UTEP as university does not rank at all in either the QS, Times Higher Education or AWRU World University Rankings. Hence you do not go to this university to be competitive within academia nor expect career compensation on a commensurate monetary level as a Top Tier or even 100 ranked university. For those interested in careers in National Security or Intelligence, UTEP is one of the IC ACE (IC Centers for Academic Excellence) under the DIA. If you examine the current list of schools who classify, all with the exception of Penn State are sub-par in terms of academic ranking, reputation and overall competitiveness. As such, you should NOT expect to be recruited by premier alphabet federal agencies such as the CIA, ODI, FBI or DIA. The so-called meet and greet sessions with organizations such as the CIA are just for PR. Read A Curriculum of Fear by Nicole Nguyen. The IC ACE program is just an extension of the Milton High School program at a secondary level and subsequently proof of further militarization of academia. See Prof. David N. Gibbs research. UTEP NSSI program will not prepare you adequately for a position at an alphabet agency. I have direct experience in terms of the interview process and this includes two Five Eyes countries intelligence services. I would strongly advise having an established military background with an appropriate MOS, preferably working INT with high level clearance and exposure to analysis. Foreign language acquisition is mandatory. Being or becoming a polyglot is an enormous plus. Military is valuable for the vetting process and indoctrination. Finally I would also suggest majoring in fields of specialty as opposed to a generic umbrella like liberal arts program such as Intelligence studies. I would also suggest overseas exposure. Long term. Think Exchange student for extended periods. Total immersion including culturally and linguistically. Travel, gain first hand experience and real world knowledge. My final critique with UTEP is the faculty. None have applicable real world intelligence experience. Some have military background which is not the same as in the civilian world working for an agency. I can get more real world knowledge reading the articles written by ex-CIA McGovern or Philip Giraldi at Consortium News or watching Richard Steele on YouTube droning on about the need for total all source open intelligence as a reform for the CIA. This is a problem at UTEP and probably the entire IC ACE program. In fact, this was addressed in the Washington Post article, "Colleges Must Be Intelligent About Intelligence Studies" written by ex-CIA, professor of History, Nicholas Dujmovic. This was followed by a limited response from two UTEP professors entitled, "Can colleges teach intelligence? Three security studies professors argue they can, and should" I seriously suggest you READ BOTH. Pay special attention to the second follow up response comments. There are 14 comments including Dr. Dujmovic's timely response which adequately confirms my own beliefs and experience. as he correctly states, "professional academics, with little to no actual intelligence experience, who have an interest in perpetuating the degree programs they run." The additional comments are of equal merit as they brutally confront the apparent hypocrisy of the such academic programs from what genuinely appears to be INT insiders with both military and civilian intelligence experience. On a final personal note, I would like to express my disdain for the program's coordinator, Carmen B. Medellin whose has shown to be completely inconsiderate and rude to student needs and inquiries.Merauder