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

Heh? What you say??! Anyway, I think I'm middle aged as it pertains to this forum (and sadly quickly becoming so in "meat space"). I've been on here for 7 years (this month), but many have been here since its inception in 2001 and before that when it was a list serv.

 

Great advice from another illustrious member of our forum... While working on my undergrad (which only took me *cough* *cough* 14 years to complete) I was constantly dreaming of which masters and doctoral programs I would pursue upon graduation. It was a horrible disease. I finally buckled down and finished my B.S. Of course, I'm still dreaming of which masters degree to go for (nothing much has changed). Don't fall victim to degreeitis! I think MC (Maniac Craniac) coined another name for it. Maybe he can chime in here. Point being - just select a BA/BS degree that will get you closer to your goal. Unless of course, one of your proposed masters absolutely requires a specific undergraduate major (in which case, you better work that out now).

Okay. Now I'm going back to deciding whether or not I should continuing with my application to MPH (Master of Public Health) programs.

 

So you want to do Poly Sci?

Allow me to introduce you to the Inter-University Seminar on Armed Forces and Society. There is a regional conference in November in Kingston, ON. Here is the call for papers:

http://www.iusafs.org/partners/canada/2012.asp

This conference would be an EXCELLENT opportunity for you to "get your feet wet" and start meeting people.

Take a look at it and see what you think.

BTW - They really do want student papers - this is a great conference for students!

Good luck!

Shawn

PS - Here's the program from IUS-Canada 2010 to give you a feel for topics.

http://www.iusafs.org/pdf/IUSCanada2010Programme.pdf

 

LOL Hey, what can I say? I like to talk. A lot.

 

Very very awesome. Thanks so much for this.

 

Good luck with that application! I dont know what you would do with a MPH but since it has Public Health in the name, no thanks. I get freaked out when my kids sneeze on me.

And yeah, I think I will just relax a bit with grad school. I have 3 excellent choices, so I will leave it at that for a while and just focus on my potential start date with ASU (May 21st!!).

 

Am I old enough to be an old timer? I've only been here since 2005. (Others here have been on this board since 2001.)

 

Perhaps they are not absolutely necessary, but they don't hurt. When you combine a lack of connections with a lack of recent work experience, that's a lot to overcome.

I completely understand limitations in this matter. I would contend that a traditional degree would be better for your career path because of the extracurricular elements. You can't participate in Model UN online. You won't be as likely to develop close relationships with your professors (which helps with letters of recommendation for various purposes). You also can miss out on recruiting networks that focus on local campuses, glad-hand, etc.

Academically, you probably will be fine. Online programs, however, often lack the "extras" in networking that can help tremendously in a competitive career field.

 

Known Unknowns (turn up the volume - kind of hard to hear).

 

I will also chime in that given the OP's situation that the good RA undergrad should suffice to earn a spot in the appropriate grad school (assuming GRE and GPA are competitive). In 4 years, the OP's situation may change where she can attend an on ground MA and continue to build the mentorships she needs.

Although I am a bit biased as an IUS Fellow, if the topics at the IUS Canada Conference would interest her, it would be a great place for an underclassman to present a paper. The conference is international, but small (abt 200). There would be some fantastic opportunity for the OP to meet some Poly Sci folks from around the world, and to obtain feedback.

 

I have 3 years left, so I'd like to be able to attend a land campus someday, even if its just for a partial residency requirement. And the conference REALLY interests me. A LOT. I would dearly love to go. It looks awesome.