I'm looking for opinions on how to proceed with my education. Minor or Master's? Do I need an internship when I've been deployed?

SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 13:58:39 -0400

I am in my junior year of my undergraduate in International Politics at Penn State. I have been able to maintain a 3.7 GPA so far, and now that I am getting close to completion, I am wondering where to go from here. My major is in International Politics, with a specialization in International Relations; I am wondering if I should pursue getting a minor in Business Administration (or something in that field) or continue with my plan to complete the major and go for a master's in Community and Economic Development. I have just enough time left on my GI Bill to complete my BA and possibly finish my Master's, but I don't think I have enough to do both the minor and the master's.

Mainly, I am just looking for opinions on what the best use of my time would be. Are minors something that job recruiters will look at? Should I focus on doing another internship (I served as a volunteer state coordinator for a political campaign this year, managing over 2000 volunteers and a large social media campaign)? Or, would my original plan be best - to focus on my major and complete my masters under the GI Bill?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2016 2:03 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 14:03:18 -0400

SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member The first question I would ask is what do you want to do? That will determine the path to success.

Response by SSgt Ryan Sylvester made Jun 2 at 2016 2:03 PM

SSgt Ryan Sylvester — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 14:03:45 -0400

If you aren't working while you're going for your degree (like I wasn't), then yes, you absolutely need an internship somewhere at some point. Trust me on this.

Response by LTC Kevin B. made Jun 2 at 2016 2:28 PM

LTC Kevin B. — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 14:28:28 -0400

A minor will differentiate you, but a graduate degree will differentiate you more (and even more favorably, with the added benefit of upward mobility). Go up (higher degree), not down (minor).

Internships always help if you're going into a career field in which you don't already have work experience. If you have already done one internship, and a second would come at the expense of not being able to get a graduate degree, I'd forego the second internship and go for the graduate degree.

Response by Lt Col Timothy Parker, DBA made Jun 2 at 2016 2:32 PM

Lt Col Timothy Parker, DBA — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 14:32:19 -0400

If I were an employer I'd view a masters as more valuable than a minor - by far. Not many employees look hard at minors unless it's in a tech field. As others may have said, it also depends on what you want to do longer term. Getting a masters drives you to a higher level position and also means they will look harder at you because they have to pay you more relative to the market place. Just my humble opinion.

Response by CSM William DeWolf made Jun 2 at 2016 2:41 PM

CSM William DeWolf — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 14:41:19 -0400

I think that's a tough decision. Why not finish your bachelor's degree and go for an MBA?

Response by SGT Joshua Strup made Jun 2 at 2016 2:57 PM

SGT Joshua Strup — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 14:57:08 -0400

Have you considered using Vocational Rehabilitation benefits under Chapter 31?

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Jun 2 at 2016 3:16 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 15:16:54 -0400

Odd combination. First a BA in International Politics buys you a Starbucks with $5 most places. It's a niche thing that you'd have to see what the marketplace offers. Flipping towards the C&ED might be a real disconnect if the program doesn't lend itself to international work. However the mix might make you valuable to an outfit like USAID.

Regardless, a master's rug wears a lot better than a minor which won't even get a footnote. I'd take a look at an international finance ticket being a better matchup. And if you're have a knack, a foreign language. I had a Kazakh girl for a year as an exchange student. She spoke Kazakh, Russian, French, English, and Mandarin. Pretty much wrote her own ticket.

Response by CPT Joseph K Murdock made Jun 2 at 2016 4:02 PM

CPT Joseph K Murdock — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 16:02:25 -0400

An internship is a must. That will be your experience. Often times an internship will lead to a direct offer of employment.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2016 5:13 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 17:13:25 -0400

Hi, SPC(P) Jensen.

I majored in Management information Systems and minored in Business Management. All of the classes I needed for my minor were included as classes in my major. Declaring a minor was only a matter of checking "Minor" on the paperwork. I found it was a bullet in my resume that no one noticed. It might have driven home the idea that MIS was a business management major, but that was it.

If those were my choices, I would focus on the Master's. Like others have said, though, I would really look into internships.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2016 5:16 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 17:16:24 -0400

I think that this is almost a no-brainer, SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member. Pursue the Master's, especially if you can get much of it paid for by GIB. An internship would be very wise to pursue, especially if you have some idea who you want to work for. Lots of networking opportunity there.

Response by LTC John Shaw made Jun 2 at 2016 5:58 PM

LTC John Shaw — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 17:58:42 -0400

Masters is way better than the minor. Agree with others comments on internship. Good luck.

Response by SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2016 9:10 PM

SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 21:10:22 -0400

Thanks everyone for your comments! You have all given me a lot to think about. Does anyone have tips on where to look for internships? I have a few websites I follow, but haven't had much luck finding anything that fits.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jun 2 at 2016 10:28 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 22:28:22 -0400

Look at http://www.excelsior.edu, they had I'd read a master's in liberal arts, very svc mbr and vet friendly, fully accred, I jpused them for Pa 2nd Bach in math by GRE subj tests, not the GRE genl test. They were for erly part of NYS govt and privatized, call their toll free and chat with them. A friend of mine did his Bach math with them and got into an OCS using it threafter. I don't know if the svcs or VA accept this next one, honest, http://www.uopeople.edu, or how industry views it, however they got DETC accred, formerly NHSC, though that's not the same as regional accred, though it's I gather legitimate and real. I only suggest them as they nonprofit, no tuition, only admin exam fees. They have Assoc and Bach in bus admin, comp sci (not IT, different), and health sci, as well as an MBA I'd just read about. You'd need to ask about them very thoroughly, however, I've read good things, however, someone else on the sithere where id mentioned UoPeople mentioned the obv distiction between DETzc accred and regnl accred, so I'm not saying it's a panacea, just something I thought of "possible" interest, honest, that's all.

You have an interesting set of possibilities, as I see them. First, would you want to stay in and go commissioned or warrant at all? If so, I'd submit for either the AF Inst of technology or AFIt or naval postgraduate school or NPS after trying for one of the OCS or wocs programs, posbly also, law very very real possibility for you given your major, then see if the svcs have a scholarship for a JD , as to that, I have no idea. I'd also look at USMC platoon leader corps or PLC , as well. Now, one minor I'd very seriously consider. If you want a minor, would be in economics, especially mathematical economics, and or operations research or OR. OR or mathematical economics would broaden you significantly, especially focusing on such areas as econometrics, posbly. I saw you'd looked at civil affairs, which most especially is why I'd suggest law, with a 3.7 from Penn State, I quite honestly think you'd have a very real chance, honest. Look at the Barry Univ law school in Orlando, FL, where a friend of mine went, honest, it's an excellent program, for real. I'd try given your Gpa ifmyou want grad level for an assistantship, grad, research or teaching, or GA RA or TA, you could I think actually also have a chance, and grad level could certainly help your chance for law, as well, a masters with your Bach at 3.7 might well give a law school serious pause to take you seriously, not they wouldn't, I think right now, you know? Register for and take the LSAT, and the GMAT, as well as the GRE genl test, and the GRE subj tests in areas relevant to your coursework till now, e.g., economics possible, or maybe history, if there is one in that , also. Next, history, for a master's and or PhD could also be a very real possibility, as well, I'd ask to apply to all potentially relevant departments at both AFIT and NPS, certainly. I think with a 3.7 from Penn State, if you want to stay in I'd apply to all the OCS amd WOCS progs, by all means. I have other thoughts. If you'd be interested, by all means, hope was of use and or interest,I'dd be most eager to hear more about your coursework, specific interests, and ultimate objectives, anytime, many thanks.

www.excelsior.edu

Excelsior College, an online college with degree programs, courses and exams in Business, Technology, Nursing, Liberal Arts, Health Sciences and Public Service.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jun 2 at 2016 10:37 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 22:37:59 -0400

Look also at student Veterans of America, excellemtmorgnztn, if you haven't already, just a thought .