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Sagnik_G

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Everything posted by Sagnik_G

  1. Sagnik_G
    Thanks for the insight! That was really helpful. I did a bit sniffing around when I was researching potential Universities, and I did see a lot of reviews on some Uni. sites about Queen's basically being a very 'posh' institute. One person also called it quite elitist, but on the other hand, I heard lot of good things about the Poli. Sc. MA program. Still, I decided against applying because 100 CAD with the exchange rate is still a hefty chunk, and with the odds they mentioned, I don't think I'd have liked to risk that. Thanks for attaching those links, they were interesting. Brings into perspective a lot about being a TA with students just 3-4 years younger. I assume some of us here if accepted will get TA-ships, so it really makes one think how to be friendly and approachable without letting potential students treat you like a doormat or a 'buddy'.
  2. Sagnik_G
    Hey, since you lived in Kingston, do you mind me asking what you've heard about Queen's as a University? I thought of applying to Queen's as you did, but then didn't. Not only is their MA program for Pol. Sc. very limited apparently, but being an international student, it's even more limited for me. I wrote to their graduate chair and he wrote back saying they usually accepted only 1-2 outstanding international students. Didn't feel I'd have a chance with those odds. Welp.
  3. Sagnik_G
    Hey all. International student here who really wants to study in Canada. I'm a Poli. Sc. Honours student in India at the moment, I've applied to Master's in that and related fields at a number of Canadian institutions like Carleton U. McGill U., SFU, University of Alberta and Concordia. Not sure how it's going to turn out, McGill is 'Under review' at the moment, the others I'll maybe hear back late Feb to late March. Fingers crossed.
  4. Sagnik_G
    That is what I did. Just uploaded the checklist of documents. I've also applied to other unis in Canada like McGill which basically had the same system, a checklist of documents which you just upload. It's only that McGill has a big green ticks button which reads "Checklist complete" which is very reassuring.
  5. Sagnik_G
    Damn, that sucks. My refs took a little over a month and half from when I first asked them to when they finally submitted. Fortunately I did all my applications in October-November, so I had plenty of time. I would say email NPSIA asap and let them know. I mean, nothing to loose right?
  6. Sagnik_G
    Thanks guys!
  7. Sagnik_G
    Hey. Thanks so much for the info. It's awesome that they're trying to get it out early. I just had one question I was wondering if you had any insight on. For those like me who are going straight from undergrad to grad school, if I'm made an offer by Feb I still have my final semester exams in April. Since I have to forward my final transcripts and such to the dept if I am made an offer but I won't really be getting those till like late April or early May. So, if I accept admission in Feb, do you think it's fine to forward the final transcripts and such later on? Thanks.
  8. Sagnik_G
    Hey. I was in a very similar position, so I just wrote it anyway, but then once I completed my initial application, some stuff was emailed to me. As you know the application (at least for intl. students) is a 2 step process, the first being the OUAC application and then uploading the documents and transcripts onto CC. So, I got some general emails from the Director along with an Instructions File, I'll just tell you what the instructions for the Letter of Intent were although I'm pretty sure it was quoted verbatim somewhere in this thread earlier. Statement of Intent (1 required) For the MA/ MA-JD Program: Your statement of intent should be between 1 – 2 pages in length and should clearly indicate the areas of research you are interested in as well as any faculty members you would like to work with, courses you would like to tale and your future career goals. Hope that helps! P.S. And no, that typo is not me. That's how it came in the PDF. Just saying.
  9. Sagnik_G
    Hey! I'm so sorry, I should have been a bit more specific there. I think you said you were from New York? I think you'll be totally fine if you've gone through the American undergrad system. The reason I said that was because I'm from India where BA degrees (and actually most undergrad degrees that are not engineering or architecture) are 3 year degrees seeing as we follow the British system. However, what I discovered when researching programs was that the requirement for an MA-program in several Canadian universities was 16 years of education (12 years school + 4 years undergrad). Seeing that I had reached out to the respective departments, and they told me my options were either to do an MA degree from India and then apply to their institution or to apply anyway but my application would be considered 'non-standard' and I might be asked to do a year of additional courses before being considered for the actual program. Neither of those options were really viable for me. NPSIA among some other programs like the Pol. Sc. MA at McGill, SFU, U. of Alberta, Queens U. and Concordia U. have considered this and have a 3 year equivalency for Indian students, but others like U. of Toronto, UBC, York etc. don't. UBC told me to do an MA from India, and U. of Toronto informed me of the latter option. The frustrating thing is that I don't think they have this system for students applying from the UK or Australia who also have 3 year undergrad degrees I think, but they do for India. Oh well. Anyway, that's why I said what I did in that post. Assuming you did a 4 year undergrad from the US, that doesn't apply to you, so you're totally fine! And many congratulations on getting into GSPIA and I hope you hear favourably from Munk as well! I had Basic Principles of Micro and Macroeconomics as a Minor for my first semester, as well as Development Economics in my third semester. In mid 2016 when I was first getting serious and contacting NPSIA, I communicated with Ms. Lacroix who told me that those were sufficient for the ECON requirement, so I guess I'm good in that regard. I hope that still applies, because I have no idea what the protocol as an international student is for completing the requirement.
  10. Sagnik_G
    I just followed the instructions given in the Instructions PDF. My statement sort of focused largely on the research that I want to do with some context on why I want to research that, and what I'd like to do looking forward. I didn't include many personal details, because I felt there are differences between a Personal Statement and Statement of Intent/Purpose. That might just be me though. I knew I was going to worry and regret anything I write after I submit it so I'm not even going to worry about it at this point.
  11. Sagnik_G
    @Chuupa I'm not sure about the whole getting your degree later thing, but I don't think you should have any problems with your transcripts and stuff being in French. I mean, the official languages of Canada are English AND French, and Ottawa is the capital and a bilingual city for the most part from what I understand, so I think you might not need to get them translated if they're in French, but do confirm with them when you can.
  12. Sagnik_G
    Hi all. I'm from India and applying for Master's of International Relations/Political Science (depending on Uni.) for 5 Unis in Canada and 1 in Australia. Pretty anxious since being an international student has some serious added hurdles throughout the process. But I really want to study abroad, so gotta keep the hope up. Probably won't be hearing any decisions till late Feb, at best since most committees will only start meeting around early Feb, but we'll see.
  13. Sagnik_G
    So the Instructions PDF mentions mentioning faculty members you'd like to work with. Are any of you guys actually emailing the respective faculty members? I'm not so sure if I should and the internet is awash with conflicting opinions on this...
  14. Sagnik_G
    Thank you so much! I'm a basic French learner anyway, but I haven't formally embarked on any course.
  15. Sagnik_G
    @ZayyQs I was wondering about that as well. I'll write to Tabbatha and see if I can get some clarification on this. If anyone else has already written to her or is going to, please do share what her advice is! In the mean time, I guess this page provides some more information. https://carleton.ca/npsia/current-students-2/current-ma-ma-jd-students/language-requirement-policy/
  16. Sagnik_G
    @Delidas yeah that's what I've done too. I'm on my third draft of my statement, want to get it a bit memorable yet covering the bases. @ZayyQs Welcome! What I decided was not to shoehorn a reference in there. After I'm done, if it feels like I can smoothly insert a reference somewhere then I'll do it. You've got a strong extra-curricular background and your last 2 years GPA is good, so I think you don't have to worry immensely more or anything. I mean most graduate programs tend to look more towards the later year results anyway.
  17. Sagnik_G
    By the way, is anyone referencing or using any citation-worthy material in their Statement of Intent or is that a bit of an overshoot?
  18. Sagnik_G
    @Chuupa Thank you! Well, it's good to hear that at any rate. It's interesting to hear the class size is 130, I was given to believe it was closer to 80 or so. But the more the better. I had been considering applying to Queen's University as well, the reputation of their Pol. Sc. program is good, but the Chair informed me their class size is 25 overall and they only accept 1 or 2 international students. I was pretty disheartened by that so I gave up on applying there. I'm applying at McGill, Concordia, SFU, Alberta as well. Couldn't really apply for other great IR programs like GSPIA or Munk because they're either too expensive or they want international students to already have a MA degree before applying which isn't viable for me. For international students on this forum, based on a webinar I attended (you guys probably did also if you had applied by then), scholarships are unlikely for us, but TA/RA-ships are a more common means of getting funding. Let's see how it works out. My field would probably be Global Institution and IPE. Anyone have any idea about the faculty? All I can find is from Ratemyprofessor and the posts are really varied there.
  19. Sagnik_G
    Hey everyone! I'm really glad this thread got started. It was through Gradcafe that I even came to know of NPSIA when I was scoping out a good Intl. Relations degree in Canada last year. I'm from India myself, but I'm applying to mostly Canadian institutions and the NPSIA is my first choice. Bit nervous really being an international student what my admission prospects will be, I have solid grades, and letters of recco. and one foreign exchange program and one publication in an online journal, as well as some social work as experience, I'm still an undergrad so not much work experience to speak of. I've recently finished uploading all my documents (and pushing my referees to upload their letters) so all I'm left with is that infernal Statement of Intent which I've been picking at pointlessly for the last 5 weeks but I keep thinking I could improve on it someway or the other. Oh well. It's good to meet you guys, the grind begins here but hopefully it all works out well! - S.
  20. Sagnik_G
    Hi everyone, There's a lot of excellent advice on this thread about SOPs. As an international student it's a pretty daunting task to apply to an MA program in a foreign University, especially when I'm doing it straight out of undergrad. And my question was about that. How much of a disadvantage do you think are undergrads applying to MA programs in competition with those who may be older and have more work experience? Is there anything that puts us at an advantage perhaps which can be highlighted in the SOP? Also, mentioning the things I took away from a semester length foreign exchange program, would you consider its proper place in the SOP or in the CV?
  21. Sagnik_G
    Hey guys, I'm going to be starting my application for my Master's program soon. My first choice is Carleton's NPSIA. I thought I'd start a thread this year so if anyone else is going to apply as well, we can go on this tumultuous journey together. I'm an international student, so the processes and such may be different and requirements more extensive, but I'm sure we can all find some commonality. And also benefit from discussion.
  22. Sagnik_G
    Hey Hopeful2017, sorry, I can't be of much use in terms of giving you any advice. I'm going to be applying at these institutions as well, though in the fall of 2018! I wonder if it's okay for me to just hang around this forum to see how things are done and to maybe get some insight myself? I'm pretty nervous about applying, mainly because I'm an International Student. I hope you manage to get through. That's an impressive CGPA, though I don't understand what the things after it are.
  23. Sagnik_G
    Hello everyone! So, I'm at a stage in my life where I'm swinging on a vine and letting the wind blow me from every direction to the other, as I try to decide what areas I should specialize in. My current undergraduate major is Political Science, though I'm planning on doing my Master's in International Affairs. My areas of research interest are three as of now: Peace and Conflict Studies, International Human Rights, Evolving bilateral relations and the significance of international organisations. If any of you peeps are from a Social Science and particularly a political science background and are in the same position I am, or are wading through your Graduate school or Doctorate already, I'd love to hear what you chose as your topic of research and why. Thanks!
  24. Sagnik_G
    Hey guys. Does anybody know what is the duration of the MA in International Affairs degree from the Normal Patterson School of International Affairs (NPSIA) under Carleton University? Their page says 1-2 years, I don't understand if that means 1 or 2 or if I have an option.
  25. Sagnik_G
    Hey guys! I was just wondering, if I have published articles in my undergraduate college's college journal or my own department's journal, can I mention it in my resume for my Master's as past publications or would a publication per se only count in terms of news papers, online journals and other established platforms. Also, have any of you mentioned your undergraduate publications in your resume for the Master's? And if you have any recommendations for a good online journal which may accept articles from Undergraduate students? Maybe one you've been published with? Thank you for your guidance!
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