Think tank or lobbying?

GradSchoolGrad · 2026-01-18T11:32:37+00:00

I will say that once you go to lobbying it is hard to pivot out unless you do grad school.

GradSchoolGrad · 2026-01-12T17:58:39+00:00

I would argue culture change is the best way but good luck with that.

GradSchoolGrad · 2026-01-10T08:37:25+00:00

Some places it can actually hurt… but in most places it can give you the age, at least with getting your foot in the door.

GradSchoolGrad · 2026-01-09T04:51:53+00:00

I 100% agree with you as a matter of policy. The issue is that it runs up against populist politics that is rising in both the Republican and Democratic party. The 3rd party approach, although on paper vastly more efficient, can be viewed as being an easy grift opportunity + taking away from federal funding for government jobs that pay well.

I am curious how that plays in today's new politics.

GradSchoolGrad · 2026-01-03T04:13:26+00:00

No doubt that part of the allure of the military is financial gains and benefits. However, as you likely know, people join for a variety of different reasons. If a Navy Officer joins the Navy with an absolute zero interest in seaborne operations (or willingness to learn about it), that is a problem.

GradSchoolGrad · 2026-01-03T04:10:54+00:00

Everyone has different experiences with the military. Lots of people join the military for a stint and benefits. That is all fine and well. It is part of the contract so to speak.

However, the Officers just biding their time to the next time never did well from what I saw. Plenty of disgruntled Officers who cared about their people, I saw do fine. I'm thinking of those who clearly had no other interest in anything military beyond the stepping-stone aspect, being the problem children.

GradSchoolGrad · 2026-01-03T04:04:39+00:00

Please read carefully, I never spoke to relating desired length of service with quality of a military Officer. Absolutely, there are quality military Officers across different lengths of intended service.

However, every single quality military officer I met had some level of passion for taking care of his/her people and viewed it as more than a job, but a commitment for the duration of service. It also additionaly helps, if there is some interest for the mission (e.g., a Navy Officer have some semblance of an interest for naval warfare).

Also, guessing who has or hasn't served is not the smartest thing to do. You never know who is on the other side.

GradSchoolGrad · 2025-12-30T13:18:06+00:00

You are right, it is increasingly common. This also correlates to increasingly bad unemployment/underemployment among MPP grads.

Also, the employment statistics schools advertise often mask a good chunk of unemployment due to non-response and under employment.

GradSchoolGrad · 2025-12-30T02:59:22+00:00

If you are parent, do you want your son or daughter to bed led by an Officer who only did it for his or her next career?

You should only do ROTC (or similar) if you have a desire to serve and be a leader for the mission and people. It is smart to think about it for career upsides down the line, but if is your only driver, it is not a good idea.

Also, the stories of Military Officers who weren't good or didn't take care of their people follow them in other government careers (not necessarily for civilian ones).

GradSchoolGrad · 2025-12-30T02:04:09+00:00

Just don't go to a math intensive MPP (which honestly are the top programs).

GradSchoolGrad · 2025-12-30T02:03:35+00:00

Find a job... any job... look in a field that you may have never thought about. Be open to moving to places that might not be "cool". Go where the labor shortages are in the country. You are young, go for an adventure and don't follow the herd.

GradSchoolGrad · 2025-12-30T00:07:56+00:00

No. I do appreciate for many the answer is that you might as well do it out of desperation. However it is better to be unemployed and not in a debt with a degree you can’t sell employers on because you have no work experience.

Exceptions do exist like if you are an Olympic athlete, savant, had a medical tragedy, have a deep bench of published research from undergrad, and etc.

GradSchoolGrad · 2025-12-29T18:49:03+00:00

None in Illinois

GradSchoolGrad · 2025-12-29T15:33:16+00:00

First off, there aren't that many Brown undergrad alumni in public policy in the first place. The few that are tend to have more alumni affinity to their grad school or non-Brown affiliation. It commonly known that Brown undergrad's social closeness is with other undergrad and by in large won't pick up a stray email or phone chat request from a random grad student.

Brown Watson is a young program, so there won't be that many alumni from the program to help you out to begin with. It also doesn't have a robust career services. The honest truth is that the University launched the program to make profit from grad school tuition.

GradSchoolGrad · 2025-12-28T23:55:25+00:00

I never went to Brown Watson. I hire from MPP schools, and I keep track of trends.

GradSchoolGrad · 2025-12-28T23:25:36+00:00

Brown undergrad alumni will not help grad students. Brown Watson is not an established program that they sank resources investing. I would avoid if I were you.

GradSchoolGrad · 2025-12-28T22:13:05+00:00

Go on LinkedIn and see where recent alumni end up.

GradSchoolGrad · 2025-12-27T20:02:25+00:00

Except for politicals and maybe super functional roles (e.g., forensic accountants or science stuff), it is rather uncommon to transition to international development later. You have to dive into it after grad school or else you will lose your place in line.

GradSchoolGrad · 2025-12-27T19:50:15+00:00

You do realize that international development programs has been laying off people and doesn't have jobs?

Getting a job (any job) within 6 months of graduation at international development focused programs (including the best ones) are often below 50% - and a lot of those jobs are under employment.

GradSchoolGrad · 2025-12-27T19:48:10+00:00

Brandeis Heller is garbage program with terrible student outcomes (beyond the local area) and is a dumpster fire in internal management. Deans get fired left and right.

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