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BTF

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Everything posted by BTF

  1. Your best bet is to look up alumni of this program/programs on LinkedIn and ask them.
  2. You pick the one that gets you a job. If you already have a job, you pick the one that will help you get a better job/promotion. In both instances, I'd pick UBC. LSE is good for PhD programs and a few masters degrees if you want to work at international organizations or think tanks. Past that, I don't understand the allure.
  3. Accept OGS and then accept SSHRC if you get it. Your university will sort it out. The rules say you cannot hold both awards simultaneously, they do not say you cannot accept both and then retroactively decline one.
  4. @Liv987 Read this to get a better idea of the various Ontario public policy programs and how they work. If you have more questions, feel free to message me. Congrats on your acceptance!
  5. Pick the one that has the best coop placement rates, most offered funding to you, and cheapest tuition. I have a feeling NPSIA will meet all three of these over GPSIA.
  6. Carleton's MPPA program participates in the OPS's Policy Coop program that runs each year. You could attend Carleton, get a job in the OPS and live at home. Yes, a handful of people in my network completed Carleton's MPPA and work(ed) in the OPS, but you're right in that it's not many. Likely because most Carleton students only apply for Federal government coop jobs. Seems like you just need to decide if you value living at home and living your desired lifestyle over money and better job prospects (at least on average; OPS jobs are likely easier to attain from UofT's MPP given its proximity).
  7. I graduated Carleton's MPPA but was also admitted to UofT with some funding. I couldn't get past UofT's lackluster funding in addition to their near 50k tuition costs, no coop option (internships are unpaid while coops are paid), no research options (thesis and major research essay), and Toronto's high cost of living. An MPP is a professional degree, you'll be learning largely the same information (aside from electives) at any program you choose. Choosing a program that costs you least the amount of money and has the greatest chance of getting you a job should be the goal. UofT costs the most amount of money out of any MPP program in Canada and doesn't exactly have the greatest chance of getting a job (at least compared to schools like Carleton, where almost all of their students get full time government jobs before or just after graduating; as they're "bridged" into a government job).
  8. 1. Yes, but I wouldn't. Take as many pre-reqs as you can this summer. The MPPA program is 14 courses (or the equivalent if you choose to do a major research essay or thesis). Fitting in extra courses is difficult. 2. Take the ones you can at Carleton and the poli sci one elsewhere (check Athabasca, many students take their pre-reqs through them) 3. Yes. See answers 1 and 2 4. No. They're first/second year undergrad courses, they shouldn't be difficult for anyone beyond first/second year undergrad.
  9. Hey, I'm a Carleton MPPA alum. Happy to chat if you have any questions about the program, coop, etc.
  10. Likely because it's only a few years old.
  11. https://graduate.carleton.ca/application-status/
  12. Post this in the Government Affairs discussion
  13. When selecting references for grad school applications, choose those who can speak most to the qualities desired by graduate schools (people who work independently, are curious about their field, and that have a demonstrated track-record of excelling, whether academic or work-related) and that you've had long relationships with (research project supervisor, a professor that you've taken 3+ courses with and done well each time, or managers/bosses in jobs that you've excelled at and held for over a year). Make sure you are sending your transcripts, CV/resume, personal statements, and research proposal (if applicable) to your referees. You can also ask them to speak to specific qualities. The more they know about you and your experiences, the better their letters will be.
  14. Gotcha, I have no idea. In either case, if the goal is to work for a provincial government I'd target schools in the cities that provincial governments are located. For instance, Toronto is where most of the Ontario government is based. Targeting schools like Ryerson, York, or UofT (although I'd never recommend UofT to anyone) would be more realistic than Waterloo. Not that Waterloo is bad, it's just not located near Toronto. Why move twice when you can only move once?
  15. 1. I'd contact the graduate administer for each program you're interested in, some programs only consider your undergraduate grades when making admissions decisions. Typically, an 80%+ in your last two years is competitive for most Canadian MPP/MPA. Some get in with less but most are at or above 80%. I'll leave it you to properly convert your undergraduate and law school grades to a percentage scale. 2 and 3. If you aren't a Canadian citizen or permanent resident is it basically impossible to get a federal government job. If that's the end goal then getting into a Masters with an exceptional coop program is vital as coop students can be made permanent federal government employees despite their citizenship status. I'd go with Carleton's MPPA or NPSIA (international affairs program with an equally good coop program as the MPPA). Frankly, this should be the only thing you consider when you look at programs.
  16. 1. Most of the universities you mention do not look at CGPA for MPA/MPP admissions, they look at your last two years, or the equivalent in your last 20 one semester/term courses. If your grades were better in your last two years of your degree then you may be okay. 2. Carleton, Waterloo, and Calgary are very different programs in very different places, you should read about these programs, understand where they differ, and where you're likely to end up with their degree. 3. Unrelated to your post: It's good you have some experience but you just mentioned it in passing. Is there a particular reason you want to get a MPP/MPA from one of these schools? Or why you want to get an MPP/MPA in general? It's important to answer these questions in your statement of intent. Otherwise it just comes across that you're applying everywhere and hoping someone takes you. 4. Look up Canadian MPA/MPP programs, it isn't difficult to create a list of schools. Ryerson, York, Alberta, Manitoba, UBC, SFU, etc. all offer MPP/MPA programs. 5. Don't double post/ create a new thread when no one responds. 6. Proof read before posting.
  17. Do Carleton's MPPA program. With your GPA and work experience - I'd be surprised if you didn't get a fully-funded or close to fully-funded offer. You can easily achieve the 6 figure salary and have a work-life balance in government, whether federal or provincial. Lawyers dont make that much money, aside from a few select areas of law and firms, which is where people have no work-life balance. Getting an MPA/MPPA is more or less a sure way into government. If you have questions feel free to message me. I completed Carleton's MPPA program this year with a more than fully-funded offer.
  18. You likely did not receive any funding. To my knowledge, all funding goes to first round offers. Queens also does not offer much funding to MPA students. Ask the graduate administrator about it.
  19. It's as hard as reading their admission requirements
  20. Yes, that's what you're supposed to do in this situation. If you are worried, ask whoever deals with scholarships at your institution.
  21. Getting into top PhD programs tends to require: high GPA; research experience; publications and presentations; relevant work experience; excellent references, personal statement, research proposal, and standardized test scores (depending on program); and a bit of luck. Focus on other things besides GPA while in undergrad. Getting a good one matters, but it wont be enough.
  22. The MIPP at BSIA has an excellent reputation and is a great place to get policy-related research done. I'd go there, especially if you got funding. Look up their Alumni on LinkedIn to see what they've done and where they've ended up.
  23. @yclamerThis is partially true. You can definitely work for the Federal Government as an international student (assuming your visa is all good) but it will be an uphill battle. The Federal Government includes the below text on every publicly posted job I can find: "Preference will be given to veterans first and then to Canadian citizens and permanent residents, with the exception of a job located in Nunavut, where Nunavut Inuit will be appointed first. Information on the preference to veterans" These preferences mean anyone not in this preference list will be picked last for a job. Eligibility is more stringent for national security/defense related jobs. These positions ONLY take Canadian Citizens for publicly posted jobs. The way "IN" to the Federal Government as someone not on that preference list is by getting in as a student, either through the Federal Student Work Experience Program (FSWEP) or through a university co-op/placement program, like the one offered by Carleton's MPPA program, among others. Both student routes are temporary jobs, typically lasting 4 months each, the duration of a semester, FSWEP being more difficult to get in than co-op/placement. The idea is that you get an FSWEP or co-op/placement job (if your chosen program has one) and do good work throughout that position to get "bridged" in. Bridging is the transfer from student to non-student employment within the Federal Government and is not publicly posted, circumventing the above preference list on publicly posted jobs. I agree with @Joseph_Eze, Carleton's MPM is likely your best bet for a Federal Government job given their program's placement requirement. Ryerson would be better for an Ontario Public Sector job. TL;DR: You need to pick a program that offers a co-op/placement with the Federal Government, otherwise your chances of getting a Federal Government job are minimal.
  24. This happens. If you win, try emailing/calling your program administrator/ hopeful thesis supervisor explaining you won SSHRC and that it should suffice as demonstration of your academic ability. However, if your application was bad or not in-line with the supervisors research interest I doubt they'd reconsider admission.
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