Major for a kid who wants IR but is average student

[Anonymous]

My DS loves to travel, has lots of friends whose parents are UN & State Dept. he likes politics but doesn’t want law. Thinks he wants to major in International Relations/Global Studies. Is curious about Peace Corp and will definitely study abroad.

However, he’s not a strong student. His target schools are in the Towson range. Note: we’re in DC so all choices are OOS but wants to stay mid-Atlantic/NE area.

What other degrees would a kid like this look at should he change his mind? We want to make sure when choosing college that he has options if IR doesn’t work out.

And any school suggestions welcome.

[Anonymous]

ED to George Washington?

[Anonymous]

Something like Environmental science will get him a second look by the peace corps. They have a bunch of liberal arts applicants when what they need is engineers (probably not your kid) and kids with useful science degrees (could be your kid)

[Anonymous]

Sorry I don't have specific advice but I just wanted to say- that if he is motivated, he can do what he wants to do! It doesn't matter - IMHO- if he didn't play the game to put the perfect narrative on this college apps. He is a teenager, just starting out. His interests are awesome. He could start at CC and achieve them. Don't count out IR. Encourage him to stay the course. I am sure there are wonderful college options in range. Look at the NE state schools. Some kids bloom in college or even later. Encourage him to stay the course and work hard. And don't be discouraged by the high achievers on here. I have one who is and one who isn't. Would I say the one who is is happier or I'm less worried for than the other? No. We all have our strengths and character, it's a nebulous thing. Anyway, sorry for babbling. Best of luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:ED to George Washington?

OP here. Wow, you didn’t read my post. The kid’s target is Towson. He’s got a 3.0 gpa.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Something like Environmental science will get him a second look by the peace corps. They have a bunch of liberal arts applicants when what they need is engineers (probably not your kid) and kids with useful science degrees (could be your kid)

OP here. This is great advice! Any other non science degrees?

[Anonymous]

ROTC. The military has a lot of opportunities that are akin to diplomatic roles. We've know a few families who were attachés and they lived in great places and were really only back in the US for language training

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry I don't have specific advice but I just wanted to say- that if he is motivated, he can do what he wants to do! It doesn't matter - IMHO- if he didn't play the game to put the perfect narrative on this college apps. He is a teenager, just starting out. His interests are awesome. He could start at CC and achieve them. Don't count out IR. Encourage him to stay the course. I am sure there are wonderful college options in range. Look at the NE state schools. Some kids bloom in college or even later. Encourage him to stay the course and work hard. And don't be discouraged by the high achievers on here. I have one who is and one who isn't. Would I say the one who is is happier or I'm less worried for than the other? No. We all have our strengths and character, it's a nebulous thing. Anyway, sorry for babbling. Best of luck!

OP here. Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:ROTC. The military has a lot of opportunities that are akin to diplomatic roles. We've know a few families who were attachés and they lived in great places and were really only back in the US for language training

Ooh, will raise that!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Something like Environmental science will get him a second look by the peace corps. They have a bunch of liberal arts applicants when what they need is engineers (probably not your kid) and kids with useful science degrees (could be your kid)

OP here. This is great advice! Any other non science degrees?

No idea. I got this from NPR the other day. A peace corps executive was on talking about the challenges they were facing. They talked specifically about having volumes of applications from kids generalist majors (that was her term, but the examples she gave here history and english so she was talking about liberal arts) when they were desperate for engineers and kids with science backgrounds (environmental science was the example she gave)

[Anonymous]

Most of the young people (and not so young people) looking at the Foreign Service are dead set on the political cone. If your child combined an IR degree with something practical, maybe he could apply to the management cone which is more like "day to day running of the Embassy" rather than high level political strategy/diplomacy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Something like Environmental science will get him a second look by the peace corps. They have a bunch of liberal arts applicants when what they need is engineers (probably not your kid) and kids with useful science degrees (could be your kid)

OP here. This is great advice! Any other non science degrees?

No idea. I got this from NPR the other day. A peace corps executive was on talking about the challenges they were facing. They talked specifically about having volumes of applications from kids generalist majors (that was her term, but the examples she gave here history and english so she was talking about liberal arts) when they were desperate for engineers and kids with science backgrounds (environmental science was the example she gave)

Public health might be another option to consider. Food-related majors, too: logistics and supply chains, statistics, agriculture, etc.

[Anonymous]

)
Public health might be another option to consider. Food-related majors, too: logistics and supply chains, statistics, agriculture, etc.

These are really good ideas. I think with public health and maybe some of the others, a masters degree is really important. WVU has a supply chain management program. No international relations program but it does have this:

The international studies major is composed of internationally oriented courses drawn from several disciplinary and interdisciplinary study areas. Students take courses from departments such as economics, geography, history, political science, sociology/anthropology, and world languages.

Students who earn a degree in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences must complete the University requirements, the College requirements for their specific degree program, and their major requirements.

[Anonymous]

UMD just this past month approved a new major in Global Public Health. He could do two years of community college and then transfer.

[Anonymous]

Is your son strong in foreign language classes? Most colleges require a fairly deep language requirement if majoring in IR or global business. DC and NY offer the most internships for this field of study. Share these links with him to get an idea of IR at various colleges.

GMU https://schar.gmu.edu/programs/undergraduate/government-and-international-politics

Manhattan College https://manhattan.edu/academics/majors-and-minors/international-studies.php also partners with American University DC “ Would you rather get your feet wet in Washington, D.C.? We are a partner school with American University’s Washington Semester Program, where you can gain onsite experience at key organizations in D.C. Concentrate in foreign policy, global economics and business, international law and more.”

Fordham University has a strong International Studies program. ROTC, as well. https://www.fordham.edu/undergraduate-admission/majors-and-minors/international-studies/

Also, Bard has an interesting program https://gis.bard.edu/