Jump to content

PoliticalNerd2017

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    151

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Posts posted by PoliticalNerd2017

    Applying to Munk 2017 - also NPSIA, GSPIA, BSIA etc

    in Government Affairs Forum

    Posted

    1 hour ago, Hopeful2017 said:

    Apparently you are allowed to submit your work in English though due to their bilingual policy, but yes that course would be hell - I can't even imagine navigating through all the readings in french

    Yes, I did hear that the assignments and even exams could be done in English but that is still a headache to figure out. I'm still very much interested in GSPIA but I'm now almost certain that I'll choose NPSIA. But I'll update you guys on my final decision, which I'm gonna make by the end of the week.

    Applying to Munk 2017 - also NPSIA, GSPIA, BSIA etc

    in Government Affairs Forum

    Posted

    17 hours ago, sonsofeasterly said:

    Some brief thoughts: 

    1) It sounds like the professors who are doing exactly what you're interested in are at GSPIA, and to find a school where academics are really closely aligned with your own interests is often a struggle, so you're pretty lucky! 

    2) The MRP probably isn't as daunting as you think it will be. For GSPIA's MRP, you don't need to cultivate primary sources or original data, and you can probably turn one of your seminar papers into the bones of the MRP, which will make the overall process pretty manageable. 

    3) As far as reputation, here's my take: within Canada, employers looking specifically for grads with the type of coursework that both NPSIA and GSPIA offer - they're likely to view both schools as approximately equal. For employers just looking for a 'generic' MA grad, they'll likely view Carleton and UOttawa as approximately equivalent schools. Outside Canada, neither school has much name recognition (I'm working at a think-tank in DC right now that does defense/security stuff and my boss had no idea what NPSIA was when I mentioned it to him, despite the school's security-oriented faculty), so its really more what you can show employers you've done. Here, the differential access to co-op placements may matter more, but I got my current job because I wrote a really good paper that I submitted alongside my application - which brings me back to the importance of going to a school where the profs are doing work you're interested in.

    Plus GSPIA is giving you (a bit) more money, which never hurts. 

    I'm in the exact same boat with the GSPIA profs being a big selling point for me and having received more funding from GSPIA. Thanks for that perspective. I've been leaning towards NPSIA for the reasons such as the mandatory grad level French course at GSPIA, name prestige of NPSIA and the coursework option but my gut is telling me to go with GSPIA. 

    Applying to Munk 2017 - also NPSIA, GSPIA, BSIA etc

    in Government Affairs Forum

    Posted

    2 minutes ago, Hopeful2017 said:

    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. 

    2 minutes ago, Hopeful2017 said:

    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.  

    Did they attach it to you original offer or did they tell you about the T.Aship later?

    Applying to Munk 2017 - also NPSIA, GSPIA, BSIA etc

    in Government Affairs Forum

    Posted

    Hey guys! I'm in the decision making process and suddenly feel so torn between NPSIA and GSPIA. On one hand, NPSIA has more flexibility in my course schedule (GSPIA forces you to take four core classes in the fall, and four more in the winter although two are elective choices), and obviously the research paper is a must. I've heard conflicting things about co-op opportunities at both schools, and given the fact that NPSIA accepted somewhere around 115 students this year, I feel cynical about what they can offer. I'm also getting some jitters about the French course we have to do at GSPIA, but really prefer the faculty at GSPIA over NPSIA. HELP. Funding from both schools was close enough to not make a difference. 

    Applying to Munk 2017 - also NPSIA, GSPIA, BSIA etc

    in Government Affairs Forum

    Posted

    Just got my offer from NPSIA and the funding was on the lower than I expected, but still grateful. I got a little over $8,000 vs. GSPIA offering me $12,000. Decisions, decisions.... Hopeful2017 raised some really good points about NPSIA perhaps being a better option because of the coursework option, the less intensive schedule (GSPIA states that we have to take four classes per semester for year 1) and the whole French class situation. Hmm lots to think about.

    Applying to Munk 2017 - also NPSIA, GSPIA, BSIA etc

    in Government Affairs Forum

    Posted · Edited by PoliticalNerd2017

    Got accepted into GSPIA!!!!! My offer was also in French.... but from what I gathered, I'll get funding of $6,000, which is a bit low to be honest... But I'm grateful I got in at all. Still waiting for my official NPSIA offer, it is currently "Review in progress by Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs".

    EDIT: WAIT, I GOT $12,000!!!!! It says 6,000 per year for two years=$12,000. Nevermind, I'm pretty satisfied with the offer lol.

    Applying to Munk 2017 - also NPSIA, GSPIA, BSIA etc

    in Government Affairs Forum

    Posted

    30 minutes ago, mchutchi said:

    Nancy is a boss. I had heard rumors of a lady at GSPIA who is super nice and helpful and yes, friends, the rumors are true. If you phone in and Daniela answers, just hang up and keep trying until Nancy answers. And yeah, NPSIA has been top notch throughout this whole process. My theory is that this is the 1st year where everyone is starting to see NPSIA and GSPIA on equal footing and a whole lot of folks are even listing GSPIA as their top choice, so an increase in applications has probably thrown them a curve ball. In previous years it has probably just been Daniela in an office full of cobwebs quietly losing her mind getting 3 phone calls a week (which would explain some things) and then this year a 8.5 million people applied so they brought big Nancy in on contract to handle things but their online system just can't cope so its just been one huge technical glitch. It seems as if Daniela was able to process 2.5 applications back in early feb before things got crazy. 

    I needed this laugh. *Heads back to paper I have to finish*

    Applying to Munk 2017 - also NPSIA, GSPIA, BSIA etc

    in Government Affairs Forum

    Posted

    30 minutes ago, mchutchi said:

    no one else has even heard from back from gspia yet. it's as if they sent out 2 offers a few weeks ago and then just went on vacation. my application was 'incomplete' from Feb 1st to like 2 days ago. fucking unreal. and then you call them and Daniela picks up the phone and sounds all flustered like your wasting her time and then you call back a month later and they are like oh yah hehe looks like we accidently labelled your letter of intent as a resume hehe so we just ignored your application good thing you called hehe. 

    Can I just say that Daniella is literally the most unhelpful person ever? Sorry, but even when I went to the uOttawa campus to get some questions about the program last year, she was SO RUDE. In comparison, Nancy is super kind and actually responds with helpful answers, both by phone and email. I would recommend emailing Nancy directly if you want instead of just the GSPIA email: Nancy.Pelletier@uOttawa.ca .

    In regards to GSPIA, I am extremely frustrated with their inept behaviour... NPSIA is just as busy if not more, and has been more than capable of getting back to students. There have been only a handful of offers from 3 weeks back and THAT'S IT.

    Applying to Munk 2017 - also NPSIA, GSPIA, BSIA etc

    in Government Affairs Forum

    Posted

    10 minutes ago, Hopeful2017 said:

    Hey guys, quick update on GSPIA. I just found out that there has been a technical glitch. Apparently I have been admitted since last week, but the system keeps showing under evaluation. I called the Graduate Office and now they need to get technical support... so crazy. Just thought I'd share. Also, my MPA "admitted" status for uOttawa is also now back to under evaluation. Basically, the girl on the phone said she can see my offers for both programs yet the system still shows under eval. Just something to keep in mind. 

    Oh wow, I might give them a call to see if that's the case for me. So typical of uOttawa lol.

    Applying to Munk 2017 - also NPSIA, GSPIA, BSIA etc

    in Government Affairs Forum

    Posted

    Nancy told me I should expect an offer in the coming days and that was last week!! I'm a bit frustrated with the pace of things at GSPIA.  From my understanding, they haven't sent out much offers and they typically send theirs prior to NPSIA.... On another note, unless funding is extremely low, GSPIA is my first choice. I know that there is a lot of conflicting feedback about NPSIA vs. GSPIA but ultimately, my gut is telling me that GSPIA works better for me, and that their smaller cohort, greater internship opportunities, more diverse faculty will benefit me greater. So unless my NPSIA offer is out of this world, I'll be there this fall!

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use

  I accept