Hopeful2017
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Everything posted by Hopeful2017
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I emailed some professors at GSPIA about the program - one of which being Roland Paris. He invited me to discuss on the phone this Friday so I'm hoping our chat will solidify my decision. As well, I emailed NPSIA about possibly increasing my funding to match uOttawa's offer. Fingers crossed!
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Even if I choose uOttawa, I will still do econ in the summer. Four master's courses plus the mandatory econ pass/fail course will be a lot anyways. Just something for people to consider!
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I got the 12,000 in the attached PDF and they briefly said I would get more info about the merit scholarship. I emailed Nancy today and she told me about the 6,000 merit scholarship and the TAship.
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I received 12,000 and a "merit scholarship" for my grades. This can range anywhere from 3-6k. I got 6,000. Also, I received a guaranteed TAship - 5,400 that I can do in second year. So actually, it's 23,400. BUT I have the option to apply for other TAships, so it could amount to more. Sorry, I assumed the TAship was for both years, that's why I thought it was 28,000 total. But Nancy said I'm only guaranteed the one year, so 5,400.
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uOttawa also admitted more students into their program this year tho - only the top half of the class get coop. My friend in first year said only 20-30 people got it out of a cohort of 90 students. So, I wouldn't base it off coop - NPSIA seems like the better option of the two for coop since they are so well regarded in Ottawa. Tabbatha also told me their placement rates are nearly 100 percent. The recognition at NPSIA is far better to land you coop opportunities than uOttawa, I'd say. My friend at GAC told me the professors at NPSIA are amazing and that a lot of the classes were very practical and gave hard skills that helped her in various federal job competitions. As much as I love the faculty at GSPIA - with a course load that heavy, especially if you do the pass/fail econ course, will you even have a lot of time to connect a lot outside of the classroom? Attend a lot of round tables and networking events? My friend at GSPIA said the first semester is VERY dry and heavy theory. And there is a lot of cool events but she's so swamped and stressed out that she can barely attend things.
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I'll be living at home during my studies so rent isn't a factor in my funding decision!
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I'm drawn to its reputation, the course-only option, I've heard it's a bit more on the practical side vs theory/research-based. It seems to have really great connections at GAC and at other private sector jobs. Help But, I find the profs at GSPIA more diverse and interesting.
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GSPIA has offered me 28,000.... NPSIA offered me 19k, Now i'm more torn than ever.
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I'm going to do it probably through Carleton over the summer! Either that or uOttawa.
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As much as I think Munk looks like a great school, I think your employment opportunities will be just as good with the MAGG - especially when you don't have a large student loan hanging over you, as you try and look for jobs/internships/new exciting opportunities. My tip is to go on linkedin and search students at both programs and see what they're up to. Personally, attending Munk would require me to take out a lot of loans - which would affect what internship I take ( could you afford to work for another four months unpaid?) After graduation, will those loans from Munk affect where I look for a job, etc?
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Love this! As much as I'm dreading econ, I do think it will give beneficial skills to put on a resume / it is important to understand in general.
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Congrats, still an amazing offer. I just think people need to be aware of the realities - coop is not guaranteed for GSPIA, a few months ago we all kind of thought GSPIA would have a better, more secured coop program but after feedback from students, that is NOT the case. Only a select few, who have very very top grades get coop. Since GSPIA you must take 4 courses, and master courses are very reading-heavy - you will have like no time for anything else. As much as doing econ in the summer sucks for NPSIA, i'd rather do that then deal with a French course at GSPIA later down the road - I'll have to learn econ anyways. Tabbatha told me their placement rates are nearly 100 percent per term. After creeping on LinkedIn, I see a lot of NPSIA coop student work experiences vs. GSPIA. Also, only having the option to take four electives out of the whole two year program kinda sucks compared to the wide range of courses you can choose from NPISA.
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What is turning me away from GSPIA is that you get 10 courses, seminar and an MRP. Six of those 10 courses are mandatory, seemingly dry courses ( research methods, micro, macro, ethics). And you can only pick four electives that you are interested in... that doesn't seem like a lot in my opinion, then you're off to work on an MRP for a large chunk of your time there. My friend is in first year and she had to submit her topic a month ago. I think the variety of courses at NPSIA is appealing, you can really get a taste of everything - international trade, international security, global health, internet governance, terrorism, etc. For embassy internships, my friend also said the administration dropped the ball on her and a lot of other students internships. She said a lot of students just seem stressed and see it as something they just want completed at this point. I want to enjoy my experience at grad school, not being so stressed and flustered all the time and "trying to get it over with". My two cents.
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I just hope that people who are choosing GSPIA over NPSIA for their "better coop opportunities" ( like I was ), realize that GSPIA coop placements aren't that abundant either. You will have to work hard at either school for a good coop placement. However, when I search people on LinkedIn who have gone to NPSIA, they all seem to have amazing work experiences. NPSIA does have more recognition at GAC, if that is what you're looking to get into. Here is what someone from GAC, who went to NPSIA told me last night which I think is important. I'm looking for more of a practical, applied master's - not super theory heavy. "The two programs are quite different. I attended NPSIA but also spent a lot of time deciding between the two programs. GSPIA has a larger number of mandatory courses that NPSIA, and also has a mandatory thesis option. At NPSIA, 90% of student do a course-based masters (no MRP or thesis). This makes the NPSIA program faster to complete (as quick as 12months) and more professionally oriented (for public service). For example, some of my courses had a short final paper (5 pages) to mirror the concise writing needed in govt. GSPIA is tailored to people wanting a career in academia. It is also a bilingual program with courses taught in both languages (though NPSIA also requires a second language to graduate, just not necessarily French, and does not teach in French). So it depends what your goals are, how quickly u want to finish etc. GSPIA also offers an innovative Embassy internship program if I remember correctly where u can intern abroad. So it depends what u are looking for. In regards to NPSIA streams, they really do not matter so don't stress if you didn't get into the stream you wanted. For example, once in, you can choose to take no courses in your stream or all electives in your stream. It's very flexible in case you find halfway through you prefer a different stream. The only real difference is that students get 'priority' when registering for courses in their chosen streams, but it is not hard to get into a course outside your stream. With that said, I really loved my experience at NPSIA. It was more middle or right leaning on the political spectrum then my undergraduate education at uOttawa in development, which was very left leaning, but in the end this variety gave me a more balanced perspective on international issues. I also found the program rigorous and challenging. It really made me think more critically. And with the name recognition that NPSIA has in the field of international affairs, particularly at GAC, it immediately connects you to many alumni in high places."
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Good to know, thanks
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Does the 21 day deadline include weekends?
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I just wanted to give some perspective on the GSPIA/NPSIA debate. Since I currently work at GAC, I've been getting the perspective from both directors, current and past students at GSPIA and NPSIA. Here is what I've gathered from them all - the good and the bad: GSPIA - They have been admitting too many students into the program and can't provide the unique opportunities they are being praised for to them all now. For example, my friend told me only 20-30 students this year got coops out of 90. - They have dropped the ball on some embassy internships for students - Students frustrated with the administration - French mandatory master's course can be difficult - Less recognition from GAC, NPSIA still leads in terms of the director's I've talked to - More theoretical? And less options for electives - Awesome profs, conferences, round-tables but course load so heavy you hardly have time to attend - Econ heavy in the first semester NPSIA - Econ requirement can be annoying - More people being admitted to the program as well - but it looks like this is the same at GSPIA -Lots of people from NPSIA at GAC - a lot of recognition there - Coop opportunities - some say there has been less, but I see so many coop students at GAC from NPSIA, and only a few from GSPIA. - NPSIA seems a bit more applied
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Damn.... I wonder the best way to approach that? You don't want to seem to pushy I guess.
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Can you even do that?
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That happened to me yesterday too!
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Congrats!!! What program are you leaning towards more?
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The decision between NPSIA and GSPIA continues. Can anyone give insight into what they're leaning towards more now that we're seeing more offers?
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ACCEPTED TO GSPIA!!! I got 12k, plus a "merit" scholarship? They said details will be provided soon. So weird though, my offer is in French haha, did anyone else get that? The merit scholarship can range from 3-6k!
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What program did you apply to at McMaster?
