note: The views expressed are my own and in do not necessarily represent the opinions, positions or strategies of MWW Group nor any other mentioned organization.

Active on the AU Campus and in Washington D.C.

2007-12-18T10:57:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone,

My name is Leslie and I'm a second-year grad student at SIS, focusing my International Politics degree on Human Rights and Global Environmental Policy. Many of you probably saw all the news coverage about the protests in Burma earlier this fall. But what you likely didn't see was all the activist work that goes on behind the scenes here in DC. I've been fortunate enough to become involved in the Free Burma movement at AU, and I'd like to share some of that with you.
Like most activist causes, the Free Burma movement relies on a core group of focused, motivated, and dedicated individuals. From the annual student-led Alternative Break trips to the Thai-Burma border learning about the social justice aspects of Burma, to the Student Campaign for Burma here on campus that is composed of both graduate and undergraduate students, AU students have continually been at the forefront of campus and community Burma activism.
On campus, we "flagged the quad" to represent the 100,000 protesters in Rangoon and create a visual representation for the AU community (see more pictures on our blog). On the Hill, we filled a Senate hearing on the Saffron Revolution wearing tee shirts that proclaimed "UNSC Arms Embargo Now," and have alerted our campus community, friends and family to pass an important bill to shut down funding for the military regime. We helped to organize several protests at the Burmese, Chinese, and Indian Embassies which attracted several hundred individuals from DC and a good deal of media attention. We launched petition signing campaigns, film screening, speaker panels, and fundraisers for Burmese aid organizations. There are so many different ways to become involved, and I've had the chance to experience so many of them through my connections at American University and by being in Washington, D.C.

For more information on Burma activism at AU, please visit our blog at http://auburma.blogspot.com/, or email us at auburma@gmail.com .

Opportunities for Sudents to Publish

2007-12-10T12:10:00.000-08:00

Dear all,

Today’s topic is our student-run journal, Swords and Ploughshares. The journal is an academic publication in the style of such periodicals as International Security and the Journal of Foreign Affairs. The articles are all written by students at SIS and Washington College of Law, and are typically refined pieces that were written for a class or for a research requirement. There is no central topic focus, other than the obvious international affairs theme. Anything within international affairs will be considered for publication. In recent issues we have published articles on various topics including international whaling laws and regulations; a comprehensive definition of terrorism; and the security of Russia’s energy sector.

I’m going to discuss two aspects of the journal as it relates to you, the grad student. First, Swords and Ploughshares presents you with a great opportunity for getting involved with something on campus. In the interest of full disclosure, I currently serve on S&P’s Editorial Board and as the Senior Copy Editor. It is not a paid job (wouldn’t that be nice…), but it can give you valuable experience in the publishing process that will serve you well on your résumé, especially if you are considering employment at a research foundation (a think-tank). Unless you are one of the senior editorial staff, the time commitment is relatively minimal.

Secondly, the journal is obviously a great opportunity to get your work published. We send out calls for papers at the beginning of every semester through the SIS listserv (I encourage you to subscribe to it) and also through “The Diplomatic Pouch”, our SIS newsletter. Submit something whenever you have a piece of work of which you are particular proud. The work you send us should be your very best. Don’t send us a rough draft or a paper you wrote overnight. Although we have editors, we want articles that exhibit a polished and professional writing ability. We have received articles in the past that contained potentially interesting subject matter, but were so poorly written that we had to decline them. The best way to ensure the professional caliber of your work is to involve a professor in the process. They can give you valuable insight into a research strategy, as well as helpful critique of your writing style and technique (remember, professors do this for a living). Don’t let your ego get in the way of improving your writing skills. Always have someone read and critique your work before you submit it for publication, and take their remarks seriously and objectively. Again, professors are the best source for this type of help. You won’t have to share authorship credit with them. All you have to do is thank them for their guidance in a footnote on the first page. Finally, it always helps to read the reputable journals in the field, such as the aforementioned. You’ll get a feel for what kind of style is appropriate for publication as well as how to structure a good argument. All this equates to better papers and, yes you guessed it, better grades in your classes!

So there you have it. Get involved and constantly seek to improve your skills as writer. I’m looking forward to seeing your submissions for future issues of Swords and Ploughshares.

Yrs. Truly,
Andy

“As in political so in literary action, a man wins friends for himself mostly by the passion of his prejudices and the narrowness of his outlook.” – Joseph Conrad

First Semester as an International Student

2007-12-03T12:06:00.000-08:00

Today's SIS blog written by Gayatri Murthy, MA International Communications Candidate 2009

As I begin my final week of my first semester here at AU’s School of International Service, it is easy for me to see that choosing to study International Communications at SIS was one of the best decisions of my life. As an international student, having lived my whole life in one place and never dared to move out of my comfort zone, I was eager to venture into new horizons, explore the world around me and challenge myself to the greatest extreme. And the School of International Service was all that and more.

My experience so far has been overwhelming. I feel as if I have been using only a small portion of my brain and every day in the International Communication program is a challenge. I can almost feel little neurons in my brain waking up to this vast pool of knowledge every minute. My classes make me think in directions I have never thought before. I felt a similar surge of emotions in my freshman year of college in India, when I was grappling with new concepts and ideas for the first time. At that time, I thought it was the spirit of being in college and just a passing idealist phase. But now I truly believe that ideas truly drive the world as we know it. As Churchill says, “"the empires of the future are the empires of the mind”, and I know this is the most ideal breeding ground for the best the world has to offer. Besides being this melting pot of divergent, yet interesting intellectual viewpoints, the most special quality at SIS is its sense of community. It is a forum for all voices, and the spirit of SIS encourages all these voices to co-exist and indeed, enhance one’s own intellectual growth. In my classes, or even in the Davenport, I have never encountered a brutal sense of competition, so typical of most professional schools. My transition as an international student couldn’t have been easier. I have met some of the most dynamic and diverse people here, whom I am proud to call my friends and I could not be happier to be right here at this point in my life.

On the flipside there are several underlying, yet complex themes to life as an international student. Since I came from an upper middle class, urban and English speaking background, I was lucky enough to not experience a great deal of culture shock or language barriers. But being far away from home, from one’s comfort zone makes you question your identity, your sense of belonging, the contribution of culture to your sense of being and myriad other questions which generally don’t have easy answers. As I count the days to Christmas break when I go back home (Bombay, India), I am once again filled with bittersweet feelings. I can not wait to go back home and yet a part of me feels at home in DC as well. Sometimes when you’re a foreign student, you run the danger of being out of context in all your contexts. As a student here, I constantly deal with explaining the origins of my points of views, and sometimes when I talk to friends and family back home; it becomes hard to contextualize all of my new experiences easily, in a way that they both truly understand me.

There are no solutions to this unique dichotomy and longing. But Grad school, for everyone alike, can be a quest to find one’s identity and it need not be a tiresome task. Instead, it can (and quite frankly is) the journey of a lifetime. You can’t hurry self discovery and a little patience makes the ride a lot more meaningful than the destination itself.

Special Opportunities at SIS – The Peacebuilding & Development Institute (PDI)

2007-11-26T13:03:00.000-08:00

This post was written by Sarah Sladen, an MA candidate in the Peace and Conflict Resolution field.

If you are considering an internship while at SIS, particularly in your first semester, the Peacebuilding & Development Institute (PDI) is a great way to complement your studies while networking with practitioners and organizations from throughout Washington, DC. PDI provides cutting-edge special research, training, and capacity-building opportunities for practitioners and scholars in areas of development, humanitarian assistance, diplomacy, and conflict resolution. The Institute has several components: Training & Symposia, the Summer Institute, the Children and Youth Division, the Peacebuilding Forums, and International Programs. These components integrate policy, practice, and theory to create new approaches to conflict-sensitive and transformative peace practice.

One of PDI’s largest programs is its annual Summer Institute. The Summer Professional Training Program offers trainings to foreign aid workers, government officials, conflict resolution practitioners, Master’s students, and others working in conflict zones to complement their daily field work. Interns with PDI provide vital support for the program’s planning and implementation, participate in courses, and meet participants and trainers drawn from throughout Washington, DC and abroad.

My position as PDI’s Research Associate for Youth & Conflict has been a great way to gain experience in qualitative research methods, as well as some insight into the various components involved with undertaking a major research project (good preparation for the thesis or Substantive Research Project (SRP) all Master’s students choose between in their second year). I’ve also been able to participate in training workshops such as Conflict Sensitive Program Design, and assist with the coordination of an upcoming panel at AU on youth, education, and conflict. The internship has allowed me to engage with my specific interests early on in the program and work closely with faculty from the International Peace and Conflict Resolution department. As someone new to Washington, DC, it has also been an excellent way to get familiar with the numerous organizations and their staff that focus on youth and conflict issues. Although the institute has numerous ongoing projects, PDI is also open to new ideas; if there is a particular workshop or event you would like to see at SIS, PDI can help make it happen.

An internship in your first semester can be a lot to take on in addition to adjusting to classes, life in a new city, and especially if, like most Master’s students, you also plan to work part-time. The advantage of doing an internship on campus with a center like PDI is that its staff is well-aware of the multiple commitments that students have to balance. The internship is flexible, allowing students to commit as much time as they are able and to choose from numerous semester or year-long projects. You can learn more about PDI at http://www.american.edu/sis/peacebuilding/2008.htm.

Internships - Center for Strategic & International Studies

2007-11-16T13:14:00.000-08:00

Hey, it’s Josh. I’m writing today to talk about an internship I recently started with the South Asia program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (http://www.csis.org/).

Students at SIS have the option of working at an internship for course credit. To fulfill the program’s research requirement you can either write two substantial research papers (about 50 pages each), write a thesis (about 100 pages) or write one 50-pager and one semester-long internship. Wanting to mix academics with real work experience in D.C. is usually the popular choice for obvious reasons.

An internship here can be really interesting if you pick the right one. As part of my responsibilities at CSIS, I’m helping my boss with research for her upcoming book on U.S.-India relations, I will be writing an edition of our monthly publication “The Monitor” and I've had a hand in planning a number of our major events. Almost everyday there is a new and interesting conference taking place somewhere in our large building. I won’t lie and say it’s all the most exciting work, but graduate internships are by no means glorified donut-getters and coffee cup filler-uppers either.

On top of fulfilling your requirement for the program, the internship is a great way to get a valuable letter of recommendation in a competitive town such as Washington, D.C. In fact, sometimes the internship even leads to actual employment when your time is through. I plan on using the experience I gain at CSIS to help make this transition as I finish my degree.

Josh

Your Application to Grad School

2007-10-10T07:57:00.001-07:00

Welcome to those of you who are checking out the blog for the first time. Although this is a new applications cycle, I encourage you to check out some our posts from the Fall 2007 cycle as they contain several valuable and enlightening entries, especially those regarding internships and the search for housing in DC. The old entries can be found at the bottom of the page under the "Older Posts" link.

I'm going to take some time now to discuss how to craft the best possible application you can. We get a lot of questions regarding what works and what doesn't on an application. The short answer is that all different kinds of applications can be successful. The long answer is that it depends on where you are coming from. First, it is not necessary that your undergrad degree be in International Relations or Political Science. We like to have a student body with a diverse array of backgrounds. I have a BS in Psychology, and I have met students here with degrees in such fields as Computer Engineering and Health Sciences. Also, while we don't have set "minimums", our admitted MA students typically have GPAs around 3.5. Their GRE scores are on average Verbal: 600, Quantitative: 660, Analytical: 5.

If you are applying right after receiving your BA, certain parts of your application will be more important than others. We are often asked by newly-graduated BA students whether their lack of work experience is an obstacle. Not necessarily. We primarily look for substantial work experience in applicants who have been out of school for a long time, say a year or more. That said, it always helps if you have done some kind of substantive internship during your undergrad work, but it won't kill you application if you haven't. The same goes for overseas experience. It always helps to have such experience, but it isn't a stark necessity. In the case of new BA grads, your GPA and GRE scores will come more into play, in place of a light resume. Again, not necessarily a bad thing, just a function of your place in life right now. If you are applying after having been out of school for a while, then you will be expected to have some degree of substantive work experience on your resume. This can often help to overcome GPAs and GRE scores that might fall below our averages (again, I emphasize averages, not minimums).

Finally, whether you are a new BA grad or someone who is coming back to school after a hiatus, two portions of your application will be crucial - the statement of purpose and the letters of recommendation.

First, your statement of purpose is the clearest picture we can have of who you are and why you and AU might fit well together. While anecdotal stories about "profound experiences" help us get to know you a little better, we like to hear more. A good statement of purpose is a clear articulation of your goals and interests as they relate to the programs at AU. You want to explain in a concise manner what it is that you hope to achieve by coming to AU. You also want to explain what you think makes you unique among the pool of applicants. Avoid vague or trite proclamations such as, "I have a strong interest in international affairs and a desire to affect change in (insert your favorite cause)." We all have that interest and desire, otherwise we wouldn't be applying to these programs. Be as specific as you can about your goals, what you can contribute to AU and to your chosen field, and how AU can help you on your way.

Second, your letters of recommendation should compliment your statement of purpose in giving us an idea of who you are personally, what drives you in your work, and what you are capable of accomplishing. I must emphasize that your letters should come from people who know you on at least a moderately personal level. The recommender should be able to attest to your motivation and personal character, as well as your academic/professional abilities. This seems rote, but you'd be surprised at how many letters we get that are three sentences long and go something like this, "(Your name) took my class in the spring of 2004. I really did not get a chance to know this person as the class was fairly large. However, (your name) received an A- and seems capable of doing good work." Professors will write these kinds of letters if they don't know you. They should just decline the request, and we often don't know why they agree to write the letters, but there you have it. This kind of letter does your application a disservice. If you don't have some kind of personal relationship with someone, DO NOT depend on them to write you a good letter. Find someone who knows you. If you are a new BA grad, letters from two professors will suffice, but if you've been in the working world for a time, one of your letters should come from a professional reference. However, the other one still has to be from a professor.

There you have it. Remember, we want your application to be successful. Although sending out deny letters is an inevitable part of the process, it truly does make for a sad week at the admissions office. So give us the best application you have, be confident in what you've sent us, and see what happens. Best of luck to all of you who apply. We hope to see you here in the Fall.

Mahalo,
Andy

Can AU Help Me Get An Internship? -Kathleen

2007-04-27T08:57:00.000-07:00

Many prospective students are curious to know whether studying at American University can improve their odds of landing a resume-boosting internship; it can. This only happens by capitalizing on the wealth of career resources that are available to AU students, and there is no automatic guarantee that flashing AU on a resume will suffice to secure a competitive position in the nation’s capital. What does secure an internship is information, and AU grants its students access to the most current databases through email subscriptions in order to enable them to be among the first to discover and apply for newly created internship positions in the D.C. area.

In my own experience, I learned of the FBI’s Volunteer Internship Program through the SIS Listserv and was able to round up the materials needed in time to submit an application for it. In this particular case, the position I was applying for had been reserved exclusively for AU’s School of International Service graduate students, which was helpful because that whittled away a fair share of the D.C. competitors that would otherwise have flooded the application process. One month later, I received a call from an FBI agent requesting an interview with me, and during my subsequent interview with him I answered several of his questions with references back to experiences from my first semester at AU. Two weeks after that, I got called back for a second interview, and although I have yet to officially sign a contract, I’m told that I'm very likely to receive an offer from the FBI in the near future.

I would never have known to apply if I hadn’t read about the opportunity through a listserv email. Ideally, I would constantly be on the lookout for job and internship openings by searching the websites of various government agencies, but the luxury of online browsing is limited for me since my time is more often consumed by the heavy workload that comes with pursuing a M.A. So, the convenience of having had the information about that internship come to me—instead of having to go scout it out myself—was invaluable. This is just one example of the ways in which AU’s resources provide students with advantages that inevitably enhance their chances of getting a head start on their careers while going to school full-time.

We’re all just ‘Tree-huggers’

2007-04-20T14:27:00.000-07:00

Reflections from a Global Videoconference on Climate Change and Oil Dependence at the World Bank

In this office we get into some heated debates. Sometimes they center on our ideals for the justices of tipping our waiters, but oftentimes they extend well beyond our daily lives to the bigger questions in life—how do we solve any of these global problems?

We are always educating and informing one another about our various backgrounds and expertise, enlightening again and again from the various facets of our knowledge. I, personally, am always talking about trees. Andy, Jeremy, and Josh tend to focus on nuclear war. Kathleen is in the Middle East, whereas Gabe and Fred are posing China and Asia’s viewpoint to our questions. We seem separated by our disciplines, but from attending a World Bank Conference today, I am reminded that our focuses are much more intertwined than at first glance and maybe…we are all tree-huggers after all.

I had the privilege, an invitation often offered to AU students, to attend a World Bank global videoconference related to climate change and oil dependence. The conference was sponsored by Americans for an Informed Democracy and highlighted Ian Noble from the World Bank, U.S. Representative Edward J. Markey of Massachusetts, 2020 Vision Executive Director Tom Z. Collina, the Dean of Environmental Engineering and Geology via satellite from Ecuador and numerous university campuses around the U.S. The purpose of the videoconference was to engage Americans in global conversation about policy and more specifically, about climate change. We’ve been labeled the ‘green generation’ and with that labeling, given a formidable task to right quite a few of the wrongs from past generations. And these wrongs do not limit themselves to the environmental realm. One thing I have become blatantly aware of through numerous discussions in grad school is that everything is so much more connected than I ever imagined. Which is why we are all tree-huggers after all. And why I should be just as concerned about nuclear warheads and political stability as my colleagues should be about those trees.

The debate that unfolded throughout this conference touched on everything each of us in this office has studied, analyzed and is struggling to understand and find answers for. Discussions ranged from mitigation and adaptability strategies in developed and developing countries; comfort level and sacrifice; oil dependency and ultimate security in a nation; democracy; food supplies; policies both local and global; poverty reduction and technology, just to name a few. Foreign relations are deeply tied to any mitigation and adaptability scheme as well as when and how we push for different technologies. Any type of policy for the future should contain a way to incorporate the risks of climate change, because they affect development, security, international relations, power and economics. I need to care about the security of a nation, because no development occurs in a battlefield. And that could highly depend on oil dependence and foreign relations. And my counterparts need to care about the resources of a country in order to understand their real position related to development and security. We are much more linked than I could have ever imagined and it took climate change for me to see it.

Which makes me a little more optimistic about our discussions. We’re becoming experts in our respective fields, but we are also learning how to teach each other. This is important, because our work for the future requires us to understand all of these complexities. It is absolutely unavoidable. And I couldn’t think of a better team to face those challenges with, although begrudgingly they might not admit to their inner ‘tree-hugger’… but we’ll get there. And I’ll cross over too, since we’re in this together.

Perspective from the END...

2007-04-03T11:24:00.000-07:00

Hello! I’m part of the SIS bloggers crew, but have been a bit MIA, trying to take advantage of my LAST spring break, probably forever... So, I went to Spain, he!

I’m graduating in May, finishing up my two-year term here at AU, but in a program a bit different from my colleagues. My program, Natural Resources and Sustainable Development, is a dual degree program with the University for Peace in Costa Rica. What does that mean exactly? I attended school for two years, one of those years in Costa Rica and I will receive two Master’s degrees for my time; sweet, no?! My program provides students’ exposure to Northern development and environmental theory and conversely immerses them in the Global South, to examine how that differs. Many of the students in my program have served for the Peace Corps or similar programs, have an immense amount of real-world experience and are hoping to broaden their ‘skills tool-box’ by understanding the theories behind most development. It’s a generalist degree that covers a broad gamut of topics—environmental science, environment and development theory and policy, conservation, economics, social and community relationships, trade and agriculture, etc…

I’m in my last few months.. to be quite honest, it’s no picnic. There are times when I think I really just can’t read anymore and regurgitate it back into a concise, analyzed form. But, then there are those moments when you talk to someone who has thought twice about the paper they are throwing away and their own carbon foot-print… and it just brings you right back up again to what this was all about in the first place…. Saving the world! Well… saving any small part of it, at least. Not that the North or I will always have the answers, like we might like to think… and I’m very appreciative of my experience. I feel I have really gained an insight unbeknownst to most… the other side.

It’s hard to remember how it was in those first few semesters, especially in my program that is uncharacteristically transient. This is the perspective from the end, when it’s all practically over (but yet, there is so much more work still left to do, auughh!!)… It’s a great ride- enjoy it, relish in it. You will, in the end, be very glad you went for it.

Heather :)

Guest Speaking

2007-03-08T10:27:00.000-08:00

Hello, my name is Josh Richards, or, if you are one of the many people who misread my name, Jonathan or Jeff. I have been working with Graduate Admissions since last Fall and attend classes full-time here at SIS. I got to tell you, it's been a ride. I talk with and write several people everyday, which is to say that if you were ever in a panic about your application, my words have soothed you worries.

Anyhow, I think one of the more interesting aspects of A.U. is the guest speakers they bring in on almost a daily basis. In fact, we had a pretty interesting panel discussion on North Korea in my International Relations of East Asia course. The panel featured guests from North and South Korea, China, Japan and Taiwan. The speakers were very knowledgeable and didn’t dodge a single question (which is sometime the case with guest speakers). I will keep my eye out for more, and so should you, because they are open to anyone interested in attending. See you then!

Josh

Recent Faculty Publications

2007-03-06T14:17:00.000-08:00

Buenos Dias,

To give you a sense of the kind of research being conducted at SIS, here are a few examples of some recent publications from our faculty members.

Dr. Stephen D. Cohen, a senior lecturer in International Economic Relations, has published six books. His most recent work is titled Multinational Corporations and Foreign Direct Investment: Avoiding Simplicity, Embracing Complexity (Oxford University Press, 2006). The overarching thesis of this study is the intrinsic heterogeneity of Foreign Direct Investment and Multinational Corporations accordingly, the imperative of disaggregation. Nuance is too pervasive to permit many valid generalizations. Foreign-owned subsidiaries are seldom if ever identical and need to be considered on a case by case basis according to circumstances. MNCs are different by nature and therefore different in their respective mix of costs and benefits. This book argues that a different route to understanding is needed and overdue: acknowledge the diversity and heterogeneity of these two phenomena avoid broad categorization.

Dr. Charles (Chuck) Call is Assistant Professor in the Program on Peace & Conflict Resolution. His publications include peer-reviewed articles in Comparative Politics, Journal of Latin American Studies, and Global Governance. His latest work is an edited volume titled Constructing Justice and Security After War (United States Institute of Peace, 2006). In this volume, the distinguished contributors—including scholars, criminal justice practitioners, and former senior officials of international missions—examine the experiences of countries that have recently undergone transitions from conflict with significant international involvement. The volume offers generalizations based on careful comparisons of justice and security reforms in some of the most prominent and successful cases of transitions from war of the 1990s drawn from Central America, Africa, the Balkans, and East Timor.

Many more fascinating research opportunities await you at SIS ...

Best Regards,
Andy

"The Sun's not yellow. It's chicken." - Tombstone Blues, Bob Dylan

Extra-curricular opportunities - they're all over the place.

2007-03-05T10:29:00.000-08:00

Hey folks,

My name is Jeremy, I'm another member of the illustrious season 1 cast. I'm also a first year Masters candidate here at SIS.

I think I'll take a minute here to talk about what goes on around here at SIS outside of class. No matter if you like to get heavily involved with student organizations, activist groups, attending lectures, or just hanging out at SIS happy hours, there's something here for you. Adam mentioned this in his post about the positives and negatives of attending school part time vs. full time, and I'd definitly agree on this one - if you decide to go full time and get a part time job (or no job) you'll actually have the time to do all the extra-curricular stuff that happens here every day. And really, if you use your time here well, your classes will only be half the experience. There's so much outside class to get involved with that will allow you to network with people working in your field as well as your fellow classmates. You know the old saying, "It's not what you know, it's who you know." Well, there's a good bit of truth to it, and there's no better way to get to know your classmates, professors, and the speakers who come through here than to get involved with what they're doing here on campus.

I'm a fan of all the speakers AU regularly brings in to give talks. If this is you too, your best friend will be the SIS listserves (both the general SIS one and the ones specific to your programs). Most people get really annoyed with recieving lots of email, but if you can handle that, you'll find out about many more of the talks, conferences, and events that go on here every week. For instance, tonight James Bamford will be giving a talk on the politicization of the intelligence process and how that is affecting our relationship with Iran today. I've been a Bamford fan since reading his two books The Puzzle Palace and Body of Secrets. The Puzzle Palace was the first book ever published to publicly disclose the existence of the NSA, and he wrote Body of Secrets a few years later based on massive amounts of new NSA information he obtained through the Freedom of Information Act.

Speakers like this come through here suprisingly frequently, and its definitly smart to make time to attend them.

On-Campus Employment: available, flexible, and enjoyable!

2007-03-02T07:23:00.000-08:00

I’m Kathleen, conspicuously and deliberately absent from the group photo, and here is my story about finding work at AU.

When I first moved to Tenleytown (the D.C. district where AU is located), about a month before the Fall 2006 semester began, I needed a job—immediately! I had spent a lot of my savings to cover the security deposit and first month’s rent of my newly rented room in a house that was walking distance from AU (and the convenience of that was reflected in the price of the room), so I had to replenish my bank account for groceries and fun times at Adams Morgan (the Vegas strip of D.C., the party scene). I knew I wanted a job on campus so that I could easily move between my job, my classes, and extracurricular activities, without losing hours and hours commuting around D.C. (hey, and anyone who says you don’t need a car in D.C. because public transportation is “so good,” is either lying to you or has never had the luxury of owning a car—you DO need one!).

Before my move, I had checked out AU’s own webpage for on-campus jobs, http://www.american.edu/hr/pt_staff_main_frm.html, and had sent out my resume and cover letters to the personnel directors of several positions. Two days after my move, I already had two interviews lined up, and I was hired during the first one to work as a Fitness Leader at the gym. It was quick, simple, and convenient. I got started right away, and I even had early access to the gym (which otherwise was not available to new AU students until the start of the semester).

I worked at the gym for two months, and then another on-campus employment opportunity was thrown my way by a friend and classmate of mine. He worked part-time (20 hrs/wk) at the SIS Graduate Admissions Office, and they were hiring. The job he told me about, a work-study office assistant, paid nearly twice as much as my position at the gym, and it didn’t require me to work on weekends or start at 5am like the gym did; it was great! I applied, got an interview, and started a few weeks later. Since it was another job on campus, I didn’t even have to fill out any new paperwork for taxes and direct-deposit when I changed over, and my direct-deposit wasn’t interrupted at all—it was seamless.

It is very easy to find a job on campus at American University, and I highly recommend opting for a work-study position (if you’re eligible for one, which depends on your FAFSA results). Being able to choose your own hours helps a LOT with managing a full-time load of graduate classes, and the pay is plenty enough to support a comfortable student lifestyle (eating out a few times a week, and partying on the weekends). AU makes it a little less difficult to be a grad student, and for those who have yet to discover how “challenging” (to phrase it gently!) grad school is, let me tell you that this means a LOT! ;p

Full Time vs. Part Time

2007-03-01T07:02:00.000-08:00

Hey all,

Let me introduce myself, my name’s Adam Graham. You won’t find me on the picture of our fabulous cast (I’ll try to put up one later), but I’m well entrenched in the SIS admissions world. I’ve been working as an Admissions Counselor for SIS Graduate Admissions for the past two years and have come to call our now famous office home (I’ve even slept on our couch – we work hard!). I’ve also been attending a Master’s program at AU part-time since 2005.

When I first decided to apply to grad school I planned on attending full-time and scrounging for scraps as I relived a little bit of my undergraduate years - going to school during the day and working a couple of hours at night to make ends meet. I was confident I had a great GPA and pretty decent GRE scores and thought Grad schools would be lining up to throw a little bit of money my way.

Imagine my surprise when I found out that I didn’t receive any merit aid from any of the schools I was accepted into. I knew my parents couldn’t help me out at all if I decided to go and I saw no other way to pay for Grad school. I was pretty depressed.

Then someone suggested I go part-time (this sounds a lot like a drug commercial right about now). I hadn’t really thought about going part-time because I was very much into the idea of getting back into college life and I wanted to be able to finish my program in 2 years. But as I thought more about it, it seemed to make a lot of sense.

I’m now working at American full-time and doing my master’s part time. I’ve managed to live comfortably while completing my degree, am coming out of my program with little debt and I’m finishing in 2 years!

So I wanted to give you all some of the positives and negatives to enrolling part-time and full-time.

Positives for Full-time:

-If you receive merit aid I really think it’s a no-brainer – there’s nothing better than receiving free education.

-A much lower level of stress. Full-time is 3 classes, part-time is 2 – you do the math. Working full-time and taking 2 classes is harder than taking 3 classes and working occasionally.

-A social life. Part of grad school is hanging out with the other brilliant minds that have decided to come to AU - sometimes this is talking about books and your research, sometimes this is having a beer together. If you’re a part time student working full-time there’s less chance to engage in frolicking with your cohort.

-Research. If you’re a part time student working full-time you severely limit the number of academic conferences and lectures you can go to and have little time to work on getting published. If you are committed to doing this get ready to burn the midnight oil almost every night

Positives for Part-time:

-Better Living Conditions – If you have a job to support yourself while going to grad school you won’t need to eat Ramen noodles for 24 months and you’ll be able to afford to take a girl on a date. Ripping flowers out of someone’s garden followed by a dinner from the dollar menu at Micky Dee’s does little for your suave.

-Less Debt – If you’re planning on taking out some loans to finance living expenses while taking out loans to pay for education you can find yourself in a lot of debt at the end of two years. It’s definitely worth it if this is what you want to do (banks often consider education loans as Positive credit on your credit score because it makes you more marketable) and many students at SIS do this (you can ask Gabe or Jeremy), but it’s pretty nice to know that I’ll be able to pay off my debt in one or two years after I finish my degree.

-Working at the University? – If you end up getting a job at American, the university offers tuition remission for full-time employees. Not only do I love my job, I get a nearly free degree out of it too.

-Career Experience – If you are working while going to school you’re earning both work experience and academic credentials. Your resume is that much more marketable.

Anyway, that’s the end of the blog. If you guys end up having any questions after reading this and want to chat you can always send me an email at agraham@american.edu. Hope this has helped.

Peace,

Adam

2007-02-28T13:27:00.000-08:00

First off, introductions are in order. My name is Gabe Warren. I am a first year grad student here at SIS. My concentration is comparative and regional studies. (Asia) Or as people at SIS say "CRS Asia." While we’re on the subject, it is important for you to know local lexicon. You might hear SIS students asking each other "What are you?" Here is a little cheat sheet so you can show up to our office or campus with the local lingo:

International Communication: "IC"
International Development: "Development"
International Peace and Conflict Resolution: "Yea, you guessed it IPCR
International Politics: "IPOL" pronounced I Pole
United States Foreign Policy: "USFP"

You get the idea. In my future posts I am going to be highlighting what's going on here at SIS as well as giving you some tips, tricks, and inside info on getting by at SIS. One of the best things about SIS is its location here in DC. The opportunities and resources for students of international relations are boundless, although sometimes it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the wealth of options and resources. That’s where we come in!

As grad students who are out there looking for jobs/internships, deciding what to with our degrees, and living the grad school life, we will be able to share some important insights with you.

Like any other city, DC is what you make of it. In my future blogs I am going to talk about the ups and downs of living here and keep you updated on events and happenings around DC, especially the cheap and free ones! I’m also hoping to include a lot on events going on here campus to give you all a taste of SIS.

Cheers,

Gabe Warren

2007-02-27T10:18:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,

I'm going to take a few minutes to discuss your housing search. If you should decide to come to DC, you'll want to start your housing search ASAP!! I can't emphasize this enough. People are constantly coming and going in this city, so the housing search can be a little daunting. Basically, it's like trying to find a job or internship here - a lot of legwork and competition.

If you plan on living by yourself or moving into an apartment on a new lease, your search will be alot more fruitful and will proceed pretty smoothly, but your living expenses will obviously be higher. If you plan on finding a roommate situation, then this is where things get dicey. Your costs of living will be dramatically lower in most roommate situations, but your search will likely be longer and more difficult, especially if you're moving from out of town. The best way to get it done is to start now, and plan a few trips into town during which you can do some hardcore searching. Search craigslist (obviously) as well as the AU housing listserv (you'll get info on that in your admissions packet). When people post a roommate ad, they get a mountain of responses and most of them are local people who can show up on short notice with their checkbooks in hand. You have to be one of those people. You will likely be one of 20 or more people vying for one spot. Do not, I repeat DO NOT, expect to exchange a few emails from afar with someone and have them accept you as their new roomie. It doesn't happen like that.

On to the various neighborhoods, suburbs, etc. Anything in NW quadrant is pretty good although the closer you get to NE, the sketchier it gets. Also SE in Capitol Hill isn't bad (25 minute drive, 45 minute Metro ride to school). The suburbs are also a good place to start looking. The 'burbs immediately outside of DC are pretty much the same rent prices as inside DC proper. I live in Bethesda. There are plenty of decent apartment buildings there, and some decent single family homes too (those are pricier than the apartments). Its pretty nice and very close to school (15 minute Metro ride, 10-15 minute drive). You could also look in Arlington (20-25 minute drive, 45 minute Metro ride) or Alexandria (40 minute drive, at least 1 hour Metro ride). The far-out 'burbs like Rockville, MD or Gaithersburg, MD or Fairfax, VA are a little bit less expensive (I emphasize a little bit), but count on a long, long commute every time you need to get to the city.

One last strategy that you may find a little easier is to sublet a place for a few weeks/months in order to establish a base of operations here in the city. Sublet ads are just as plentiful on craigslist. I know the prospect of moving twice in a short period or leaving much of your stuff behind for a while is not appealing, but I can assure you of this - bumming on someone's couch is no fun either.

There you have it. Get a good jump on things, be in town as much as possible, and try not to be too picky, and things will go fine. Good luck all!!!

Andy

"I can't take his money, I can't print my own money, I have to work for money. Why don't I just lay down and die?" -Homer Simpson

Season 1 Cast Revealed!

2007-02-23T10:01:00.000-08:00

After a not so random process of selection, the cast of Grad Life @ SIS has been determined! From top left to lower right: Andy, Fred, Josh, Jeremy, Gabe, Heather, and Jia. Stay tuned as we blog about our social and academic misadventures as SIS graduate students with our friends in the DC area! If we're as good at this as we are with Datatel, you'll be in for a treat! What's Datatel, you ask? If you only knew...

-Grad Life @ SIS crew