[2019 Canadian MPPA/MPP/MPA Hopefuls]

On 3/18/2019 at 3:49 PM, Marmalade said:

long time lurker, first time poster.

 

Accepted at Queen's and Munk, and just found out I was waitlisted at McGill's Max Bell School. I was waiting to hear from them to hear what their offer was, since Queen's offered $5k in funding and Munk $3k, both entrance scholarships.

 

Anyone else hear from McGill and get admitted there? Very curious how that program will shake out.

You were offered $5K in funding for the Queen's MPA?

[Queen's vs. Western Ontario MA Programs]

I've been admitted to both the MA program at Queen's as well as the MA program at UWO (Western), and I'm a bit torn. I'm looking for a bit of input in terms of what the general public opinion is regarding these programs, and which one I should lean towards. The factors I have to consider are as follows:

• I'm from London (where UWO is located) and would be very comfortable remaining here, whereas Queen's is far and I've yet to experience what it's like to live on my own (and so there will likely be added stress to going to Queen's).
• It's a little unclear which program has more 'prestige' and which one has a better PhD placement record (it's ambiguous on both websites).
• My interests are in ethics and political philosophy, and so Queen's would be a slightly better choice seeing as how the program I was admitted to is the specialization in 'political and legal though' (PLT) (but, at the same time, Western offers some strong courses in both ethics and political philosophy).
• They've both offered me approx. the same amount of funding.
• They're both course-based, and so I don't have a particular 'advisor' in mind in either program

Any input is appreciated.

[2018 Acceptance/Rejection Thread]

1 hour ago, hi_hello said:

I received an offer of admission on February 28th, from David Bakhurst, their DGS. There's an orientation day on the 22nd of March. 

Additionally, since I've seen people asking about it on the results page: I spoke to the graduate administrator at U of T, who said that they will make MA decisions by the end of the month latest, but likely the week before. That's in line with what seems to have happened last year. 

Did you apply to the general MA, or the MA specialized in legal/political thought?

[2018 Acceptance/Rejection Thread]

5 minutes ago, Lostmyreason08 said:

Just curious as to whether anyone has heard back Queen's University in Kingston, ON, specifically the M.A. program. I know first round of admissions start early March; I would appreciate it a great deal if I could here back from any members here that receive an offer of admission.

Thank you, sincerely.

I'm waiting to hear back as well. Are you applying to the specialized MA in political/legal thought, or just the regular MA?

[Undergrad VS Grad school (MA)]

15 hours ago, iunoionnis said:

Yes, incredibly so, but when you enjoy what you're doing, it's no so bad.

Grad school is a blast, if you like studying philosophy. You are around a ton of people who have a similar education, interests, and background and are all learning together. There's also less formality with professors who will go out drinking with you, talk about mutual interests together, etc. 

You will be reading a ton. You will have to learn how to quickly master all of the secondary literature on a topic in the span of a semester. You will have to read extremely closely and often in the original language. 

As for writing, you will basically be having to produce three 20 page papers of the same quality as your writing sample at the end of every semester. So if you are still writing undergraduate essays, you should take some time to look at the stuff in journals and try to learn to write in that style. 

Thanks! Also, I love that pic of Slavoj...

[Undergrad VS Grad school (MA)]

15 hours ago, coffeepls said:

There's a thread called 'preparing for graduate level coursework' (or something like that) from a couple of weeks ago somewhere on here! I'm in the same position (but in the US, and I applied to some PhDs in addition to MAs), and found the thread really useful.

I just found that thread. It was really helpful!

[Undergrad VS Grad school (MA)]

I'm currently awaiting responses from MA programs I've applied to (in Canada), and I've been wondering what going to graduate school will be like (compared to undergraduate studies). Will it be more difficult/stressful, generally? Will it be more fun? Will I be reading/writing more? Etc.

[2018 Acceptance/Rejection Thread]

6 hours ago, Lostmyreason08 said:

Has anyone heard back from Queen's University in Canada?

Thanks!

I received an email from them saying that they will be notifying people admitted in the first round of their admission in early March.

[2018 Acceptance/Rejection Thread]

Just got the email that I've been accepted at UWO for the MA program in philosophy. 

[2018 Philosophy Applicants, Assemble!]

11 hours ago, maxhgns said:

Have you considered Toronto (Toronto has one of the strongest phil. of law and metaethics concentrations in the world) or Queen's (by far the strongest ethics and applied ethics contingent in the country, and very strong in phil. of law too)?

 

I've definitely considered Toronto, but in light of my grades I didn't think I would be considered a competitive candidate... I've also considered Queens, but wasn't aware that they were as strong as you suggest they are. Do you think I have a chance at being admitted into these institutions? 

[2018 Philosophy Applicants, Assemble!]

11 hours ago, maxhgns said:

Of course you have a chance. Your grades won't get your application tossed out of hand. Just remember to focus on your writing sample and cover letter.

Why are you targeting those four MAs, though? Why not some of the other MA programs in Canada--or, indeed, in Ontario?

My research interests are in legal philosophy, ethics, and metaethics. Im from London, Ont, and so finding a program in Ontario would be optimal. The four programs I've listed suit my reseaerch interests, and are in Ontario (except for Dalhousie, which I chose because they have an exceptional ethics program, which a few of my profs were either enrolled in or worked at, and since I have a few friends living in Nova Scotia that could help me move out there).

[2018 Philosophy Applicants, Assemble!]

I'm currently in my 5th year of a philosophy major at UWO (came back to improve my marks and because I screwed up my grad school applications last year), and I'll be applying to Canadian MA programs this winter. My 3rd and 4th year GPA is 82 and in my 4th year my philosophy courses GPA was 87. I have a strong writing sample, pretty good letters (I think), and pretty good extra curricular to go along with a decent CV. Also, my grades from first year to fourth are in a strong upward trend. This year I'm only taking high level philosophy courses (3.5 credits) and should finish with a GPA somewhere in the 80s. 

I was wondering if I had a good chance at being admitted to the grad programs I'm applying to, which are UWO, McMaster, Dalhousie, and York (MA programs in philosophy). Thanks in advance for the replies.