Korean Job Discussion Forums

[AwfulPersimmon]

Hello,

I�m a 27 year old American. I�m currently employed in a decent job with decent benefits including healthcare, 401K, and tuition reimbursement. I have doubts about the capacity for advancement within my company.

I�m working through 5 prerequisite courses in preparation to apply for either a Master�s of Public Policy program or a Master�s of Science in Statistics. The Public Policy programs are full-time and in the US. Penn State offers an online equivalent of its M.S. in Stats which could be completed while living and working in Korea. My end goals are think tanks, GAO, watchdog groups, or the Department of State.

Were I working in Korea at a university, or even a Hagwon, I could certainly make more money than I'm making now, and would probably have more time for studying. I have a year of experience in Korea and two years of volunteer adult ESL experience in the US, so I�m confident in my abilities to work in the Korean system and as an ESL teacher in general. My stock of lesson plans would substantially reduce the need for extensive planning without shortchanging my potential students. Doing a degree in this way would probably take just under three years, and I assume I wouldn�t need to tell future employers that I was working as a teacher while studying.

The Public Policy programs would more or less wipe out my savings, but I could definitely do one of them without going into debt. Doing a degree this way would take two years and would require a summer internship. The programs in question are mid-level and both place their graduates in acceptable positions within the previously stated organizations.

I�m leaning towards the latter approach, but I�d like to hear opinions from both sides of the fence as to potential problems, unexpected benefits, or gaps in my planning.

Thanks,

William

[figshdg]

I was initially planning to study a couple of statistics courses here with a view to entering a master's program focusing on economics. I changed my mind and applied very late to a master's program in IR. I started last autumn. It's a two year distance degree. It seems manageable at the moment. The only issue I would have with your plan is the possible internship requirement. Have you thought about how you would fit that in?

[AwfulPersimmon]

The internship is required by the public policy programs, which must be attended in person. I could have been more clear in stating that the choice is between the MPP / in person / in two years and the M.S. / online / in three.

So, you've had no problems with getting textbooks or navigating the time difference? How about paying tuition abroad or otherwise handling the inane practices of university bursars? How many credits have you managed while working? Would you mind sharing a link to your program so that I could compare it with the ones I'm considering?

[figshdg]

Ah, regardless, have you thought about getting work experience even if you do do the online master's?

http://www2.le.ac.uk/departments/politics/distance-learning/ir-world-order

I'm doing my MA via Leicester. There are a few other IR distance learning programs for comparability. Free University Berlin, American University, and the University of Lancaster all offer MAs in IR via distance learning (AU haven't started yet, but they are recruiting students to begin a DL program starting this year). There are other programs offered by lesser-known UK universities.

No problems with textbooks (my Kindle has saved my ass a couple of times) and no problem so far with time difference. As I'm from the UK, I just transfer money home and pay via my bank at home (again, no problems). I've just about finished the first credits.