The fall semester is well underway at Johns Hopkins, but I’m a bit far away from Baltimore. I’m currently living in Bologna, Italy, where I will spend the year studying as I pursue my master’s at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).
I’m a member of the Direct Matriculation Program (DMP): International Relations at JHU, which allows undergrads to pursue a combined bachelor’s/master’s degree in five years. As a “DMPer,” I spent the past three years at the Homewood campus before coming to Bologna to start my master’s, and next year I will finish at the Bloomberg Center in Washington, DC.
Why I Chose Hopkins (and the DMP)
When I was applying to colleges, I never really had a “dream school.” I’m pretty adaptable, so I was most focused on finding the school with the best opportunities for me. I knew I wanted to study international relations in an interdisciplinary manner, and Johns Hopkins has a stellar reputation for this, so it was a no-brainer. (And it didn’t hurt that I’m a huge fan of the Baltimore Ravens!)
I wasn’t very familiar with what the DMP was, though. I knew I was interested in international studies, and I decided to apply to the program and see what happened. Once accepted, I spent a lot of time talking to current students, who were happy to share their experiences with the program and help me decide if it was the right fit. Ultimately, as someone interested in the field of international relations and policymaking, I knew Johns Hopkins and SAIS were the right choice.
The Practical Part
Of course, no conversation about a professional degree program is complete without discussing my own aspirations and how SAIS is helping me achieve them. I am pursuing a Master of Arts in International Relations with concentrations in Asia and Technology & Innovation. I’m interested in working in emerging technology policy in the Indo-Pacific, and I plan to go to law school further down the line. I wasn’t always sure of my career path, but the DMP has supported me as my interests have evolved.
The network that SAIS generates is one-of-a-kind, and I benefited from it well before I started coursework at SAIS. As a Hopkins student and DMPer, alumni of JHU, SAIS, and the DMP program have always been extremely welcoming and happy to chat with me. Through conversations about different work environments and policy domains, alumni have helped me refine my interests. As a DMPer, you tend to be one of the youngest students at SAIS, so having these resources helps you come into SAIS prepared to maximize your time and opportunities.
Now that I’m a SAIS student, I’m able to learn in far more applied and technical contexts. Many professors at SAIS are practitioners, which means that you get to learn from people who have done the job you are training for. My professors are helping me construct the substantive foundation I need while simultaneously teaching me how to deliver briefings or write effective memos. I’m excited to exercise these new skills by participating in the career treks that SAIS hosts across Europe and traveling to conferences across the continent.
It’s Not All Work
The academic and professional aspects of the DMP are incredible, but it’s also a truly great group of people. The International Studies Program at Hopkins is big, and being a member of the DMP is like being part of a family. Not only are my advisors and department heads always there to encourage me or provide advice, but my fellow DMPers are always there to say hi and catch up when I run into them on or off campus or at department socials.
The DMP is a unique program which naturally lends itself to being tight knit. My year has about 15 members, with six of us choosing to spend the first year of the master’s at the SAIS Europe campus in Bologna. Moving 4,000 miles away is difficult, but I have never felt alone knowing that I have my friends here whenever I need a study buddy, dinner mate, or travel companion.
My senior year looks different than most, but I couldn’t be happier for it. Being a member of the DMP has been one of the best parts of my time at Hopkins, and I would choose it again with zero hesitation. And if you’re passionate about international relations, I think you should choose the DMP too.
