Jaroslav graduated from SUA with a concentration in INTS in 2018. He then studied at the University of Cambridge for a master’s degree in Politics and International Relations. Upon finishing graduate school, he began working in management consulting in London and later Dublin.
How did International Studies prepare you for life after SUA?
Owing to the concentration’s broad range of courses, I was able to learn about the basic concepts from comparative politics, international relations, or economics. My graduate program at Cambridge was all but narrowly defined, so what I learned at SUA proved extremely useful. I was often able to quickly grasp and build upon concepts that students from other schools were not familiar with.
There is also great value in the research opportunities offered. While working as a research assistant, I was able to improve my research skills by working alongside brilliant professors such as Shane Barter, Tomás Crowder-Taraborrelli and Lisa MacLeod. This later led me to wonderful internship opportunities and provided a tailwind during my graduate studies.
What are some of your best memories and lessons from INTS classes?
There are a few moments I remember in particular. One is an entertaining discussion of flags as national symbols in State & Society. Another would be an unforgettable learning cluster trip to Malaysia and Singapore, where we met with local politicians and activists in an attempt to understand multiculturalism.
My favorite courses were State & Society, Capitalism & Globalization (Independent Study), Middle East Conflict, and Culture and Imperialism.
Do you have any advice for current INTS concentrators?
First, sharpen your research and writing skills as much as possible. See if you can offer help to your professor with a small publication like a book review. This will prove extremely valuable upon graduation no matter what you end up doing. It is also a significant advantage when applying to graduate school in terms of your competitive profile as well as scholarship potential.
Secondly, become familiar with quantitative methods. Take a class on statistics or quantitative research in politics, even online. Try not to neglect it as you will keep stumbling upon basic numerical competency requirements.
Third, really try to think about your future direction and adjust your senior year course selection and capstone topic accordingly. The latter might provide you with a relevant project to mention in job interviews or a basis for research during graduate studies.
Alternatively, if you are not planning on going to graduate school, simply do something outside of your studies and take ownership of a project that matters. Try to bring maximum value to the table. Again, it will be a springboard for your future efforts.