bananacoconut

Thanks so much. I considered just messaging you, but maybe this could help other future applicants browsing this thread. Work and volunteering, etc.: I actually don't have a lot of experience. I've never had a job in government or in anything directly related to policy. If you're interested in the MPS co-op program, they actually don't want people who've had a lot of experience. Those people do the non-co-op MPS. I was SUPER lucky to have had a prof who gave me empowering and challenging work as a research assistant (since 2015) and teaching assistant (2016-2019). I got to help put together a literature review and then an essay. I am lucky to be able to say my work has been read by certain prominent academics and government institutions — but it's only because I was in that position; the profs would've given it to them anyway. As a "TA", though I did grade work, I mostly helped with redesigning a couple upper-level courses. Again, I was lucky. I hadn't even taken those courses and my boss trusted me to help him with those tasks. I honestly haven't volunteered all that much. I joined zero clubs, flew out to zero case competitions, had zero student governments/committees, or what have you. Academics: I did my undergrad degree from 2013 to 2018 (and not in something like public policy or poli sci). Overall, I mostly got A grades (electives gave me A+s), but I'm not in the top 5% or whatever of my program, I never, ever made it to the Dean's List, and I never got academic scholarships in undergrad. I didn't do any theses and I don't have any papers I've worked on outside my RA work. Nothing is under my name. My worst course grade was less than a third of my highest course grade. It was a calculus course and I had actually been trying to do well. I barely passed an easier calculus course later. Not only did those crappy grades not matter to Canadian schools, but even freaking UChicago (super quantitatively rigourous) could overlook that. To be fair, one thing that I think helped me is doing MITx's MicroMasters program in Data, Economics, and Development Policy. The program has super cool — and, for the most part, super challenging (to me anyway) — courses taught by Esther Duflo, Abhijit Banerjee, and other amazing economists. It's incredible, I've learned so much, and I'm paying only $500 USD for the whole thing! (Pricing is based on your income.) I didn't even take five courses at once like some people do. I've been doing them mostly one by one to try to gain a deeper understanding. Undergrad average: 84% (A-). Last two years: 87% (A). MicroMasters average so far: 90% (A). I know stats and softs are important, but I think Grad Café makes them seem more important than they really are. A bunch of other things matter, too: I think if an applicant is confident in their story and in their potential (and can clearly and passionately indicate that in their applications), they can get in, even despite some disadvantages they might have. I heavily personalized each personal statement to the program, even using the school's brand guidelines throughout my application (values, goals, words, primary colours, secondary colours, fonts, design, etc.). I comb through the schools' websites to find phrases that spoke to me and found ways to incorporate them or their gist into my essays and résumés. I don't know if the schools really cared about colours and such, but I at least could show I cared about the school and was a good fit. By brand guidelines, I mean like this one for UWaterloo. See page 5. Stuff like that helped me craft my personal statements. If you have trouble getting work experience like I've had, you can do policy-related things even outside of work, volunteering, and studies that can help you immerse yourself in the field and that you can even write about in your applications to show your passion and dedication. I owe much of my success to luck and to my lovely profs. Don't forget to engage with your profs! Attend office hours, ask questions, email and meet your profs even after taking their courses. It amazes me how invested profs can be in your growth and future studies. It's also easier for them to write letters of recommendation for you if they know you well. All three of my referees have pointed this out to me. They've all had students who they barely know (AKA students who didn't bother to cultivate relationships with them) ask them to be their referees. All of them said that wasn't the case for me. One said he wrote for me the longest letter of recommendation he'd ever written. (If only I could read it, lol.) Another said no other student after me has attended his office hours nearly as much. After three years and hundreds of students, it's not even close. By the way, I know I didn't get top marks in any of their classes. Ya don't gotta have the best stats. Waterloo's MPS program needs 3 referees. (US schools also tend to want at least 3.) Also: Ask for things!! Whether it's a job or some other kind of opportunity that pops up, ASK. E.g.: nine months into my RA job, my boss was going to present his literature review that I was helping with at a conference at an unbelievably amazing US school. During a meeting just two days before the conference, he very casually said in passing that if he could take me with him to the conference, he would. It was a purely hypothetical situation. But I asked. Then he asked the school, the school got me an invite, and I got to go. I was 19 and am no ridiculous genius. People there had committed more years to their fields than the years I'd had experience breathing. They still let me in. I had a typo in all my résumés. So, that's me. But other people have totally different stories. Maybe I "wrote my way in" as some people are afraid they did (as opposed to being "actually qualified"). Maybe my referees with all their bias had offered enough pretty words to say about me. And so what if the colours and fonts helped offset my slower pace, blemished record, dearth of awards, and lack of experience? I don't mind one bit. We can get in through different paths and at different paces and even with different (and imperfect) stats/softs. Hopefully, I've demonstrated that. If you try hard at what you're doing (policy-related or not), prove your passion for policy and your fit with the school, and believe in your story and potential, I think you'll be totally fine. Lastly, I urge you to browse many programs and go for the best of the best programs that speak to you and fit your interests, no matter your perception of your qualifications and no matter the program's costs. And do it now. Your top choice might not even be UWaterloo's MPS. My top choice used to be UWaterloo's MEDI (to do another degree after), then it was MPS, then Carleton's MPPA, then not even that. I regret so much that it was only in mid-November that I'd begun to consider applying to my ultimate dream school. I'd figured they wouldn't want me and that it would be too expensive, so I'd dismissed the idea for so long. And what do you know? I got in anyway and with a bit of funding, even with very limited time to prepare for the GRE. And costs are higher when you're too late to apply for the good scholarships. If you have more questions, whether now or in the future, I'd be more than happy to chat. Best of luck to you.

To Waterloo MPS applicants, check Quest! I just found out my status changed from “Application” to “Admit”! I’ve gotten no letter or email though, not even in spam. (Not an April Fool’s “joke”, I promise.)

According to the graduate supervisor, there are only four spots and there's a waiting list. (So, hopefully, you applied as part of the application!) Info I was emailed: MPPA students in the Data Science Specialization are required to take the same 10 core courses as other MPPA students. In the place of the 4 electives in the MPPA, they are required to take: DATA 5000 [0.5] Data Science Seminar PADM 5218 [0.5] Analysis of Socio-economic Data (or equivalent course approved by Graduate Supervisor, MPPA) A 0.5 data science elective A 0.5 elective

Is anyone else here doing Carleton's new Data Science specialization (assuming you're going there)?

I’m in your boat. Good luck to you. :)

Congrats! As far as I know, there's no other email, but they split the acceptance letter and the funding stuff. Funding isn't actually detailed in a letter. But the details should be on Carleton Central.

From what I’ve learned, Carleton is the best bet if you want to work for the federal government. It’s in Ottawa and has close ties to the government. It’s also cool that the MPPA program is also introducing a Data Science specialization this September (it’s been approved) if you’re interested in that stuff. They also have a rather wide selection of courses, unlike some other Canadian policy schools. The MPPA program is also super cheap. Under $18,000 for two years total. And Carleton throws money at students! They have the most generous funding packages of all policy schools in the country. Many people get offered $15k or more. And that’s not including co-op, which you can do over two terms there. The drawback is that Carleton University is virtually unknown outside Canada. It’s not a highly ranked school. However, the more work experience you have, the less your school matters, so it would still be possible for you to go to Carleton, work in the government, and then move elsewhere should you so wish. That’s what I understand, at least. Are you thinking about applying next year?

So... the April 3rd Admitted Student Day is cancelled. ? Is anyone still planning to visit before September?

UWaterloo gave you an offer a week ago? Congrats! May I ask when you applied?

Congrats! That’s amazing!

I asked them, yeah. Even if it's this week, it's surprising, considering that the FAQ says they'd start sending them in mid-Jan. I'm quite sure in the webinar, they once mentioned an earlier date (maybe Feb?).

Btw, McGill (Max Bell) said they’ll likely start sending acceptances this week for the MPP program.

Mine was from Chicago. 773 area code.

Thank you! I’m from Canada. Harris is actually the only non-Canadian school I applied to.

Harris called me in the morning. I got accepted into the MPP program! I'm an international student. I applied in Round 2. Good luck to all!