Are you thinking about going to graduate school to study international affairs? If so, this column is for you. I’m going to try to summarize my best advice on 1) how to think about this decision, and 2) how to maximize your chances of getting into the school(s) that you think you’d like to attend.
But first, a few disclaimers. This is just one person’s opinion, and you may get different (and possibly even more useful) advice from others, including faculty or employers with whom you’ve worked directly. What follows applies primarily to graduate study in the United States or Canada, because those are the academic environments I know best. As a result, some of my advice may not be germane to graduate programs in other countries. Moreover, my expertise is limited to political science and public policy, and my comments won’t help you much if you’re interested in law school, biochemistry, computer science, or whatever. You should also bear in mind that academic institutions and the associated job markets are changing rapidly, and whatever wisdom I’ve acquired over the years may be of declining value. Caveat emptor.
That said, if you showed up in my office and asked for my advice, here’s what I’d say.
