Calling all DegreeInfo old timers...Need some help!!

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by NMTTD, Apr 20, 2012.

Loading...
  1. NMTTD

    NMTTD Active Member

    I've already completed 8 classes from a previous RA online school, so I have roughly 3 years left to go (if you base it on the 24 credits I am transferring from the RA school I attended).

    I am looking at a Poli Sci undergrad now and Im thinking I might try one of these for grad school. I'm wanting an IR grad degree, although a Poli Sci or Negotiation and Conflict Resolution degree would also be a good choice since Im wanting to work in SOME capacity for the UN.

    The Program | Online MA (OLMA) in Political Science at Virginia Tech

    Global Affairs master's degree and graduate certificate online program University of Denver, University College

    Negotiation & Conflict

    Thoughts on these?


    Once I finish all of my schooling, my goal is to get a job at the UN as either a Diplomat, at a US Embassy somewhere, for UNICEF, or as a Foreign Service Officer. So would it make more sense to have both my under grad and grad degrees in Poli Sci, or have my under grad in Poli Sci and my grad degree in either Global Affairs with a specialization in Global Issues from University of Denver -or- Negotiation, Conflict Resolution & Peacebuilding from California State University, Dominguez Hills? Which would serve me better? Im not opposed to getting 2 masters, either. One to get the job and one while working the job. Know what I mean? But this is a whole new track for me, so I apologize if Im asking 9874562101 questions. But I want to get this right the first time and know where Im going, what Im doing, and what it will take to get there.

    Sorry this was so long. Thanks in advance for any help/advice on this matter. :)
     
  2. NMTTD

    NMTTD Active Member

    Also, I know that "technically" they dont care what your degree is in as long as you have one. BUT, I think we all know that if I have a degree (or 2) in relevant fields I will have a better shot at getting and keeping the job(s) I want. For me, its all about what they want to see on paper as well as what I know academically. So I need to find out which degree(s) will fully prepare me for the job(s) Im wanting.
     
  3. TEKMAN

    TEKMAN Semper Fi!

    I have no input for the route that you're going; however, I would recommend you to focus one at the time.
     
  4. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    Who you calling old noob?
     
  5. NMTTD

    NMTTD Active Member

    LOL certainly not you, Kizmet. On a side note, my beloved siamese/himalayan mix kitty was named Kizmet. We called her Kizzy for short. Awesome name :)

    Oh, Im very focused on my undergrad degree. I started the withdraw process at SIU (actually, I completed everything. Just waiting on them to finish) and I have done the entire application process/app fee/financial aid paperwork/fafsa stuff with Arizona State. So Im good to go there. I just want to have a direction for my grad studies. I cannot stand to leave things to chance. I really like to know what Im planning on doing and work towards it.
     
  6. FJD

    FJD Member

    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 20, 2012
  7. NMTTD

    NMTTD Active Member

    LOL by old timer I just meant people who have been here a long time and have a lot more insight and info than I do. lol
     
  8. StefanM

    StefanM New Member

    If your goal is to work at the UN, you need connections. Foreign language knowledge would help also.

    I am not sure an online degree is best for this. I would recommend a residential program at a highly ranked institution.
     
  9. NMTTD

    NMTTD Active Member

    Well, actually, to work for the UN itself doesnt necessarily require connections. But certain programs within the UN likely do. I just want to get my foot in the door there. Once i do that, I can get where I need to be.

    And I have no way to do any kind of schooling other than online. How would a traditional degree in Poli Sci or Global Affairs be better than the exact same degree online? From what I understand they should look the same and not specify "online" anywhere. So as long as Im going to a well known state school, shouldnt that be enough?
     
  10. ITJD

    ITJD Active Member

    It should be. However, to be safe I would look at a state school that is geographically close to where you're living. It reduces questions.

    Additionally, if you're going to work at the UN and have to move from Virginia to do that, I'd strongly suggest if you're not with extremely young children to look at Harvard Extension and take the required in person classes during their summer semester, make a family vacation out of it if you can.

    First, it's good to get used to being inconvenienced by travel if you're going to want to do foreign service anyway.

    Second, entry level positions at the UN pay poorly. It's a good idea to get the best degree you can so any connections at one place turn into connections at the other place such that you avoid making 15 an hour. Ultimately that's the real value of school, not the degree.

    Last, Boston's got some insane immersive language training schools, but I'd bet you could find one in Virginia as well being in the general region as DC.
     
  11. NMTTD

    NMTTD Active Member

    Well then VTech would be the obvious choice since Blacksburg is about 2 hours from where I live right now. My son is homeschooled due to his autism and major issues in school and my daughter will be starting kindergarten in the fall. So I dont know that I could do the residency requirements right now. Thats why Im looking at the state schools online now. So I can get the best I can get while still being at home. Also, for many legal and personal reasons involving my ex husband, i cant leave the state with my son. So once my son is 18 and I can get legal guardianship of him (and my husband can do an adult adoption of my son) then I can do what I want within reason. Remember, when my son is 18 my daughter will only be 9. And I will still be in school for my masters so I will still have time. By the time I finish my degree(s) and take the Foreign Service Officer test, my kids will likely be 19 and 10 (if I stop at 1 masters and ace the test on the first try) or 21 and 12 (if I get the 2nd masters and ace the test on the first try). So it would be better for me to get everything done online before i look at relocating and all that.
     
  12. rebel100

    rebel100 New Member

    You know, three years is actually a long time in the online education world. Programs close, new ones open, so much can happen. Why not skip all the discussion about Grad school and get your Bachelors nailed down along with some decent internship/volunteer work related to your field of interest. You spend a lot of time sort of spinning your wheels...no offense meant, but good grief you've been her just a few days and will soon have 100 posts!
     
  13. NMTTD

    NMTTD Active Member

    Well I do post about other stuff, too. LOL Not just my schooling. I talk alot. IRL and online. Thats just me. lol
     
  14. bpreachers

    bpreachers New Member

    Its great to be proactive. However, and I think this is what Rebel was getting at, you do not want to put the cart before the horse. As you stated you have around 3 years before you will complete your undergrad. Having a preliminary plan for follow on schooling at the Graduate level is a great thing to have but you are way early still. I think I changed my mind 10 different times before deciding on Troy for my Masters. Many reasons were behind my indecisiveness to include uncertainty about what major I really wanted, program offering/availability/requirements being changed, and completion times. And even after my almost year of planning towards my Graduate plans I still ended up with a unexpected hurtle and had to push my start date by a semester. Just do not get to far ahead of yourself. Focus on your undergrad for now (good luck on getting into the program you want with Arizona by the way, awesome school) and get through it. Get a great GPA and at about the 1 year mark from graduating (maybe a bit earlier) really start narrowing down for your Grad school and start working on meeting the requirements for getting in (such as entrance/graduate exams, personal statement, letters of rec, etc etc).
     
  15. NMTTD

    NMTTD Active Member

    Ok, good idea. Thanks :)
     
  16. TEKMAN

    TEKMAN Semper Fi!

    There are plenty of schools offers PoliSci and IR; however, the price tag is expensive. I assume NMTTD is a full-time mom/housewife; therefore, geographical distance is not necessary. Unless she states that she works in Virginia and attends school in Phoenix.
     
  17. NMTTD

    NMTTD Active Member

    Which, of course, I wont mention. ;)
     
  18. ITJD

    ITJD Active Member

    That was my point exactly. NMTTD is going to have enough going against her in the job hunt with coming out of a significant amount of time away from the general workforce after spending time with her family. She doesn't need additional question marks being raised by learning locations.

    You'd think that employers would be receptive to someone retraining and coming back in after being out of the game; newsflash - They're not. The US isn't Europe. Once a woman has made the decision to put her family first; there are a lot of companies that will take that as meaning they will never be first priority and hire the next person.

    Unfair and something I've seen personally, having a spouse that's got the full deck of education, publications, research et al.. that still isn't back in after 5 years out.

    So while the above probably reads negatively, I mean this to be a piece of advice. Build your path wisely and avoid things that add question marks. Especially true if you're aiming for jobs that become all-encompassing lifestyle choices (U.N)
     
  19. NMTTD

    NMTTD Active Member

    I dont take it negatively at all. I welcome all advice and suggestions. As a wise person very recently said to me "you cant be expected to know what you dont know". And the longer Im on here, the more I know. So dont worry, you arent offending me. You're educating me. :)
     
  20. japhy4529

    japhy4529 House Bassist

    Hey - I think our favorite noob (formerly-considered-to-be-a-schiller-but-now-cool-in-most-of-our-eyes-except-opalmoon-who-went-beserk-and-got-him/herself-banned-for-a-month) should win the prize for number of posts in one week! :D
     

Share This Page