Going to KCL: War Studies

Thanks to everyone who helped with info. I was accepted to KCL last week, and have decided to accept the offer. Im a PG American who is studying in the War Studies Dept. If it is as good as everyone says it is (PhillipSM), than I'm going to love it.

One final question: Anyone got any ideas for housing?

Reply 1

FtWayneDan

I'm also an American PG in War Studies.

I chose International Hall as my first choice...can't really remember what else I picked. As far as I can tell, all the Intercollegiate Halls are in a good central location. You can't lose with those.

Reply 2

ianfiske

OP

Hoosie, I think I applied too late for housing. Im gonna try but from what they said they have already gone through the first list. Which program you in?

Reply 3

FtWayneDan

I'm reading for MA in War Studies (though I wish I had signed up for Conflict, Security, and Development). What about you?

Reply 4

ianfiske

OP

I'm MA in International Conflict Studies. Conflict, Security, and Development was my second choice. War studies is pretty cool though. Just curious, but what was your undergrad in?

Reply 5

FtWayneDan

History, Political Science, and Germanic Studies

Reply 6

FtWayneDan

I wonder if it's possible to switch now that deadlines have passed?

Reply 7

ianfiske

OP

Dunno. You might be able to. I don't think that they have completely filled their programs yet, but I don't know. Deff wouldn't hurt to ask.

Reply 8

dcgirl

hey guys...i'm also an american going to war studies PG (ma war studies) so just thought i'd say hey...and also ask, did either of you apply for the American scholarship? i thought they were supposed to announce it by now but haven't heard anything, just wondering...on housing -- i'm doing the private sector thing myself, good luck! so far it seems www.loot.com definitely has the cheapest listings but www.gumtree.com is pretty good too. the king's site seems kind of useless (at least for flat rentals, v expensive). and on switching -- i seem to remember you could switch as long as you did it before enrollment, getting your student ID, all that stuff. anyway, have fun packing! jeni

Reply 9

cheesecakebobby

9

Its official, there are now more Americans than Brits doing war studies at kcl on this UK forum!

Reply 10

ianfiske

OP

Thanks for the advice Jeni, I'll check those out. What program are you in? That's kinda weird that there are more Americans than Brits, but I bet it's just on here. Cheesecakebobby are you War Studies too?

Reply 11

ianfiske

OP

Jeni, any idea as to whcih side on London is cheapest, closest, etc.

Reply 12

ianfiske

OP

Sorry, btw I didn't apply; I think I applied to late for any funding opp

Reply 13

dcgirl

well i can't say i really know, just my sense from looking at listings a lot and trying to read up on neighborhoods, but it sounds like anything really close to school will be crazy expensive. but when i visited london, i noticed that it's actually much more compact than it looks on a map, and the public transit seemed pretty great, so i'm probably going to look at neighborhoods in south london (borough would be great but seems exp, brixton sounds like it's really gentrified now, but stockwell/oval still sounds cheap at least) and east london (whitechapel, dalston, hackney). but we'll see, the loot listings have a category for up to 100/week and they really range all over, so i'm not going to necessarily limit myself to certain neighborhoods. i did find some interesting neighborhood descriptions at www.findaproperty.com, if you choose a neighboard it will list a guidebook option. if it sounds like i've been doing way too much thinking about it, it's just because i'm a little freaked about finding an apartment in like 10 days, given what i've heard about the london housing scene. (i live in DC where it's similar so i think i have a decent sense of how ridiculous the concept is!) so yeah, anyone from london reading this who has any advice and isn't sick of giving it yet -- help a yank out?

Reply 14

ianfiske

OP

It sounds like you are being smart. Im a little freaked out myself, never having been to London. You are going over pretty earlier, so you will have the opp of becoming acclimated before studying.

When you get over there, please post on here what your experiences.

Reply 15

FtWayneDan

I didn't apply for the American scholarship either, because I completely forgot about it before it was too late.

Thanks for the info about switching my focus. I am considering a switch, but am now having doubts about Conflict, Security and Development.

I may do Intelligence and Security, but I am also very interested in European defense and foreign policies. It may even be better for me to just stay with War Studies, as it is a bit of an umbrella degree so to speak. I'm just worried that the broad nature of it won't look as good on a resume, as say "Intelligence and Security Studies" would.

I also didn't realize that Roomshares were that cheap. Makes me want to reconsider my housing application, too!

Reply 16

ianfiske

OP

Hoosie whats your intention with your degree? Would a specialized one help? Or would a broader one be good? Yeah, that really sucks about the scholarship. I wish I'd known what I was doing sooner.

Reply 17

ianfiske

OP

For whatever my opinion is worth, it would seem to make sense to switch it like you said. An intel focus would be of good use. I had a hard time choosing between Intel, Conflict Studies, and Conflict, Security, and Development. All of them seem unique but applicable.

I'm sort of feeling like you can't really go wrong at this point though.

Reply 18

ianfiske

OP

Your right, the potential to make $ is very good right now. I only worry that because it is a British university it may not mean as much accross the pond, despite its rep. What do you think?

I was a Comparative Political Science major, nearly doubled in Business Admin. I have a concentration in Middle Eastern Studies, and have focused most of my studying in relation to security, specifically with regard to transnational terrorism.

Reply 19

dcgirl

hey guys...H, I think if you want to do transatlantic and don't want to do the umbrella degree, intel sounds like your best bet, especially for private sector/govt work. but i think what's actually most important is not so much which program but which classes, your dissertation topic, which professors you bond with, internships (eg IISS would be great). after all, compared to most US degrees, even the WS program is specialized, i think. but i'm biased, i sort of come from DC think tank land, don't know as much about contractors and the like.
ian, are you going to keep focusing on terrorism? (i think i'm doing armed group networks) are either of you going to do language training or do you have that covered already? i sort of know french but it seems really the best thing for job prospects is to know one of the key languages, so i'm trying to decide whether to do that or not.

Going to KCL: War Studies

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