Graduate School Abroad

byJoy Hemmesch

& Diana Yefanova

Overview• Graduate programs abroad• Schools With International Focus in the US• Funding• Career planning

Welcome and Introductions

• Diana Yefanova• Ph.D candidate,

Comparative and International Development Education (CIDE), Department of Educational Policy and Administration, U of MN

• Joy Hemmesch• Study Abroad Advisor

with CSBSJU

Why Graduate School Abroad?

Graduate School Timeline• Junior Year

• Get to know your faculty; think about what you want from graduate study - it is more intense and focused than undergraduate study.  It's not too soon to research programs through use of the Internet and/or contact the graduate school for application materials and catalogs.  Some students may also want to take the required graduate exams.

• http://www.csbsju.edu/career/students/postgrad/gradsch/default.htm

Graduate School Timeline• Senior Year

• Following are activities that will need to be completed; the timing is dependent on the application deadlines of the individual school you are applying to.

• Request school catalogs along with applications for admission and financial aid.

• Register for necessary admission exams. • Ask faculty/employers to write letters of

recommendation; allow plenty of time in advance of the deadline (include a self-addressed, stamped envelope).

• Arrange for official transcripts to be mailed. • Complete and mail applications. • Verify the receipt of all admission materials

(application, transcript, exam score, letters of recommendation, etc.).

• Visit the schools. • Evaluate admission offers

Schools With International Focus in the US: Why Attend?A. You love certain area or

country/language studies and want to continue learning more about it without leaving the US

B. You need an advanced degree to work in the international career that interests you

C. Your parents/teachers expect you to go

D. All your friends you studied abroad with are going

E. All of the above

Choices, choices…

Big Names• George Washington University Elliot

School• Columbia University SIPA• Monterey Institute of Int’l Studies• Thunderbird School of Int’l Management• Columbia University

Unusual Options• Joint/double degrees (e.g.Yale

International Relations Joint Degree in International affairs and Forestry (MA))

• Service-learning combined with academics(International Partnership for Service-Learning and Leadership)

Bottom line: be flexible, don’t rush:

Good Fit Comes First!

Sample Majors/Fieldsinternational industrial technology international developmentglobal trade and finance

international public policy administration/affairs

global health homeland security humanitarian assistance comparative international

educationmanagement…a) What’s YOUR dream

international field?b) What would allow you to

apply your study abroad experience and acquired skills ?

c) MA or Ph.D.?

One Example: Where International Educators Work In and Outside the U.S.

• Colleges and Universities• ESL Programs• Education Abroad Program

Providers• Law Firms• International Education

Associations• Accreditation Agencies• U. S. Government

Source: NAFSA: Association of International Educators (www.nafsa.org)

Academic aspects• Specialists in your field – advising

and supervision level• Highly specialized programs• Full/part-time; start/finish dates• Program components (thesis, field

work option, exams, resources, language requirements, etc.)

Access to good career centers • Internship and job advice• Kind of grades/requirements

Campus visits• Talking to current students• Comfort level in a highly

competitive or more collaborative environment (not mutually exclusive)

Things to consider…

Common Obstacles• Academic fit: difficulty

with• Establishing meaningful

contact with prospective adviser or program contacts

• Finding students to talk to re: their experiences

• Misinformation on what is (not) good for your future career

• Lifestyle fit• Family• Job-study balance• Spiritual/mental health

• Financials• Total costs• Scholarship conditions• Taxable financial aid• Apply for multiple sources