DefeatistElitist
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Posts posted by DefeatistElitist
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3 minutes ago, mchutchi said:
NPSIA status just changed from 'under review by department' to 'recommended for assessment'
whoa! Mine's still preliminary review required. Maybe they go through alphabetically or by submission? My last name is with an "O"
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46 minutes ago, Duplified said:
Those are very good points! A car and single accommodations do eat up a budget. Plus there are lots of places downtown that are cheep and very nice as there is a lot of student housing for Saint Mary's and Dal (my friend is paying 425+utilities for her half of rent there).
But if you live outside of downtown, or your department is not located there and in Bedford for example you can have issues. Thats not to say that its not worth it though, but that you really need to consider moving to the Maritimes for positions unless you have taken everything into account. Plus income tax is much higher in Nova Scotia (and the Maritimes as a whole), 8.79% for the first 29k and 14.95% on the next 29k compared to 5.05% for the first 42k in Ontario (plus you need to add the 15% for Canada's base income tax rate).
True. But there are also the long run savings - 350K will get you a big house in the suburbs or a small house right in the city. That might buy you a trailer 80km outside Toronto.
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1 hour ago, Duplified said:
Halifax is definitely fantastic! However, one issue with NS government jobs is their pay scales and the current scenario surrounding job cuts. I know that the cost of living is lower in the Maritimes (I am currently studying here), but 1800-2500 bi weekly before taxes (which is what most entry level positions in the NS government pay) does not leave a lot of wiggle room once you count for repaying student loans and all of your living expenses. Additionally, from what I have heard the upwards opportunities in NS are somewhat limited in the public service (but then again that is just from word of mouth). Dalhousie has a great campus though!
That's plenty to get buy on in Halifax if you don't own a car and/or don't live alone. If you get a roommate or live with an SO Halifax is extremely affordable. Plus you have to factor in that the downtown is small and not stupid expensive so you can walk anywhere you want to go/will have virtually no commute.
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Halifax is a great city.
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52 minutes ago, Hopeful2017 said:
I've never heard of them having an MPA program! I think for a degree in public admin, it's probs best to do it in one of the big "more government" type cities like Ottawa or Toronto. I feel your coop opportunities and the ability to be close to the action, will be very useful to you if you do it in one of those cities.
I've also applied to uOttawa's MPA program - but it seems more theoretical than Carleton's MPPA program, which seems a bit more practical and hands-on.
Well, Dalhousie is located in a provincial capital and their MPA program does have a reputation of having strong ties to the Nova Scotia provincial government.
And it's worth noting that the VAST majority of government/policy jobs are going to be in provincial or municipal government. I don't know much about the MPA program beyond what I've said above, but Dal is a highly underrated school in a great city.
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10 hours ago, PoliticalNerd2017 said:
university administration is something we seldom deal with
This wasn't the case in my undergrad.
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Not going to lie, the lack of online uploading was a decision in me not applying to UOttawa. This seems INSANELY inefficient to the point where I feel like it must reflect badly on the school.
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My application for Munk is now "under review". Now we play the waiting game...
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My evidence to suggest this is anecdotal - I have friends at GSPIA and NPSIA and from what I gather NPSIA has a more neoliberal, economics focused approach and GSPIA takes a more critically focused one.
This isn't meant to be a criticism of GSPIA or critically focused IR!! Just that it doesn't necessarily suit my research or career interests on a personal level. As mchutchi stated above, different strokes. -
10 hours ago, Hopeful2017 said:
Okay good to know! What is everyone's programs ranks/why? I applied to a lot of the same programs and just want to see your thoughts
1. NPSIA (International Economy Policy, Intelligence, Security)
2. Munk (Global Capital Markets)
I prefer NPSIA because it's WAY cheaper, in Ottawa and more aligned with my research and career interests/general view of IR. UOttawa strikes me a little more leftist that I'd be comfortable with and Munk seems more private sector oriented that I'd necessarily prefer. -
32 minutes ago, Hopeful2017 said:
Anyone still on preliminary review required for NPSIA? I'm under evaluation for GPSIA and uOttawa's Public Admin and recommended for assessment for Carleton's MPPA.
Yeah, mine still says that too.
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9 hours ago, mchutchi said:
I forgot to mention this little bit of info that might be useful for aspiring MUNKs, NPSIANs, or GSPIANs
I emailed all 3 program's admissions last year to inquire about how they calculate GPA's for assessment.
Here are the responses in case anyone else was curious:
MUNK: We look at your final year GPA as being the most reflective of how well you will do in the program which is why we consider it more important than your CGPA. To calculate your final year GPA we look at your last ten senior level courses taken at a 300-400 level. If you have any 100 or 200 level courses they will not be included in the final year calculation.
NPSIA: Essentially what I do is start at your most recent courses and count back until I have a total of 10 credits (typically the last 20 single semester course) and will also calculate your overall GPA and whichever is higher is what we will use as the GPA for the assessment.
GSPIA: The Graduate Studies office calculates the admission average using the most recent 60 credits which are usually the last two years.
I am super ok with this for NPSIA - but I only took a total of 8 300 and 400 level courses in my undergrad so I wonder how that will work out with Munk...
I also did an exchange on my last two years so I wonder how those grades apply. -
13 hours ago, Duplified said:
Hey everyone!
I just wanted to say hi and good luck to everyone in this thread! I have applied to the Munk School (MGA), School of Public Policy and Governance (MPP), and Carleton (MPPA). My number one choice at the moment is the SPPG, with the Munk School a close second.
I just wanted to post an update that both of my applications to U of T have been placed into the "under review" category and my application to Carleton still has a "preliminary review required." Hopefully this will help everyone else gauge timelines for applications moving into the queue? From what I can gather first round admissions to the Munk School are made around the first week of March with the SPPG in the 2nd/3rd week and Carleton in the last week?
Damn, my munk one still says "documents received".
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Yeah it was due yesterday guys.
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9 hours ago, Norma955 said:
I promise the last post for the day: Is anyone here applying to MUNK? I have a few questions regarding the admission statement and the first question which asks us to identify a global affairs question, topic, or problem that interests us, and reflects on how it is being addressed, and/or which provides an innovative approach to addressing it. Are we expected or allowed to cite academic sources here?
No. I have two friends at Munk now and neither of them cited anything in their statement. They just want you to show that you know what you're talking about/can make a nuanced argument.
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10 hours ago, Norma955 said:
The thing is those six pages are just the last four years of experience, but you're right I need to take some stuff out. I have been involved with Model United Nations for three years now, and that alone takes up 1/3 of my resume. Do you know what the standard number of pages is?
If that's the case then trim how much you are expanding upon them. Model UN is obviously good to emphasize, but it isn't like the admissions committee is unaware of what it is. The second they see Model UN, in all likelihood they won't even read the description of what you did because it's a pretty typical thing for an IR masters applicant to have done. A sentence or two is all that you need.
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11 hours ago, Norma955 said:
Hey guys! I have finalized my resume and sorta my first draft for the personal statement and I have a few questions that I am hoping someone can answer. My resume is about 6 pages with a section for academic experience, field placements, and extracurricular involvement. I am not sure if this is too long and if I am supposed to include a section on education. Does anyone know what the standard is? Also, it is usually standard not to repeat what's on the resume in your personal statement, do you guys think this matters?
I would say 6 pages is far too long - though the standards for an academic resume might be different than a career resume.
But you DEFINITELY want education info on there. I would look at trimming the number of field placements and extracurriculars to only include ones directly related to the program. For example, if you've volunteered for an NGO abroad that would be more relevant than having volunteered for a local political candidate. You want to prioritize both the relevance and recency of what you've done - so something somewhat more relevant that you did 7 years ago is probably less important than something somewhat less relevant you're doing right now. -
Does anyone know if there is a delay between when your referee submits their reference and when it'll show up on Carleton Central/SGS? I know my prof submitted hers on Monday, but it still hasn't been marked "received" on the system.
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Anyone else find UOttawa's application process RIDICULOUS? Having to physically mail everything, needing official transcripts, not having an online form for referees.
Maybe I feel spoiled because Carleton and UofT's was so painless, but this is so inefficient I might just apply to BSIA as a backup instead... -
Hey guys,
I'm applying to NPSIA and Munk and possibly also BSIA or GSPIA as a backup.
Any idea how either weigh grades from exchanges? I know having gone on exchange is a bonus in itself, but I'm wondering if they'll look at the actual grades I got.
Applying to Munk 2017 - also NPSIA, GSPIA, BSIA etc
in Government Affairs Forum
Posted
That's pretty weird - I had everything good to go in December. Ah well. They'll get to it.