From Model UN to Foreign Service
Matthew Friar '03 obtained a foreign service POE to “gain a broad understanding of how the major international political and economic systems function.”
His program was interdisciplinary in nature, including coursework in political science, economics, history and language. Traditional class-oriented learning, participation in Model UN and reading the Christian Science Monitor helped him gain a better understanding of how international, political and economic systems function.
Participation in Model UN prepares students for short notice presentation that are concluded with intense peer criticism and questioning that enables students to “respond quickly, efficiently and intelligently to questions on topics of which they have only a basic understanding,” he says.
Friar chose foreign service for several reasons. For one, he felt that the pre-established majors didn’t align with his interest in international politics and economics. The POE also “reinforced my graduate school and career interests in international relations,” he says. Lastly, the foreign service POE seemed natural to Friar as a Model UN participant.
He credits his POE with helping him win a postgraduate Fulbright Scholarship.
Friar works for The Charter Group, a merger and acquisition firm, and plans to pursue an MBA on taxation. Following completion of his MBA, Friar plans to continue working for The Charter Group but with greater knowledge in financial marketing and other business skills that will be profitable to him and the company.
“The foreign service POE offers years of challenges,” he says. “I encourage students who are passionate about learning about the world to pursue this program.”
