Chinese Language Flagship Program

I know some people are probably hesitant to consider it because it sounds pretty partisan, but despite the name and everyone loving 41, it really is not partisan. In all honesty, the majority of students and professors lean left, as with most academic institutions. For those students that want to go into academia to become professors and teach, it might not be a good program for them and they should look more into Georgetown or American. For those that want to go into the workforce, it is great because there is a nice balance of career professionals and academics that teach the courses. You can have a class on diplomacy taught by a former ambassador or a class on East Asian security taught by the academic that literally wrote the theory of Chinese economic statecraft. A big differentiator with the Bush School is the environment – the program encourages camaraderie between the students which is usually not prevalent in graduate schools where students typically compete against each other. This is through numerous simulations, group work, social events, recreational sports, leadership opportunities at the school, volunteer opportunities (they encourage this a lot), etc. The students also develop personal relationships with professors who take more of a mentorship role with them rather than a “show up to class and leave” role. Overall, I thought it was a great experience and don’t regret going there at all.The purpose of the Bush School is to have the students become public servants rather than professors so the courses and program as a whole provide opportunities for students that will hopefully get them into the public sector (and then some people stray like I did, but long term I would like to get there). Whenever I am at conferences that has government employees there, they always say great things about the Bush School because people respect the caliber of the students that come from there.

If anyone has any questions about the program, send them my way! I am definitely open to talking to them.

Liz Leary

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP | Risk Consultant 

Master of International Affairs ’18 | Bush School of Government & Public Service