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
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Friday, April 27, 2007
Can AU Help Me Get An Internship? -Kathleen
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.
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.
Friday, April 20, 2007
We’re all just ‘Tree-huggers’
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.
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.
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Perspective from the END...
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 :)
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 :)
Thursday, March 8, 2007
Guest Speaking
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
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
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
Recent Faculty Publications
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
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
Monday, March 5, 2007
Extra-curricular opportunities - they're all over the place.
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.
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.
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