When you signed up for Model UN, you set yourself on a journey with transformative, life-changing potential. Through each of the five stages of a Model UN committee – researching, debating, negotiating, resolution writing, and taking action, student participants, like yourself, develop critical life skills and gain the practical toolkit for diplomacy. In the MUN setting, students are no longer bound by the traditional student role, immediately transformed into leading diplomats with a common goal: to work together to take action toward a positive future for the international community. MUN is so much more than just a simulation; as an experiential learning platform, MUN will kickstart your leadership journey and prepare you for future success. MUN provides a space for you to explore the pressing global challenges that you hear about on the news each day and allows you to engage with today’s top issues, all while having fun alongside a community of like-minded peers!
You’re probably wondering as a Student – where will all of this take me? How will what you’ve learned through your Model UN experiences translate to academic preparedness in college and a successful future career? In this article, you’ll hear more about where your MUN journey will lead you, with pathways inspired by your favorite common MUN topics and fields that have piqued the interest of current & alumni MUN participants. Keep reading to find out how Model UN can take you to a successful future in 5 top fields: government & politics, STEM, law & advocacy, diplomacy & foreign service, and education!
1. Government & Politics
Are you an avid fan of Designated Survivor, The West Wing, Madam Secretary, or Scandal? Do you envision a future on Capitol Hill or see yourself in the Oval Office? Model UN will help you get there!
Related MUN Topics & Experiences:
Each time you suit up in Western Business Attire for a MUN committee, you’re stepping into the shoes of a world leader, already one step closer to a future in government & politics! In General Assembly committees, you will have the opportunity to take on a new country’s policy & perspective, and challenge yourself to advocate & debate from a position of leadership. You’ll learn to deliver speeches & negotiate like a diplomat on the top international stage, and work alongside a community of like-minded peers who will become your future colleagues & allies! Common General Assembly style topics that you will research & master range from international monetary & trade policies to global security discussions including nuclear & arms policies to transnational crime & border security and more, all helping to pique your curiosity and grow your knowledge bank for the future.
As an experienced MUN delegate, you might also find yourself ready to participate in crisis-style MUN committees, with fast-paced scenarios that give you the opportunity to represent your dream future career role in committee! In crisis committees, each individual participant is assigned to take on the position of an individual in a smaller, cabinet-style setting, allowing you to learn to use the tools & resources at your disposal to take individual action on evolving scenarios and unexpected crises. A contemporary U.S. Cabinet, for example, may be featured as a crisis committee, with participants assigned the positions of specific cabinet members (Secretary of State, Secretary of Health and Human Services, Secretary of Defense, etc) tackling today’s most pressing & evolving issues.
Key Skills:
Through these dynamic MUN experiences, including General Assembly and Crisis committees, you will gain confidence & key skills preparing you to take on a future in government & politics:
- Debate & Public Speaking
- Framing & Branding
- Diplomacy & Negotiation
- Problem-Solving & Policy Writing
- Critical Thinking
College Majors & Careers:
By participating in MUN in middle & high school, you will be prepared with the key skills you need to succeed academically and continue to foster your future passions and interests throughout college and beyond! Looking toward a future career in government & politics, many MUN alumni have gone on to major in government, comparative or U.S. politics, law, public policy, and human rights. By participating in Model UN at the college level, you can also continue to hone your skillset by experience, preparing you for successful careers in U.S. government, consulting, political advocacy, law, and many other top fields inspired by MUN!
2. Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics (STEM)
Has the COVID-19 pandemic and the unprecedented global health crisis of the last two years inspired you to consider a future in global health? Did you binge watch Space Force, sparking an interest in space policy & exploration? Were you inspired by Greta Thunberg’s School Strike for Climate movement, prompting you to want to learn more about environmental science & policy? Are you interested in coding, computer science, or engineering? You can further all of these STEM-related interests in Model UN, inspiring your future career path!
Related MUN Topics & Experiences:
While there may not seem to be a clear link between most debate activities and STEM, there are in fact a ton of MUN topics & opportunities geared toward allowing you to explore your interests and foster your passions! In today’s increasingly globalized international system, with technology evolving on an unprecedented scale and pressing challenges spilling beyond borders, STEM-related topics are more important to discuss than ever, and participating in MUN will help prepare you to step up and become a leader in these fields. Some of the most common MUN topics debated over the past year include the COVID-19 pandemic and access to vaccines, both of which were drawn directly from breaking news headlines and had clear connections to contemporary global health crises and the future of medicine. Climate change and protecting endangered species are also frequently seen in General Assembly committees, and by debating these topics today, you are one step closer to having your voice heard at future iterations of Conference of Parties (COP) climate summits! There’s a place for STEM enthusiasts in General Assembly and Crisis MUN committees, and by signing up for conferences featuring cybersecurity, the space race, improving maternal health, access to healthcare in conflict zones, or any other STEM-related topic, you’re setting yourself on a path for future success! One of the primary pillars of the UN’s work is ‘sustainable development,’ and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal Agenda can’t be achieved without the insights & expertise STEM leaders & activists!
Key Skills:
By participating in MUN committees, beyond expanding your knowledge and exploring your niche interests through debating different topics, you will also gain key skills that translate to STEM success:
- Advanced Research Techniques & Strategies
- Critical Thinking & Analysis
- Creative Problem Solving
- Analytical Writing
- Confidence in Public Speaking
College Majors & Careers:
By participating in STEM-related MUN committees, you will be on the path toward becoming a future leader in the field! Potential college majors for delegates interested in translating their MUN experiences to future STEM careers include engineering, environmental science & policy, biochemical engineering, astrophysics, food science & agriculture, computer science, and coding amongst others. These majors have the potential to lead to future careers in environmental & sustainable policy leadership, nuclear and/or defense engineering, cybersecurity & defense, global technology & business development, and more!
3. Law & Advocacy
Do you enjoy watching How to Get Away with Murder, Suits, or Law & Order? Do you dream of one day being a Supreme Court Justice or working at The Hague? Model UN is a great stepping stone to help you prepare for a future in the fields of law or advocacy!
Related MUN Topics & Experiences:
Participating in Model UN will provide you with the unique experience of being able to explore, learn about, and analyze legal policies & doctrine from both domestic & international perspectives, fostering and piquing your interest in law & advocacy. One of the primary pillars of the work of the United Nations is ‘rule of law,’ and by registering for Legal or International Court of Justice MUN committees, you’ll get the opportunity to dive into the details of prominent international legal legislation and to develop knowledge & expertise that will serve you in your future. Throughout your Model UN career, you may debate specific legal topics including responsibility to protect doctrine/foreign interventions in civil conflicts, international humanitarian law, international law & warfare, the rights of indigenous peoples, and more from key international perspectives, giving you an early leg-up in a competitive field!
Key Skills:
As an experimental learning platform, MUN will challenge you to develop & hone skills that are critical to becoming a leader in today’s competitive legal career field including:
- Public Speaking Tactics: Structure & Style
- Impromptu Debate & Responses
- Analytical Research Techniques
- Policy & Resolution/Brief Writing
College Majors & Careers:
Once you get to college, alongside continuing to further your legal knowledge & experience through participating in collegiate MUN, you’ll have the ability to major in fields including law, international law, government, public policy, human rights, and more! Each of these majors, inspired by your middle & high school MUN journey, will take you one step closer to a future career in the legal field. Some of our MUN Mentors and award-winning MUN alumni have gone on to work for the U.S. Supreme Court and The Hague, made possible by their own MUN journeys!
4. Diplomacy, Foreign Service, & Humanitarian Work
Have you always had an avid sense of adventure and been inspired to learn more about other cultures, communities, and the world around you? Do you see yourself working or living abroad in the future? Is your favorite part of Model UN being able to step into the shoes of an international diplomat, collaborating with peers from across the country & world with diverse ideas & solutions to come to a consensus? Model UN is a clear stepping stone toward careers in diplomacy, the foreign service, humanitarian work, and more internationally-oriented fields, and by participating in MUN now, you are already starting to impress your future bosses & colleagues!
Related MUN Topics & Experiences:
If you are looking toward a future in diplomacy, with every MUN committee, you’re already experiencing what it’s like to be an Ambassador to the United Nations and a respected global leader! If you’re a veteran delegate, you may have already taken on a number of different country assignments throughout your MUN career, giving you the opportunity to dive into and become an expert on leading policies & perspectives on the international stage, including China, India, and Russia amongst others. With each new topic you debate, you learn more about key issues & trends that will continue to shape the future of international relations, and are becoming an expert on the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal Agenda, which will continue to frame foreign policy by the time you reach your future career!
You can sign up for a wide range of General Assembly-style MUN committees that will take you towards a future career in diplomacy. There are Disarmament and International Security (DISEC) committees focused on security topics, Social Humanitarian and Cultural (SOCHUM) committees focused on the welfare and human rights of protected groups, or Special Political and Decolonization (SPECPOL) committees focused on diverse political issues including peacekeeping and the uses of outer space, amongst others. You can also participate in specialized committees ranging from the UN Security Council with contemporary topics including the situation in Ukraine, to NATO, to the European Union, or even the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), all of which will give you new insights into the professional world of diplomacy and launch you toward success in the field!
Key Skills:
Model UN is an especially notable & unique activity for students in that it emphasizes the importance of finding common ground, reaching a consensus, and bringing out the best in others, paving the way for you to develop diplomatic skills that are especially critical in today’s highly polarized global environment:
- Foreign Policy Research
- Refined Public Speaking
- Diplomatic Debate Strategy
- Respectful Negotiation Techniques
- Policy Writing & Analysis
- Creative Thinking & Problem-Solving
College Majors & Careers:
If you are hoping to use your MUN journey to take you toward a future in diplomacy & the foreign service, you might consider majoring in international relations, foreign policy, or international law once you get to college! You’ll already have a solid foundation of background knowledge from participating in MUN throughout middle & high school, and will be ready to impress your professors as you further your academic progress in the college setting. Future careers in the field that you might be inspired to pursue include working in the foreign service as an ambassador, the Peace Corps, diplomatic postings, working for the United Nations, or NGO work!
5. Education
Do you want to inspire the next generation of youth leaders & change-makers? Are you already enjoying mentoring younger peers at school or are hoping to be ready to do so in the future? Do you see yourself as a life-long learner, and want to grow & share your knowledge as a profession? Many former & award-winning MUN alumni have found careers in teaching, inspired by their high school MUN journey & participation, a future path that’s also possible for you with Model UN!
Related MUN Topics & Experiences:
Model UN is a fantastic activity for students who are already drawn toward academic success and who enjoy learning about and exploring new topics & ideas, naturally lending itself toward creating future educators. You will be consistently exposed to new styles of mentorship & diverse perspectives with every MUN committee experience, preparing to be able to share your knowledge with others. Common MUN topics that you can debate in this field include universal access to education, education in conflict zones, and secondary & higher education, and through debating these topics now, you will hone your educational interests and start to see where your future career will take you. Model UN also provides a number of opportunities throughout high school for you to gain teaching experience by mentoring younger delegates on your MUN team, boosting your academic resume, and preparing you for the rigors of collegiate studies in education!
Key Skills:
Model UN can take you toward a future as an educator through preparing you with the toolkit you’ll need to inspire a life-long love of learning in others:
- Critical Reading & Research Techniques
- Public Speaking Style & Engagement
- Content Creation & Presentation
- Mentorship Techniques
College Majors & Careers:
If you are looking toward a future in education, you can consider translating your MUN experiences & interests toward majoring in education, social work, study abroad, or international development amongst other top college majors. Throughout your four-year college experience, you’ll continue to build the knowledge & curriculum bank you will need that will take you toward a fulfilling future as a teacher and educator, whether it be within the U.S. or abroad. Maybe one day you will find yourself teaching & inspiring the next generation of MUN delegates and leaders!
