International Affairs Grad School Guide

By Katarina O’Regan, FCLC ‘12

On October 22, 2012, Katarina attended an information session hosted by the Foreign Policy Association. She complied this “International Affairs Grad School Guide” for any student interested in International Affairs. Below, she summarizes the most important information learned.

“Do you really need to go to graduate school?” The evening started with this simple, yet important question.  Among the benefits of obtaining a graduate degree in International Affairs are the chance to expand your knowledge, increased employability and salary, and networking/professional development opportunities.  Pursuing a graduate degree does take time, and incurs expense, but for many, the benefits outweigh these concerns.

Graduate degrees in international affairs are useful because they are multidisciplinary.  Students study political science, as well as economics, foreign language and other academic fields.  Because of the diversity within the degree, students have flexibility with regards to breadth/depth of studies and are able to go into public, private, and non-profit work upon graduation.

There are many factors to consider when looking graduate schools in international affairs. Foreign Policy Magazine does rank the top graduate schools in the field, but given the range of reputable programs in the U.S., finding a school that fits your interests is more important than attending a top 10 school.  Some criteria students should consider when applying are size, location, academic quality, degree requirements, the core curriculum, functional/regional specialties, faculty, networking opportunities, the alumni network, and cost.  Many students focus primarily on New York and Washington D.C., thinking that these are the best locations for an International Affairs student. However, schools in other locations do offer opportunities New York and D.C. cannot.  Schools in smaller cities have a lower cost of living and fewer distractions from studies, while still offering very competitive (and often more personal) academic programs.  Also, with more and more technological advancements, it is easier to be connected to international events no matter where you are based.

There are also increasingly different types of graduate degrees students can pursue.  Some schools offer dual degree programs such as an MBA dual program, which is optimal for those looking at international business and private industry.  PhD programs are academically intense, and are geared towards those who are seeking a career in academia.  One other type of program to consider is a graduate program that entails international travel.  Some schools will pay for a brief stint abroad, while others let you spend the second year of your Master’s at an international university.

As for the application process, competitive applicants should show a strong academic record, some background in economics, statistics or another quantitative field (which can be supplemented by courses at a community college even after acceptance), international experience (can be travel, work, or volunteerism), and foreign language study.  If applicants are lacking in any of these areas, they can explain that in their application, and demonstrate an interest in other ways.  For example, someone who has not yet worked abroad can volunteer with an organization that works alongside immigrants.

Application essays should not include cliché quotes from famous individuals, and should highlight your writing ability.  At least one letter of recommendation should be from an undergraduate professor (this can be a professor you studied with abroad, if still relevant).  Resumes in this case can be longer than one page, as the admissions staff will want to see a list of your travels and/or publications on there as well.  In the words of one panelist “Your flaws will be obvious, so play up your strengths!”

Ultimately, admissions staff are looking for reasons to admit you.  They want to see you tie your academic interests to prospective career paths, as well as your ability to provide a genuine self-narrative.  Just as International Affairs programs do not solely focus on political science or economics, admissions officers do not judge applicants solely by GPA, major, or undergraduate institution.  Graduate programs are looking for well-rounded students to join their well-rounded studies.

Katarina is a FCLC International Studies major, graduating in December of 2012. She plans to teach abroad after graduation.

Changing Paths: The "Brand" New You

By Kristin Mornan, Graduate Intern, Office of Career Services

Whether you’re twenty one or fifty one, change can seem terrifying. It signifies discomfort, unchartered territory, and perhaps the possibility of failure. Yet, in spite of this, many of us look to make changes. We change our hair color, our work-out regimens, and our favorite artists and bands. We are comfortable making these “little” changes because we understand that they are relatively inconsequential. It’s the bigger changes – the ones that will likely impact our lives – which we are often afraid to entertain. And that’s okay. It’s smart even. That is not to say we shouldn’t ever take the leap, though.

Do you ever find yourself wishing you picked a different major? “What if I had majored in communications instead of business? Would I have landed the marketing internship at Seventeen?” You may start to think in dichotomies. “If I pick X major, I have to end up in X field. If I have an internship at Y Company, I will certainly end up at a similar organization post-college.” It is fine to have that perspective if you are satisfied with the niche you created for yourself. But for those of you who are conflicted, worried you settled for the “wrong” major and/or internship experiences, or recognize that you have had a change of heart: it’s not too late to make a positive change. It might even be less dramatically life-altering than you imagine. I say this from personal experience.

I majored in psychology in college and while I never wavered in my decision, I was unsure about what I wanted to do with my degree after school. I was attracted to the field of public relations, which superficially may have seemed incompatible with my qualifications. However, I did not want to rule out a field of interest simply because my major and professional experiences were not directly related. I began to deeply contemplate my core strengths and transferrable skills. After careful thought, I realized that my academic knowledge of psychology and past volunteer experiences made me a qualified candidate. My understanding of the human mind gave me a unique perspective on the consumer market. I explained to employers that it would help me reach and make connections with target audiences for PR campaigns. I also emphasized my strong interpersonal and writing skills, both of which are cultivated at liberal arts schools like Fordham.

After two years, I realized I needed to make another change. How did I know? Quite simply, I was unhappy. On the bright side, at least I was aware of it. I encourage you to take time to consider careers that align with your values; know what you are and are not willing to sacrifice. Personally, I believed I would find a career in human services more fulfilling. I took the jump and ultimately pursued a career in counseling, a decision I am grateful I had the courage to make. I used the same approach to re-branding myself as I did when I entered into the field of public relations. My updated resume highlighted my experiences in PR that were applicable to human service, such as the strong relationships I had developed and sustained, rather than the business-related skills I had honed. You can re-brand yourself – on your resume and in interviews – by focusing on aspects of your academic and professional experiences that are fundamentally relevant to your newly desired career path. You should always be honest about your qualifications, but do not sell yourself short either!

As my experiences show, you do not necessarily need to change your major or erase your professional accomplishments. Making a change is not about cleaning your slate; it’s about using your background as a stepping stone to where you are headed. While some internships and jobs may require a specific major or degree, oftentimes employers are more interested in your skill set. What value would you bring to the organization? Why should we choose you over your competition? What makes you qualified? If you do decide you want to make a career change, I encourage you to be introspective. Realize your transferrable skills and make sure your resume and interview responses highlight them. Essentially, re-brand yourself to reflect that you are well-suited for your current endeavors. Know what your “story” is and how you’re going to tell it. If you have any questions and/or concerns related to career exploration or creating your “brand,” you can always make an appointment with me or another counselor at Career Services. We are happy to assist you during this exciting, albeit challenging, academic and professional crossroad.

Kristin Mornan is a Graduate Intern in Office of Career Services for the 2012-2013 academic year. She works as a counselor at Career Services, and conducts resume reviews, career assessments and mock interviews. 

Do Good Abroad: A Panel Discussion on Jobs in Humanitarian Aid and Relief

by Katarina O’Regan, FCLC '12

On October 15th, 2012, Katarina attended a panel hosted by the Foreign Policy Association entitled: "Do Good Abroad: A Panel Discussion on Jobs in Humanitarian Aid and Relief".  Below, she summarizes the event.

The FPAs’s recent event at the New School attracted a full house of students and professionals interested in the humanitarian sector.  The night began with a talk by Paul Von Zielbauer, the founder of Roadmonkey Adventure Philanthropy, and a former New York Times journalist.  Traveling from Vietnam, to Germany, to Iraq, his experiences helped him hone his craft, and to find employment back in the states.  He spoke extensively about a necessary sense of adventure.  In his words, “Great achievement requires a tolerance for being wildly uncomfortable.”  He also emphasized “having a vision for yourself and holding yourself accountable to it.”  His advice can be summarized in six key points:

1. Assume positive intent – (on part of employers and colleagues) In other words, don’t let yourself be discouraged by cynicism or suspicion!

2. Grow your networks – Use LinkedIn and other social networks to reach out to those you admire in your field.  You’d be surprised at how many people will email you back and accept an invitation to coffee.  Just make sure you come off as sincere.

3. Know your reasons – This goes back to having a vision for yourself, and demonstrating sincere interest.  This will help with interviews down the road.

4. When in doubt, develop the situation – Don’t be turned off by complexities!  Research opportunities and situations so you have a true sense of what’s ahead.

5. Expect to be wrong often – work in the humanitarian field is hard, and no plan is foolproof.  The key isto learn from your mistakes.

6. Embrace the teachable moments – despite its difficulty, work in this sector is rewarding and enlightening.  Appreciating that makes it all worth it.

The rest of the event focused on practical job search advice.  Panelists stressed the importance of developing a story that ties in your skills, background and motivation.  When researching organizations, check credentials by exploring ratings agencies (e.g. Charity Navigator) and partnerships with larger, well-known groups.  Transparency about finances is a good way to check legitimacy.

Applicants were encouraged to apply for entry-level jobs they had a realistic chance of being offered. Tory Watts, from The Hunger Project, suggested highlighting skills, without exaggeration.  Terms like “partial fluency” are meaningless when invited to interview in French, for example.  Resumes are read before cover letters, so list the most relevant experience at the top, as employers will give only a cursory glance before deciding whether or not to read further.  Watts also acknowledged that being a “pest” (repeatedly following up) can sometimes help, but that it is important to gauge how human resources is reacting to your persistence.  If the position is already filled or they seem annoyed, you should pull back.  Barrett Prinz, from the One Acre Fund, underlined the importance of researching the organization to further tailor your resume and cover letter.  This is especially useful with lesser-known groups, who will appreciate awareness of their projects.  Adam Keehn, from Save the Children, mentioned that with the exception of language skills and time spent abroad, do not be deterred from pursuing jobs if you lack one of several qualifications, as long as you can compensate in one way or another.

All of the panelists agreed upon the value of internships and volunteer work, as well as previous time spent working abroad.  These opportunities show that you are experienced and accustomed to work in the humanitarian field, and can persuade employers that you are worth the investment.

Despite the competitiveness of the field, and the difficulty of the work, everyone at the event agreed that jobs in the humanitarian sector are incredibly worthwhile and rewarding. Some, like Matthew Rullo from Human Rights Watch, realize this at a young age and are able to get job offers through internships soon after college. Others, like Prinz, make the transition later in life, taking a pay cut, but ultimately contributing to society in a way that makes their work much more valuable.

Katarina is a FCLC International Studies major, graduating in December of 2012. She plans to teach abroad after graduation.

"My Internship Could Be Yours!"

By Matt Grandchamp, Gabelli Junior

This summer, panic started to takeover because I had never had an internship. I was going into my junior year, and I was worried that no one would want to hire me after college because I was lacking in experience. This is when I turned to CareerLink. I applied to over 15 internships, and was hoping that I would get at least one offer. I was praying that some company would need an intern to make coffee and shred paper.  I was surprised when multiple employers emailed me back and asked for interviews. Furthermore, I was shocked when multiple companies offered me an internship position and the hard part became determining what internship to accept. 

After mulling over the different offers, I decided to intern at Host Committee. Host Committee is actually part of a venture capital firm, which means that the office is placed in an incubator. An incubator is an open office that has multiple start-up companies within its walls. Host Committee is a company that facilitates parties at the hottest venues in NYC. The parties are thrown for the hosts with only the hosts' guests, meaning the hosts get a private venue with a DJ for a few hours.  My decision to take this internship was based on the interactions that I had with the staff on my interview, and that decision was one of the best decisions that I have made in my college career.

The internship not only allowed me to have an awesome workplace environment with a ping pong table and free lunch on Fridays, but the internship also allowed me to see all the different aspects of a business.  I was able to sit in on every meeting and learn directly from the CEO, COO, CMO, and CTO. The meetings varied from strategy meetings to planning marketing campaigns. I got to look at the profits from each party and see how the company was growing at an increasing rate. Furthermore, I did not have to sit in the corner and keep my mouth shut during meetings. I was encouraged to give my perspective and offer up solutions to problems. The internship actually helped me declare a major and see what I would like to do when I graduate.

Matt Grandchamp is Marketing major and a student leader in OSLCD at Rose Hill. He completed his first internship this summer at Host Committee. Host Committee is currently looking for new interns. Check out the available internship opportunity on CareerLink – Job ID #14021.