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.

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.

Should You Go to Grad School at All?

The most important question is whether going to graduate school is a good idea in the first place, and relatedly, what sort of degree you want to get. If you’re interested in international affairs and don’t want to go to law school or business school, then the choice boils down to either a master’s degree in public policy and/or international relations, or a Ph.D. Which one might be right for you?

If you have no interest in an academic career, then a master’s degree is probably the way to go. It will take about two years (which in turn means fewer student loans and less time away from the workforce), and it will add to your analytical and professional skills and subject-matter expertise. M.A. programs are also excellent networking opportunities, and many of them encourage or facilitate internships that can provide entry points into the next phase of your career. For a few students, completing an M.A. whets the appetite for doing in-depth research and convinces them that a Ph.D. is what they really want after all.

Pursuing a Ph.D. is another matter entirely. It’s pretty much a necessity if you want to have a serious academic career, and a doctorate will also enhance your knowledge, credentials, and job possibilities if you decide to work at a think tank, in government, or even the private sector. But getting a doctorate is a long slog and likely to take a minimum of five years. Even worse, the academic job market is fickle, and there’s no guarantee that a good job will be waiting for you when you’re done. If you’re not pretty sure that........

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