What should I go for? Aber-Int. Pol. w/ Intelligence or Mobile Applications

Hi!

First of all let me introduce myself - my name is Karl, 23y old (soon to be 24) and living in Sweden.

Have been admitted to Aberystywyth - Int. Politics with a specialisation in Intelligence. Also have accommodation so almost everything is "a done deal".

Now I find myself having second thoughts.
I have also been admitted to a 2y programme that involves Mobile Applications, creating "apps" for iPhone/Android etc. and 1/3 of those 2years are "practical" meaning you get to work with a company and get "hands-on" experience. Around 90% get work before the education is finished (often with the companys they have worked together with during their "internship" or practical term).

I can't really decide between these two educations.
One on hand I am really interested in current events, politics and specially intelligence.
On the other, I really like technology and creating things, solving problems etc.

The thing I dread the most if I go to Aber is that I won't find any qualified work after the education. I would love to work as an intelligence analyst after the education in the US or perhaps in the UK.

Now all the jobs I have been looking at require UK or US citizenship.
That means that even though I might have the qualifications they are looking for, since I'm not a US/UK citizen I won't get those jobs.

I have already tried 3 different educations that was not for me and I really want to choose the right one this time. All my friends are already done with theirs and have a flat, girlfriend and a good salery.

I would love to experience studying in another country and everything what that entails but I do not want to find that after 3y I don't get any qualified work and have to move back to Sweden with debts and no prospect of getting any of the jobs I thought I would have when I started the education.

Then I could as easily gone a similar education here without the intelligence specialisation and been almost debt free (at least spent a lot less money). The money isn't the factor, I could spend twice the amount only if I was "guaranteed" to get the sort of work I was looking for.

I'm in a bind here, any advice/help would be appreciated.

Reply 1

h3nk1

TheSwede86

Hi!

First of all let me introduce myself - my name is Karl, 23y old (soon to be 24) and living in Sweden.

All my friends are already done with theirs and have a flat, girlfriend and a good salery.

Hey Karl

First of all: You are young - you have all the time in the world - relax!

Second: What is it with Sweden, if every 24 year old already got a gob, 'wife' and decent salary? That is certainly not the case anywhere else ^^

Anyway, I feel your worries man. I've swapped education three times, and would love to work as an astronomer, fishing-guide, political adviser and astronaut at the same time. No joke heh.

Now, after years wanting all that - I figured out that I couldn't, so I went for an education that resonated reasonably well with me (which was the best I could ever hope for).

Just do what you feel like, man. If you regret it, then change plans and take it from there. Most people are never sure what they should study or work with in the future (it is just that many act like they do).

The Aber-offer sound great! And remember, you could also work with Swedish intelligence.. Even Norway got one, and it is growing. I'm, for example, currently doing a summer internship at the Norwegian Defence Research Establishments.

Also, the techno-offer also sounds great if you're into those things.

Conclusion: You can't go wrong.

Good luck dude!

Reply 2

TheSwede86

Cheers h3nk1 for the reply.

Well, thats just the problem.
I mean, I should not compare myself to my friends, I know that but I really REALLY want to find "my" education, finish it and get on with my life.

My 1st education was the one my friends studied and if I only had "hung on" then I would be finished. Of course I didn't want to finish it since it was not for me but you might get the feelings I have when I see my friends that are all sorted, have gf's/flats and a good salery.

I want to start living. Of course, as the poets and great thinkers say, you should live in the moment and live NOW not just wait for life to begin, then it will pass you by. Living at home atm and had (until recently) got back to the same dead-end job I used to work between my earlier educations.

I don't want to be 30 and go to the Uni, for me its "bad enough" I'm 23 soon to be 24 and not have a finished degree. I know, its possibly quite right what you say that 23-24 isn't an age at all and I guess it isn't but for me personally - what I feel is that this time I have to get it right.

More On-Topic:

Norway I belive has "one-up" on Sweden since its a member of NATO.
Therefore you can (at least I believe) hope to get some sort of a international job working as a liason or attaché between NIS (Norweigan Intelligence Service) and NATO, pref. in NYC (hehe :wink:

)

The prospect of working in the swedish intelligence community does not appeal to me at all. I should say I know nothing of it, since most (if not all) intelligence services are secretive and clandestine.

But then again, there might be an opening to work overseas in Afghanistan or future military operations.
Or perhaps in NYC with something that has to do with the UN or in a swedish embassy working as a intelligence attaché etc.

My life long dream and goal in life is ultimately the US.

I know that I won't be working within the US government with intelligence at least not until 10 years from now, when I am a US citizen, have lived there long enough, gained experience and can hold the required security clearances.

But if I just could work in the UK or US with a international security or risk management firm that would be great and make the leap to work in the US (if the company isn't situated in the US already) so much easier.

The question being:
Can I with the education in Aber, expect to be able to successfully apply to such a company? (meaning the education with that specific specialization is attractive to them)

Will I be hindered even if I am not a government employee and work within a private company because of my swedish citizenship (meaning that companies in the UK/US require their personnel to be UK/US citizens for various reasons, security clearance etc.)?

If the answer to both questions above are "Yes" and "No" then I'm off :biggrin:

If not then the other education seems to be the more sensible option.
Since I can then just as well study Int. Politics in Sweden without the specialization since I won't benefit from it.

Of course, studying abroad in another country and learning good english along the way is always a merit in itself and can open various places that a domestic education can't.

Reply 3

h3nk1

TheSwede86

Of course, studying abroad in another country and learning good english along the way is always a merit in itself and can open various places that a domestic education can't.

Heh, you're way ahead of yourself I'm afraid. I'm not familiar with those kinds of job prospects, but I'm fairly sure that such jobs often require some experience in the field e.g. Anyhow, do not forget about the EU, dude - they have increasingly more cool stuff going on in terms of intelligence and crisis management capabilities (believe me, I know). So jobs away in that direction.

Besides, even boring countries like Norway and Sweden are into some pretty shady business! So you should never rule out cool jobs in Scandinavia.

More importantly though:

You will benefit from the year abroad no matter what! You get to be by yourself, meet new people who share your interests, become more independent, and the language never hurts. In other words: Grow.

I'd say go to Aber - it is a great uni, and you will learn a whole lot no matter what. Be it about yourself or intelligence.

If your dream is the US, ultimately, then this education is step one. In either case, the road is built as you walk it, man.

I feel your stress, I've been there myself - but to be sure, it will work out alright! Just do what you feel like, and things will come naturally to you.

Reply 4

TheSwede86

h3nk1

More importantly though:

You will benefit from the year abroad no matter what! You get to be by yourself, meet new people who share your interests, become more independent, and the language never hurts. In other words: Grow.

I'd say go to Aber - it is a great uni, and you will learn a whole lot no matter what. Be it about yourself or intelligence.

If your dream is the US, ultimately, then this education is step one. In either case, the road is built as you walk it, man.

I feel your stress, I've been there myself - but to be sure, it will work out alright! Just do what you feel like, and things will come naturally to you.

Thanks for your reply again.
Well I guess you are right, the only problem is that I am quite ambivalent about which education to chose and which education that "feels right".

I am going more and more on the Aber line though.
My other school had some pretty bad rep at least the former year ('09) and got criticism from the government body that regulates that form of education in Sweden.

Although they have fixed it I am still a bit unsure of that education because of that.

Reply 5

threeportdrift

Careers Forum Helper

Aber offers a very high quality course with a very strong international reputation. You won't have any problems getting work on the basis of having done that course. The issues is what jobs are available to you that you want to do.

I think you are being rather optimistic about nationality changes and clearances. Make sure that you are 100% sure of your facts about nationality changes and security clearances, and then be prepared for the goalposts to change. These issues are changing, and by that I mean tightening, all the time, and the US is in the lead.

I think you need to consider careers that follow on from the Aber course but that will not require a national security clearance or will grant them to Swedish nationals. For example, UN/NGO jobs

Reply 6

TheSwede86

threeportdrift

First of all thank you for your reply.
The 1st part of your reply gave me real hope and made me glad since I might have to ditch my hope of working as a intelligence analyst and work with something else similar instead but I will still have good chances to make a international career.

The 2nd part made me a little distraught but I have had that in the back of my head the whole time. Even though you might gain citizenship and have lived in a country for a number of yours you might not still obtain the necessary security clearances since you are not a "native". But I still think I made a rather conservative assumption with first becoming a citizen of the country and then after a few years living as a citizen then might be able to work within the intelligence community (either private or some form of government)

Aber still seems to be the best option for me since I want to work internationally in the future.