BTF
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Posts posted by BTF
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46 minutes ago, ysong0122 said:
Hi everyone! So I got my acceptance into these two programs and now I am struggling to choose between them
1. University of British Columbia, Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs (professional-oriented)
2. LSE, MSc International Migration and Public Policy (seems more theoretical)
In April, I decided to go to UBC already but yesterday I was accepted to LSE, which was my dream school when I was a teenager.
LSE is only one year and the tuition fee is cheaper, but the living cost is crazy higher in London. If I stay in Canada, I can just live at home and don't have to worry about visa/rent all those stuff. So the total cost is about the same.
My biggest concern about going to the UK is that I will have to come back to Canada anyway, and as I am working at the government rn I'm not sure if my connections won't be that strong if I am away for 1.5 yrs.
I still have some time to make a decision but I am struggling a lot. Please help me out on this, any advice will be greatly appreciated!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.
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12 hours ago, Psychotherapist770 said:
The time line is so important to me in receiving news because I need to confirm my OGS prior to May 1st. It is really hard on all of us waiting in anticipation with no information at all. Anyone else also in my situation- received an OGS and need to accept it this week?
I am in my third year at Laurier looking at the intersection of intimate partner violence and religion.
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.
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On 1/7/2023 at 3:50 PM, TheZarosian said:
Hello All,
Time for my yearly and refreshed post on my take on some of the popular MPP/MPA programs! I hope this helps you in your applications and decisions. As always, feel free to DM me at any time should you have additional questions.
Some background about me: I am a policy analyst that works full-time in an indeterminate (permanent) position for the Federal Government. I started working full-time in Spring 2019 and started my MPPA at Carleton part-time in Fall 2019 concurrently, which I finished in Spring 2021. Overall, I have about 5 years’ experience in provincial and federal government from five different departments/ministries, 1.5 of which was from co-op, and another 3.5 from full-time work.
My government career started through Co-op when I was an undergraduate student in 2016. I did some time in provincial and federal government in various co-op roles. This included roles in environment policy, transit policy, infrastructure policy, education infrastructure, and finance policy. By the time I finished my undergraduate degree in Spring 2019, I had about 20 months government experience, plus a couple of full-time offers from the Federal government on the table.
Based on my own experience and research, I've written a breakdown of some of the common master's level policy programs out there in Ontario. Note of course, that this is my opinion and not presented as fact. While I do present facts and figures to back it up, it is by no means a factual piece, nor does it represent the views of my employer in which school is better. These are solely my views.
Waterloo MPS
Waterloo MPS is overall a solid pick for people wanting to enter all levels of government. I sat with these guys during my undergraduate as a professor was kind enough to allow me to sit in on his graduate-level teaching. The caliber of the teaching plus the Co-op is great. Plenty of these people are with me in Ottawa, many having secured permanent full-time roles. The professional and employment outcome focus of the program is what sets it apart. The MPS boasts a Co-op hire rate of 95-100 percent (verified by the MPS Director as 100 per cent for the past six co-op cycles) and has excellent job outcomes both federally and provincially. The split between provincial and federal opportunities is roughly equal, perhaps with a slight lean towards federal.
I have great respect and admiration for the Director of the MPS. He has assembled a great program and has flexed his connections to help secure Co-ops for his students. In Spring 2020, when COVID was in full swing and some students unexpectedly lost offers, he personally and tirelessly reached out and talked to his contacts in government to secure the last couple of students their Co-op jobs.
The format of the program is 8 months full-time school, 8 months paid Co-op, and 4 months a major team project. Almost everyone does the major team project remotely and works full-time during it. So it’s pretty much 8 months of schooling only and you’re off to doing paid work. People usually transition from being a student to a full-timer right after their 8 months Co-op is done.
I also find that this program is more diverse than traditional policy schools, which are usually filled with students from undergrads like political science, economics, sociology, legal studies, etc. Since the MPS does not have any major/course specific prerequisites to apply, you see more students in different varying fields come in, which contributes to a diverse wealth of knowledge sharing between students.
As the MPS is just over a decade or so old, it can't really compete at the same tier as the decades-established policy giants, which I speak on later on. However, it is an all-around very solid program. They run a really tight ship and the program markets itself very well as a "conveyer belt" program - get people, sharpen up their skills, and make cookie cutter policy analysts at fast speed. As time passes and the program becomes more well-established with alumni in key government roles, it is likely to become even more well-known.
The only downside is that the MPS is not funded, so you’re going to be paying the full $23,000 tuition bill.
Queen’s MPA
Queen’s is the King (or the Queen I guess?) of provincial government. I would say that Queen’s is the number one place to go if you’re intent on working for the Ontario government. The Ontario government hires from Queens in droves, mainly due to having a long reputation with Queens and a historically strong relationship with their policy programs.
The program format is 8 months full-time school, followed by Co-op of 4 months. During the Co-op term, you would do one course. As far as I understand, the one course requirement in summer tends to be highly accommodating. For example, you can pick a self-directed reading course that would simply be self-studying readings and coming up with a paper, or there are block courses that can be done in a week. Similar to Waterloo, most people work full-time after they are done the first 8 months.
Queen’s is definitely the top choice for provincial, and along with a cheap tuition of less than $20,000 (oftentimes funded generously by scholarships), it’s a great deal. With a strong application, you are likely to pay less than $10,000 total for the tuition.
Carleton MPPA
Definitely the king of federal government, and my number one choice for anyone who wants to work federal. Carleton has an over 50 years established relationship with the federal government, and the professors here are routinely retired public servants or current public servants who teach part-time here and there. Carleton, by nature of being in Ottawa, feeds their students primarily into the Federal government.
The program is 8 months of full-time school, followed by Co-op of 4-8 months, and then people usually finish off their degree during the evenings while working part-time. Again, similar to Queen’s and Waterloo, you really only do 8 months of school so long as you stack your courses in the first 8 months and don’t prolong your degree unnecessarily by taking extra electives or taking less than five or four courses a term.
An added benefit of Carleton is the absolutely amazing funding packages. And it’s absolutely amazing. Carleton offered me a whopping $46,000 in funding. Of that, $26,000 was straight up scholarships, while $20,000 was from a TA position. The tuition of the program is only $23,000. So these guys essentially paid me to go to their school.
For the federal level, Carleton absolutely comes on top here. From my experience, Carleton and uOttawa make up about 80 per cent of student hires in federal, and something like 70 per cent of full-time workers I know come from one of those two schools. An interesting analysis done on the federal public servants subreddit corroborates my own anecdotal writing, showing that the backgrounds of most seasoned executives with long government work histories within the senior public service come from one of uOttawa or Carleton. There is also some discussion in the same thread that sheds some insight on the primary feeder schools for federal government.
University of Ottawa MA Public Admin/Admin Publique
I won’t say much here because it’s Carleton all over again. Whatever I said for Carleton, applies equally to uOttawa. Funny enough, uOttawa and Carleton have a small rivalry with their Masters programs. All around another top federal choice.
I will say that I have great respect for the Public Admin focus that uOttawa has. I find that many policy schools now are cutting back their public administration curricula and instead focusing on the “sexier” field of public policy. And I get it, students are attracted to public policy – they aren’t as attracted to understanding the mundane machinery of government. They want to solve problems in the world whether it be the environment, economy, infrastructure, housing, or transit, provide options 1, 2, 3, and be done with their briefing note. Public policy is all about putting your ideas forward, and people love doing that.
But the problem with the policy focus is that you end up with students who are excellent policy thinkers that are able to put forward good policy solutions to problems, but very poor understanders of how the administration of government actually works and how policy ideas get turned into actual policy. An understanding of how the public service functions and its relationship to the elected political officials is vital for any policy analyst job, as well as an understanding of how to navigate the complex and oftentimes confusing labyrinth that is the bureaucracy. This is something that a Public Admin focus does well in and really grounds students in their expectations for what an entry-level junior policy analyst is expected to work on.
UofT Munk MPP
I’m sorry. I know how hyped up UofT is at times, but I mostly have bad things to say about this program.
I feel that the UofT MPP is overall a disappointment, and it seems like an outdated program. While all the programs I mentioned above are largely one-year “job creation” programs that focus on feeding people in Co-ops and having them transition to full-time work quickly, UofT’s MPP reads more like a traditional 2-year academic program, with a strong focus on rigorous quantitative courses. The UofT MPP tuition is $40,000 in total, double the other programs mentioned above. As far as I understand, funding packages are limited to some thousands of dollars. You’re sinking an additional 8 months in lost wages, plus additional tuition.
The UofT MPP has some of the worst internship options out here, with a 4-month summer internship between your first and second year. Because you’re expected to go back to school full-time after this, you are unable to be seamlessly transitioned into full-time work like many of the other programs above. Managers love it when they can just promote a student to a full-timer and have them start right away. They love it much less when the student says, “hey sorry, can you wait 8 months for me to finish school?”
To be precise, the discontinuous 8 month FT, summer internship, then another 8 months FT format has significant disadvantages both at the provincial (Ontario) and federal level. Provincially, only current students are given access to internal postings and so plenty who are able to transition directly into full-time without having to go back to school get "poached" into full-time roles quite rapidly. For example, some students I worked with who were doing their Co-ops at Waterloo MPS got poached within their first four months as a student into a full-time role. This is especially true since the Conservatives were elected in 2018 and required that external postings be subject to high-level reviews before being approved. Due to this, the internal hiring of students is one of the few ways for managers to get fresh blood.
At the federal level, students and former students are able to be appointed full-time without a competition/applying (known as "bridging"). Student bridging tends to be one of the most popular ways to hire full-time roles, as it is administratively simple to process and does not require Managers to conduct interviews, tests, etc. This is most favorably given to current students who can start immediately, without having to go back to school. It is very difficult for a Manager to predict their working requirements after 8 months of a student going back to school, which is the situation that the UofT MPP would force students into. Networking for opportunities is far easier for both levels of government when you are still in the system, as you have far greater access to meetings, emails, networking groups, unofficial job postings, teams/skype accounts for chats, etc.
Overall, I feel that the UofT MPP is just not a good deal. When people from Carleton, Queens, and Waterloo are being fed into the workplace within 8 months with programs of half the tuition that was generously subsidized based on the scholarships provided, UofT’s program just lacks “feeder” mentality on getting people on the job quickly.
The small upside is that the UofT MPP does have some more diversity in employment. Non-profits, NGOs, private sector consulting, and other positions tend to be more noticeable at UofT’s MPP, compared to the straight up government feeders of other programs. But if your goal really is to get onboarded into a government job quickly, with a cheap degree to boot, UofT is not the place to go in my view.
McGill Max Bell MPP
Not really in Ontario, but definitely an interesting new contender in the system. The McGill MPP is a relatively new program that started in 2018/2019. Much like the other feeder type programs, the McGill MPP is a one-year program that focuses on fast completion to get people in the policy workforce.
There are a couple issues that I do have with the program however. First, and most importantly, the program lacks a dedicated Co-op complement. The vast majority of provincial and federal hiring is picked from former students/interns. The number one tip posted by federal public servants in their subreddit on how to get in government is as follows: The single easiest way to join the public service is to get a co-op term, do an outstanding job, and get bridged into permanent work. Even if you don't get bridged, co-op means you've got hands-on experience performing government work in a government environment, which puts you head and shoulders above other applicants who lack this experience. It's a huge advantage -- if you qualify.
The second issue, which really underpins the first issue, is that the program is largely not designed for fresh undergraduates looking to dip their feet into government. It’s more for early career professionals who are looking to boost their credentials with a Master’s. On their site, they indicate that the program is directed at “early career professionals — ideally with two to five years of professional experience — who are interested in developing expertise in the field of public policy”.
The third issue, which isn’t necessarily the fault of the school, is that the program is new. Public policy programs rely on a strong alumni network to establish themselves and ensure that they have the connections needed to secure their students strong opportunities. The Carleton, uOttawa, and Queens programs by virtue of being around longer have been greatly successful in this venture. The uWaterloo MPS, through the dedication of its Director, have made huge strides as well towards establishing their network through a short period of time. The McGill MPP could in the future pull this off, but for now it is still in its infancy and there is not yet the critical mass of alumni needed.
While I can see how the McGill MPP could be useful for someone already in government, or at the very least in a quasi-government field such as NGOs, banking, public sector consulting, non-profits, etc., it wouldn’t be as useful of a program for a fresh grad looking to get experience right away.
Ryerson MA Public Policy and Administration
This program is, in my opinion, a relatively mediocre choice. The problem that I usually see here is that if you got into Ryerson, you might as well go to Queen’s or Carleton because you probably got into those too.
The employment prospects here are just not as good, mainly due to the lack of an established relationship between Ryerson and either Provincial or Federal government.
The degree itself is the cheapest out of anything mentioned, but it’s just not as good of a deal. This is especially true if Carleton and Queen’s are pumping out huge scholarships.
For those who are already working though, the Ryerson program does offer a way to complete the degree at night while still continuing to work full-time.
Western MPA
Admittedly, I know very little about this program, but it seems to be the place to go if you want to be in local government. Western’s MPA specializes specifically in municipal government, and I can’t see Waterloo, Queen’s or Carleton filling this gap.
@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!
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11 hours ago, Sunflower777 said:
Anyone have any advice on choosing between NPSIA at Carleton and GPSIA at UOttawa? Really struggling with making a decision
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.
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16 hours ago, lalax said:
Yeah I definitely agree with your points CU is my top contender (especially with regards to finances and the research options and faculty) but I just don't know if I see myself starting a career in Ottawa ( I did my undergrad there + I have FSWEP experience and I didn't have the best experience if I'm being transparent). U of T appeals to me because I can live at home and I love the Toronto lifestyle. What are the possibilities of working in Toronto (if I decide to go to CU bc most people just end up staying and working in Ottawa for the federal government as far as I've heard) Do you know people in your network that went on to start careers in the OPS? Also, I was speaking to a few current students and a lot of them secured paid internships in the OPS, private organizations and even virtual federal placements -surprisingly (like Indigenous Affairs). I've also heard positive things about their career services team and how closely they work with students to land them internships and even jobs after graduating. They also said the program is very professional and practical compared to other programs and some of their policy student initiatives + collab specializations seemed interesting. I was thinking of maybe visiting Munk School in person to talk to faculty and get a feel of the culture there and the same with CU.
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). -
2 hours ago, lalax said:
Is anyone here considering U of T?
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).
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7 hours ago, jeffgordon said:
I’ve got an offer, but I have to complete 3 prerequisites (ECON 1001 and 1002 and PSCI 2003). Would you mind helping me out with a few questions?
1. They recommend I complete the prerequisites before Fall 2023, so I’ll have to do them in Summer term. I have 2 months before summer courses start. Would it be possible for me to postpone and do the prerequisites in Fall instead of Summer and then start the program in Winter 2024?
2. I know I can do the prerequisites on any university, but I’d like to do them at Carleton. 2 of those prerequisites are available in Summer, but one (PSCI 2003) is not. Any suggestions If I want to complete all 3 in Summer?
3. Can I complete 2 of them in summer and then the other, not available during summer, in fall or winter term?
4. If you’ve taken any of these courses, did you find it difficult? I need a B+. I’ve seen they’re just one month courses, but I’d still like to know how difficult they are.
TIA!
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.
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26 minutes ago, rosethorn said:
Got accepted into Waterloo, Carleton, and SFU! Still waiting on Queen's, but I have accepted Carleton's offer.
Congratulations to everyone and best of luck if you're waiting to hear back! I would love to connect with the upcoming MPPA Carleton cohort and/or help with questions anyone might have.
Hey, I'm a Carleton MPPA alum. Happy to chat if you have any questions about the program, coop, etc.
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1 minute ago, gweapons said:
I have applied for the UoA program. I don't see many students here talk about it too.
Likely because it's only a few years old.
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On 2/6/2023 at 2:36 PM, Pinkyandthe_brain said:
For the MPPA at Carleton I was given a recommend for assessment, and then for NPSIA review in progress by department.
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Post this in the Government Affairs discussion
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2 hours ago, French_MSW said:
Hi everyone!
I can't be the only one in my current situation, so I am seeking some support.
This fall, will be my 5th consecutive year applying to MSW programs. In the past I've applied to UofT, Mac, and York.
I've been a registered social worker for 3 years now and have been at my current job with the Govt. of Ontario for 2 years. My situation is unique due to my university experiences. I completed my BA in Psychology entirely online through Queen's University. Being online, it was difficult to build relationships with professors. In addition, I worked full-time throughout my degree, so I had little time to focus on school, however still maintained high grades. I then completed the One-Year HBSW program through Lakehead University. The program structure is 6 months of coursework followed by 6 months of placement. It's an accelerated program where each class is around 2.5 weeks long for the summer, and then you take a few classes in the fall semester from Sept-Dec. It is very challenging to build relationships with professors due to the little amount of time spent with each one.
After getting rejected from Mac, I reached out and was informed that I had a very strong application with excellent grades, however, my references "could be stronger". When choosing my academic references, I chose the professors that I was able to build somewhat of a relationship with, so I thought they'd be my strongest option. My average is an 87.5%, and I have over 10+ years working in the social services industry, as well as a lengthy list of volunteering experiences on provincial and national committees and with community organizations. I'm really struggling with applying to school and not sure what next step I should take.
If anyone has any advice, I would appreciate it greatly.
Thank you!
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. -
37 minutes ago, diggi said:
International students
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?
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12 minutes ago, diggi said:
I am not sure but what I have heard is that the provincial governments are more likely to hire than the federal government. That's why I am giving a preference to waterloo rather than carleton.
More likely to hire who?
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On 9/6/2022 at 11:42 AM, diggi said:
Thanks for your reply and sorry for the incomplete post.
1. I have a 7.8 CGPA in the last two years of my law school. Besides this I have 1 year of experience in practicing law.
2. I want to switch my career and move to Canada. So I identified MPA/MPPA for my masters as the curriculum is interesting and relatable to me.
3. I am looking for universities that provide good co-op opportunities for international students with the provincial government. I prefer Ontario since I have friends living there and so I have short listed Waterloo and Ryerson.
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. -
On 9/4/2022 at 10:33 AM, diggi said:
Hii everyone. I am an international student looking to apply for MPA for the 2023-2024 term. I have a 7.6/10 CGPA. My current college list is Carleton, Waterloo and Carlgary. I am not eligible to Ottawa, Toronto, Queens since they need a GRE/GMAT. Are there any other universities I should look to apply since I am not confident in my GPA. Besides I have 1 year experience though it is of civil litigation. Any suggestions would be helpful.
Thanks Diggi.
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. -
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. -
6 minutes ago, RadahnFestival said:
I finally received an offer from the Queens MPA program! Anybody know any groups/chats for the MPA 2022 class? Also my offer letter doesn't mention a scholarship, does anybody know who I can/should email about that? Thanks
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. -
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Yes, that's what you're supposed to do in this situation. If you are worried, ask whoever deals with scholarships at your institution.
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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. -
On 3/17/2022 at 11:14 PM, governmentbarbie said:
I got my MPP acceptance today! So far I have also received Laurier’s MIPP at BSIA and Npsia at carleton. Still waiting to hear my status about MGA at munk
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.
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13 hours ago, Joseph_Eze said:
You can't work for the Federal Government legally. The Feds only hire Canadians, and that's a strict rule. Carleton is in Ottawa, and it's mainly a feeder to Federal Government jobs. You can definitely try, and you might end up in the Provincial side or Municipal side. Depends on what you want.
Ryerson MPPA allows you access to Toronto, and by extension, quite a reach to OPS based nearby. Though the program is relatively new as I've heard, and the connections might not be as strong. Your mileage may vary here.
Between both options, I'd say you're kinda stuck in the middle hoping for the best afterwards. But if my money's on the table, I'd pick Carleton any day. It's just a matter of putting more effort and standing out, networking, and building on Carleton's policy/political reputation.
@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 minutes ago, psychmem said:
Is it typical for students who get rejected from a school they listed as their three schools on the CGS-M portal, but still get the CGS-M award for that school? How common is this? I've heard that there is no connection between the people who selects students for the program vs. the people who selects students or CGS-M.
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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Your best bet is to look up alumni of this program/programs on LinkedIn and ask them.