u/candlelitlatin

Hello! I am a College sophomore (Politics/Government major) weighing two very different grad school paths for a career in policy/advocacy work — interested in areas like criminal justice reform and healthcare policy. I’m deciding between a secular MPP (e.g. Georgetown) and a Licentiate in Social Sciences from the Angelicum (Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, Rome), which is a 2-year graduate-level program (Baccalaureate → Licentiate → Doctorate structure, roughly Bachelor’s/Master’s/PhD equivalent) focused on ethics, law, and politics, accredited through the Holy See rather than US regional accreditation. My main questions: how do US employers or grad admissions committees typically treat a foreign degree that isn’t labeled “Master’s” even when it’s the graduate tier, and does a credential evaluation (WES etc.) actually solve that in practice? Would an MPP-style curriculum (stats, econometrics, program evaluation) be something I’d need to backfill separately if I went the Licentiate route, or is that less of an issue than I think? Has anyone gone the “niche foreign/religious graduate degree” route and later pivoted to a more conventional policy job, and how’d that go? Basically trying to figure out how much this choice locks me into one path versus keeping options open.

Hello! I’m a College sophomore (Politics/Government major) weighing two very different grad school paths for a career in policy/advocacy work — interested in areas like criminal justice reform and healthcare policy. I’m deciding between a secular MPP (e.g. Georgetown) and a Licentiate in Social Sciences from the Angelicum (Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, Rome), which is a 2-year graduate-level program (Baccalaureate → Licentiate → Doctorate structure, roughly Bachelor’s/Master’s/PhD equivalent) focused on ethics, law, and politics, accredited through the Holy See rather than US regional accreditation. My main questions: how do US employers or grad admissions committees typically treat a foreign degree that isn’t labeled “Master’s” even when it’s the graduate tier, and does a credential evaluation (WES etc.) actually solve that in practice? Would an MPP-style curriculum (stats, econometrics, program evaluation) be something I’d need to backfill separately if I went the Licentiate route, or is that less of an issue than I think? Has anyone gone the “niche foreign/religious graduate degree” route and later pivoted to a more conventional policy job, and how’d that go? Basically trying to figure out how much this choice locks me into one path versus keeping options open.

Hello, I am 19 years old and I’m hoping to convert to Catholicism this Easter! I know it may be too soon but I am already thinking about who should be my patron saint and I’m curious on how you guys decided on who your patron saint should be. I’ve often hear that the saint picks you.

Personally I am between Saint Carlos Acutis and Saint Michael the Archangel. For Saint Michael, I admire him a lot and he reminds me of my goals in life in working in policy and protecting the most vulnerable just as he defends us from evil. I also had a dream about Saint Michael protecting me while I was asleep from the enemy and other evil spirits. I see him as someone who is strong and courageous and he reminds me to stay loyal to my faith while working in politics and policy.

For Saint Carlos, his story truly inspires me and moves me. I cry when I think about how he lived his life, so devoted and kind. I think it resonates and inspires me as well because of him being alive during the age of technology. He inspires me to detach myself from worldly things such as my phone. Carlos also reminds me of a childlike faith which I believe is so important for us to have. As we grow older, we see more of the world, become invested in work, school, relationships, family, etc and might become distant from God or question things, but to simply think about how Carlos lived his life, reminds me of what is most important. One of my favorite quotes from him is “Our goal must be infinite, not the finite”

I’m glad I have enough time though to think about this and pray.

I would love to hear any stories or guidance! Thank you.

Hello! I am 19 (F) and I’m planning to convert to Catholicism and join OCIA this fall. I was raised in a non-denominational household and while my siblings and father do not mind me turning to Catholicism my mother on the other hand is not a fan of it and constantly is trying to change my mind and will send me verses or videos talking about Catholicism. One thing she always talks to me about, and it is a thing talked about most within Protestants is the intercession of the Saints. My mother doesn’t understand why we go to Saints and ask for their prayer when we can just go to God, I explain to her that it’s like asking a friend here on earth to pray for us, but she says it’s different because they are alive and the Saints are dead. This honestly hurts my feelings because how can you say that? Christ gives us eternal life. She also says that we have no idea what happens to our souls after death and that it is a mystery.

Anywho, although I don’t agree, and I don’t think asking for the intercession of Saints is bad, and I know that it isn’t replacing God and we thank God for all miracles, when I ask for the intercession of the Saint I get such a guilty feeling and my head feels heavy. I feel like I’m doing something wrong and I think it’s because of what my mother and Protestants have been saying.

How do I get over this? Any advice and guidance will be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much!