8 answers
Farida
Student
Cairo, Cairo Governorate, Egypt
10
Questions
Asked
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What is your advice for a high school student planning to pursue international relations, and then attend law school?
I plan to pursue international relations in college, and then attend law school later.
I'm open to receiving any advice whatsoever. Whether that be what to do as a high schooler to achieve this goal, or what to prepare for.
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8 answers
Georgie Ariano
Lead an Enterprise Sales Organization for a Software Company
3
Answers
Boonton, New Jersey
Updated
Georgie’s Answer
I love this question Farida!
Humans are everywhere and if you are curious about all around you, that will be a strong base regardless.
I'd short list schools that embrace a 'travel abroad' program. My son is a sophmore and having gone through the admissions process with him, travel abroad is now a MUST have vs. nice to have. Stay curious about your local businesses also. Small business owners can be quite diverse and have a plethora of experience.
I'd also prepare top 3 questions for them that you could consistently ask of any small business owner. How does the international economy or dynamic impact your business? Why did you start your business? If you could expand your business out of the country, where would you go.
All in all, Stay Curious Farida not only in terms of how international relations manifest but also where it works well, where its highly needed, what impacts it. I find an open mind about how much we ALL have in common vs. not is a great place to start.
As you ear the last couple of years undergrad, think about the type of law you are interested in. Your curiosity from above may have already answered that :)
Humans are everywhere and if you are curious about all around you, that will be a strong base regardless.
I'd short list schools that embrace a 'travel abroad' program. My son is a sophmore and having gone through the admissions process with him, travel abroad is now a MUST have vs. nice to have. Stay curious about your local businesses also. Small business owners can be quite diverse and have a plethora of experience.
I'd also prepare top 3 questions for them that you could consistently ask of any small business owner. How does the international economy or dynamic impact your business? Why did you start your business? If you could expand your business out of the country, where would you go.
All in all, Stay Curious Farida not only in terms of how international relations manifest but also where it works well, where its highly needed, what impacts it. I find an open mind about how much we ALL have in common vs. not is a great place to start.
As you ear the last couple of years undergrad, think about the type of law you are interested in. Your curiosity from above may have already answered that :)
Thank you so very much for your support and kind words! I truly appreciate the time and effort you poured into your response, and your advice not only was helpful but felt so personal and from the heart.
Farida
Violaine Gonzalez
Senior Associate
185
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Violaine’s Answer
Hi Farida. You're on an exciting path! Strengthen your writing, research, and critical thinking by taking classes such as history, government, and English. Learning a foreign language and staying updated on world events will be really helpful. Joining activities like debate, Model UN, or community service can give you valuable experience. These steps will set you up for success in international relations and law school. You've got this!
Thanks for your encouragement, this is very helpful!
Farida
Frederick Brian Lombardo
Geopolitical Analyst
2
Answers
Chicago, Illinois
Updated
Frederick Brian’s Answer
Hi Farida -
What a great question! The world always needs more folks who can think critically about difficult issues, and this is a great way to contribute to something bigger than yourself. Being curious is a must in this career field, and it sounds like you're already on your way there.
To begin, if you can take government, social studies, history, or political science courses in secondary school/high school, that will get you a head start.
I would look at schools with reputable programs in foreign policy, international relations, national security, political science, or intelligence. I studied intelligence and minored in political science, and those two study areas complemented each other really well. If you are looking in the US, I agree with others' suggestions to consider Georgetown, Hopkins, Harvard Kennedy School, Mercyhurst University (in Pennsylvania for intelligence), or the Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs at the University of Denver.
Also, I would suggest not tying yourself to a specific geographic area. That can be helpful if you want to go into academia or work at a think tank, but I've found being a generalist with a background in foreign affairs or international studies makes you very reputable. Government and various companies are interested in knowing how you can assess an issue and what it means for that organization's core interests. Any of the above programs will get you there.
Finally, consider studying a foreign language or cyber security/AI to support your broad international affairs focus. I believe these are (and will continue to be) critical moving forward in our world, and having that on your resume will make you more marketable.
Feel free to ask any other follow-up questions. I hope this helps, and good luck! So excited for your journey ahead!
Best,
Brian
What a great question! The world always needs more folks who can think critically about difficult issues, and this is a great way to contribute to something bigger than yourself. Being curious is a must in this career field, and it sounds like you're already on your way there.
To begin, if you can take government, social studies, history, or political science courses in secondary school/high school, that will get you a head start.
I would look at schools with reputable programs in foreign policy, international relations, national security, political science, or intelligence. I studied intelligence and minored in political science, and those two study areas complemented each other really well. If you are looking in the US, I agree with others' suggestions to consider Georgetown, Hopkins, Harvard Kennedy School, Mercyhurst University (in Pennsylvania for intelligence), or the Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs at the University of Denver.
Also, I would suggest not tying yourself to a specific geographic area. That can be helpful if you want to go into academia or work at a think tank, but I've found being a generalist with a background in foreign affairs or international studies makes you very reputable. Government and various companies are interested in knowing how you can assess an issue and what it means for that organization's core interests. Any of the above programs will get you there.
Finally, consider studying a foreign language or cyber security/AI to support your broad international affairs focus. I believe these are (and will continue to be) critical moving forward in our world, and having that on your resume will make you more marketable.
Feel free to ask any other follow-up questions. I hope this helps, and good luck! So excited for your journey ahead!
Best,
Brian
I appreciate this, thank you very much for the advice! You have given me the support I could only dream of, and you have given me advice I will 100% be referring back to.
Farida
Shanthi Fallon
Solicitor
2
Answers
London, England, United Kingdom
Updated
Shanthi’s Answer
Hi what a great career choice. I would recommend applying for work experience of internships.
Thank you, I appreciate it!
Farida
Is it possible for high school students to apply for internships in international relations/law? Do you have any recommendations on how they can go about finding these opportunities?
Gurpreet Lally, Admin
yes this is possible in the UK as law firms offer summer placements/vacation schemes. I would conduct a google search depending on where you are based. There is also a Network called the Brokerage in the UK www.thebrokerage.org which may help with finding placements. Good luck!
Shanthi Fallon
Martha D. Kramer
Corporate Training and Communications
26
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Martha D.’s Answer
Hello, Farida - as our world becomes even more interconnected, having experts in international relations is increasingly important so I commend you.
Are you interested in studying in Egypt or elsewhere? If in the United States, I recommend including Georgetown, Princeton, Harvard (although the Kennedy school is primarily graduate level), Tufts, Johns Hopkins, and Syracuse. There are good programs at other excellent schools, such as Stanford and Duke, but I studied public affairs and these are the schools I think of first.
As for how to get in, there other similar questions and answers on this website (see link below). I would highlight:
- Take as challenging an academic schedule as you can while maintaining your physical and mental health. College admissions officers will have information about what your high school offers
- Look for opportunities to explore international relations, both in your electives and in extra-curriculars such as participating in the Model UN program or in summer studies (if affordable for you). Perhaps you could intern or volunteer with a refugee organization or other relevant NGO?
- Give yourself time to write a thoughtful personal essay and supplements. Don't be surprised if you have to do multiple drafts, especially if you share drafts with trusted adults. This is normal. Don't assume you will re-use supplements without modification; schools may ask essentially the same question a slightly different way and expect a tailored answer.
Wishing you good luck!
Other CareerVillage question - https://www.careervillage.org/questions/977292/what-should-i-do-if-i-want-to-get-into-a-good-university
Are you interested in studying in Egypt or elsewhere? If in the United States, I recommend including Georgetown, Princeton, Harvard (although the Kennedy school is primarily graduate level), Tufts, Johns Hopkins, and Syracuse. There are good programs at other excellent schools, such as Stanford and Duke, but I studied public affairs and these are the schools I think of first.
As for how to get in, there other similar questions and answers on this website (see link below). I would highlight:
- Take as challenging an academic schedule as you can while maintaining your physical and mental health. College admissions officers will have information about what your high school offers
- Look for opportunities to explore international relations, both in your electives and in extra-curriculars such as participating in the Model UN program or in summer studies (if affordable for you). Perhaps you could intern or volunteer with a refugee organization or other relevant NGO?
- Give yourself time to write a thoughtful personal essay and supplements. Don't be surprised if you have to do multiple drafts, especially if you share drafts with trusted adults. This is normal. Don't assume you will re-use supplements without modification; schools may ask essentially the same question a slightly different way and expect a tailored answer.
Wishing you good luck!
Martha D. recommends the following next steps:
Wow, this was extremely helpful! This answer was perfectly tailored to me, and I greatly appreciate it.
Farida
Sarina V
Business Analyst
9
Answers
San Jose, California
Updated
Sarina’s Answer
Hi! When it comes to actions you can take in high school, there are a lot of ways to set yourself up for success. I think from a knowledge perspective, keep yourself informed with what's happening, and think critically- how does the news make you feel and why? From a skills perspective, find areas where you can learn and lead. Clubs, Speech and Debate, Student Council, and more can all be great ways to learn! Good luck!
Thank you, this is amazing! I really needed it.
Farida
Vianne Phan
Youth Development Teacher
89
Answers
San Diego, California
Updated
Vianne’s Answer
First, that’s a solid and realistic plan, and you’re thinking about it early in the right way. International relations to law school is actually a pretty common path, and it works well if you’re intentional about it.
As a high schooler, your main job is to build strong reading, writing, and critical thinking skills. Law school and IR are both very reading heavy, so classes like honors or AP English, history, government, and even economics matter more than people realize. If your school offers debate, Model UN, mock trial, or any kind of writing or research club, those are gold for what you’re interested in. You don’t need to do everything, but sticking with one or two of those for multiple years shows real interest and growth. Also, if you can start or continue a foreign language, do it. That helps a lot for international relations and sets you apart later.
In college, remember this early: your GPA matters a lot for law school, more than your specific major. International relations is totally fine as long as you do well in it. Take classes that force you to read closely, write clearly, and argue logically. Internships matter too, but they do not have to be law firm internships right away. Government offices, nonprofits, research roles, and policy organizations all build relevant experience. For law school prep, you do not need to stress about the LSAT early, but you should get comfortable with logic, reading comprehension, and time management. Philosophy, economics, or legal studies classes can help with that if they fit into your schedule.
One last thing that people do not say enough: give yourself flexibility. A lot of students go into college dead set on law school and change their minds, and that is okay. International relations gives you options in policy, government, NGOs, and international work even if you don’t end up going to law school. If you focus on doing well academically, building real skills, and exploring your interests honestly, you’ll be setting yourself up for success no matter which path you end up choosing.
As a high schooler, your main job is to build strong reading, writing, and critical thinking skills. Law school and IR are both very reading heavy, so classes like honors or AP English, history, government, and even economics matter more than people realize. If your school offers debate, Model UN, mock trial, or any kind of writing or research club, those are gold for what you’re interested in. You don’t need to do everything, but sticking with one or two of those for multiple years shows real interest and growth. Also, if you can start or continue a foreign language, do it. That helps a lot for international relations and sets you apart later.
In college, remember this early: your GPA matters a lot for law school, more than your specific major. International relations is totally fine as long as you do well in it. Take classes that force you to read closely, write clearly, and argue logically. Internships matter too, but they do not have to be law firm internships right away. Government offices, nonprofits, research roles, and policy organizations all build relevant experience. For law school prep, you do not need to stress about the LSAT early, but you should get comfortable with logic, reading comprehension, and time management. Philosophy, economics, or legal studies classes can help with that if they fit into your schedule.
One last thing that people do not say enough: give yourself flexibility. A lot of students go into college dead set on law school and change their minds, and that is okay. International relations gives you options in policy, government, NGOs, and international work even if you don’t end up going to law school. If you focus on doing well academically, building real skills, and exploring your interests honestly, you’ll be setting yourself up for success no matter which path you end up choosing.
Nessa E. French
Sustainability & Social Impact, Senior Manager
2
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Nessa’s Answer
Hi Farida, sounds like a really interesting and fulfilling career path. I studied international relations in university and studying abroad was one of the most fulfilling and impactful parts of that experience.
As many others have said, I would seek university opportunities where you are able to study abroad, if possible. In addition, clubs like Model UN, Speech & Debate, or really any school club that gives you public speaking will be immensely helpful. My dad was a trial attorney and I know that even participating in theatre also helped him find success in court as a lawyer. I'd also recommend to read as much as possible, especially about historical figures, history and how an array of governments have been set up. Reading can be fun and also provides a way for us to learn about societies and worlds we have yet to be a part of or which don't exist any longer.
Once you're in university, in addition to all of the above, I'd seek opportunities to connect with people from different backgrounds and exposure to different cultures (even just by trying a different cultural restaurant). Academically, practicing deep research and writing will help for your future law career. All of this will help you be really well rounded, comfortable with public speaking and ability to make the right argument! Best of luck.
As many others have said, I would seek university opportunities where you are able to study abroad, if possible. In addition, clubs like Model UN, Speech & Debate, or really any school club that gives you public speaking will be immensely helpful. My dad was a trial attorney and I know that even participating in theatre also helped him find success in court as a lawyer. I'd also recommend to read as much as possible, especially about historical figures, history and how an array of governments have been set up. Reading can be fun and also provides a way for us to learn about societies and worlds we have yet to be a part of or which don't exist any longer.
Once you're in university, in addition to all of the above, I'd seek opportunities to connect with people from different backgrounds and exposure to different cultures (even just by trying a different cultural restaurant). Academically, practicing deep research and writing will help for your future law career. All of this will help you be really well rounded, comfortable with public speaking and ability to make the right argument! Best of luck.