MPA/MPP Applications, Fall 2018 (Canada)

[YouniK]

28 minutes ago, phmasters said:

As another first year student I can confirm: we were all very happy to get extra money!

I wonder who you are, lol! I'm sure I've seen you in classes.

Edited March 21, 2018 by YouniK

[mppmgaapplicant2018]

4 hours ago, YouniK said:

 

Hey! I am a current student in the program. Actually, this year the school was very generous and provided additional funding for MPP1 students on OSAP depending on the amount a student's OSAP funding capped at. For example, some received up to about $7000 in addition to the scholarship offered by the School. This was similar to UTAPS in a sense. I'm not sure how SPPG came to the decision to implement this, but it was very surprising and students were VERY pleased.

 

2 hours ago, phmasters said:

As another first year student I can confirm: we were all very happy to get extra money!

That's such exciting news! Thank you for the heads up! Any idea if they'd be offering the same this year? 

Going to be shooting an email to the department in any case to inquire about this. 

Edit: Also, since we've got two first year's in the thread now, would either (or both) of you be willing to share your experience in the program thus far? Has it lived up to your expectations? Any particular drawbacks? How do y'all suggest tackling the econ and stats courses?

Some of us are still deciding which route to go and are in quite a decision-making conundrum, so any insight is appreciated!
 

Edited March 22, 2018 by mppmgaapplicant2018

[YouniK]

1 hour ago, mppmgaapplicant2018 said:

 

That's such exciting news! Thank you for the heads up! Any idea if they'd be offering the same this year? 

Going to be shooting an email to the department in any case to inquire about this. 

Edit: Also, since we've got two first year's in the thread now, would either of you be willing to share your experience in the program thus far? Has it lived up to your expectations? Any particular drawbacks? How do y'all suggest tackling the econ and stats courses?

Some of us are still deciding which route to go and are in quite a decision-making conundrum, so any insight is appreciated!
 

I am not too sure if the same will be offered this year, but yes reach out to SPPG to inquire. It is always good to get information and confirmation first-hand. I do know students were not expecting it.

Regarding your second inquiry, I took nearly the full few weeks given by SPPG to accept my offer when I was accepted in March last year. I had to seriously weigh the costs/benefits of U of T MPP and the other program I applied for and was accepted to. I knew very well that the costs of the U of T program were much higher than other programs, but the fact that the School offered assistance is very helpful. The first thing I did, prior to applying, was conduct very thorough research about the program, courses, faculty and their research interests, the goal of the program, network, extracurriculars, current students (at the time), and alumni. Upon receiving my offer, I searched for alumni on LinkedIn and asked very pointed and detailed questions to get an idea of what sets the MPP program apart from others in Canada and how well it prepared them for their careers. They were very honest that the quantitative courses were difficult, but very relevant to their current work. You may not work in an economics or statistics capacity, but understanding the concepts, theories, and practical applications is vital for making evidence-based decisions. The quantitative rigour of the program really sets it apart and opens the door of opportunity for students/alumni to work in various capacities, i.e. Economist, Consultant (KPMG, Deloitte, Ernst & Young, etc.), Policy Analyst, Research Associate, and more. A few very bright students started a unique initiative entitled the SPPG Consulting Student Initiative, offering networking opportunities with staff from top Consulting/Accounting Firms, such as the aforementioned organizations.

In the first semester, I think most students were faced with sentiments of experiencing an existential crisis lol (exaggeration intended here). Initially, I felt the program was too academic focused, but realized it was a good foundation for the more practical parts of the program, such as Policy Implementation. BUT, I really enjoy the program especially this semester (I have some EXCEPTIONAL professors who are really dedicated to our success and are willing to help at any time). The program also promotes much group work, such as through the Minister's Briefing, and I have worked with different students which has been a great learning experience and an opportunity to get to know more of my peers, while also building team work skills. 

Also, the School offers the opportunity to gain experience in policy consultation through the Public Good Initiative (PGI), which is great for both students who have and do not have practical experience. PGI helps build research, project management, stakeholder consultation (and many more) skills. The internship is also one of the main features of the program that drew me to it, as it bridges the gap between education and experience, and we have exclusive access to quite a few positions (these employers recruit solely from the U of T MPP program)! We also choose a Faculty Advisor who guides us throughout the internship and complete a final deliverable (report regarding the internship learning outcomes, etc.). In addition, we have very interesting events and student initiatives, such as with Katie Telford (Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau), and many, many, many more. I was not able to attend a majority of the events as I also work (I personally wouldn't advise working, unless you need to. But it also depends on what type of learner you are. I have been working since I was 15, working provides a good balance for me, and my job is a government position). If you do decide to work, try to limit your days to 2 a week - I work 4 days a week, which is a bit much lol. Also, the network is great! We have fellows which include Senator Tony Dean, Dalton McGuinty, and Bob Rae, to name a few, in addition to alumni who are doing very, very well in their careers. Our employment rates are high (some students continue with school, take a break/travel) and internship placement rates of 100% (by the way the Program Manager for Internships is amazing! You will see what I mean should you choose to accept your offer). In fact, A LOT of time and dedication goes into preparing students for internships and careers: job search, resume and cover letter writing, sample interview questions, interview assignment preparations, presentation preparations (OPS requires students to complete a briefing note and presentation on a topic which you choose from a list of options), briefing note workshop, consulting 101 workshop, mock interviews, student feedback, Employer Marketing Day, LinkedIn profile head shots, strong rapport built with organizations who seek to hire from our program, etc. 

Improvements can be made to every program, as you will learn in Program Evaluation, unless of course it is perfect. However, I must say that I made the best decision to choose U of T SPPG. Even better, as I am sure you know, there will be an amalgamation with the School of Public Policy and Governance and the Munk School of Global Affairs, which makes the program at U of T that much stronger and further sets the program apart from others in Canada! I think this is such a wise and strategically-sound move by U of T given that the program is currently largely Ontario and Toronto-focused. Keep in mind, however, that there are a number of students who will be interning in the Federal Public Service.

One of the BEST parts of the program is my cohort! Literally. Everyone is so kind, we all work very well together, and are willing to help each other. The closeness of the cohort actually amazes me. 

I would suggest preparing for economics and statistics over the next few months (online resources or purchase a textbook), if you haven't done much of either course. Here is a link you can use: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdXoDkCfcM8

if you have any further questions, please feel free to send me a message.

Edited March 22, 2018 by YouniK

[JBunni]

Hey guys! I'm currently debating between a few schools and weighing the pros and cons of each. I'm trying to compare tuition between all the programs and find the websites are all a bit confusing. Before I pull any more of my hair out I thought I would check to see if anyone had put together a comparison? Also, is anyone familiar with the amount of funding handed about by Queens? 

Edited March 22, 2018 by JBunni

[mppmgaapplicant2018]

4 hours ago, YouniK said:

I am not too sure if the same will be offered this year, but yes reach out to SPPG to inquire. It is always good to get information and confirmation first-hand. I do know students were not expecting it.

Regarding your second inquiry, I took nearly the full few weeks given by SPPG to accept my offer when I was accepted in March last year. I had to seriously weigh the costs/benefits of U of T MPP and the other program I applied for and was accepted to. I knew very well that the costs of the U of T program were much higher than other programs, but the fact that the School offered assistance is very helpful. The first thing I did, prior to applying, was conduct very thorough research about the program, courses, faculty and their research interests, the goal of the program, network, extracurriculars, current students (at the time), and alumni. Upon receiving my offer, I searched for alumni on LinkedIn and asked very pointed and detailed questions to get an idea of what sets the MPP program apart from others in Canada and how well it prepared them for their careers. They were very honest that the quantitative courses were difficult, but very relevant to their current work. You may not work in an economics or statistics capacity, but understanding the concepts, theories, and practical applications is vital for making evidence-based decisions. The quantitative rigour of the program really sets it apart and opens the door of opportunity for students/alumni to work in various capacities, i.e. Economist, Consultant (KPMG, Deloitte, Ernst & Young, etc.), Policy Analyst, Research Associate, and more. A few very bright students started a unique initiative entitled the SPPG Consulting Student Initiative, offering networking opportunities with staff from top Consulting/Accounting Firms, such as the aforementioned organizations.

In the first semester, I think most students were faced with sentiments of experiencing an existential crisis lol (exaggeration intended here). Initially, I felt the program was too academic focused, but realized it was a good foundation for the more practical parts of the program, such as Policy Implementation. BUT, I really enjoy the program especially this semester (I have some EXCEPTIONAL professors who are really dedicated to our success and are willing to help at any time). The program also promotes much group work, such as through the Minister's Briefing, and I have worked with different students which has been a great learning experience and an opportunity to get to know more of my peers, while also building team work skills. 

Also, the School offers the opportunity to gain experience in policy consultation through the Public Good Initiative (PGI), which is great for both students who have and do not have practical experience. PGI helps build research, project management, stakeholder consultation (and many more) skills. The internship is also one of the main features of the program that drew me to it, as it bridges the gap between education and experience, and we have exclusive access to quite a few positions (these employers recruit solely from the U of T MPP program)! We also choose a Faculty Advisor who guides us throughout the internship and complete a final deliverable (report regarding the internship learning outcomes, etc.). In addition, we have very interesting events and student initiatives, such as with Katie Telford (Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau), and many, many, many more. I was not able to attend a majority of the events as I also work (I personally wouldn't advise working, unless you need to. But it also depends on what type of learner you are. I have been working since I was 15, working provides a good balance for me, and my job is a government position). If you do decide to work, try to limit your days to 2 a week - I work 4 days a week, which is a bit much lol. Also, the network is great! We have fellows which include Senator Tony Dean, Dalton McGuinty, and Bob Rae, to name a few, in addition to alumni who are doing very, very well in their careers. Our employment rates are high (some students continue with school, take a break/travel) and internship placement rates of 100% (by the way the Program Manager for Internships is amazing! You will see what I mean should you choose to accept your offer). In fact, A LOT of time and dedication goes into preparing students for internships and careers: job search, resume and cover letter writing, sample interview questions, interview assignment preparations, presentation preparations (OPS requires students to complete a briefing note and presentation on a topic which you choose from a list of options), briefing note workshop, consulting 101 workshop, mock interviews, student feedback, Employer Marketing Day, LinkedIn profile head shots, strong rapport built with organizations who seek to hire from our program, etc. 

Improvements can be made to every program, as you will learn in Program Evaluation, unless of course it is perfect. However, I must say that I made the best decision to choose U of T SPPG. Even better, as I am sure you know, there will be an amalgamation with the School of Public Policy and Governance and the Munk School of Global Affairs, which makes the program at U of T that much stronger and further sets the program apart from others in Canada! I think this is such a wise and strategically-sound move by U of T given that the program is currently largely Ontario and Toronto-focused. Keep in mind, however, that there are a number of students who will be interning in the Federal Public Service.

One of the BEST parts of the program is my cohort! Literally. Everyone is so kind, we all work very well together, and are willing to help each other. The closeness of the cohort actually amazes me. 

I would suggest preparing for economics and statistics over the next few months (online resources or purchase a textbook), if you haven't done much of either course. Here is a link you can use: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdXoDkCfcM8

if you have any further questions, please feel free to send me a message.

This was incredibly helpful, Youni. Thank you so much for taking out the time to write this out. You've covered essentially every possible aspect that prospective/admitted students have questions about. Seriously, thank you. I have a few additional questions that I'm going to follow up with you via PM if that's alright.

Out of curiosity, which schools were you debating on attending at the time of your application?

[megtree]

Cruising for updates. Has anyone received an "official" offer from UVic? 

Edit: I just called. First round offers have all gone out. Applicants have 10 days to respond. They expect that the second wave of offers will be sent out by the end of the month. 

Edited March 22, 2018 by megtree

[YouniK]

13 hours ago, mppmgaapplicant2018 said:

This was incredibly helpful, Youni. Thank you so much for taking out the time to write this out. You've covered essentially every possible aspect that prospective/admitted students have questions about. Seriously, thank you. I have a few additional questions that I'm going to follow up with you via PM if that's alright.

Out of curiosity, which schools were you debating on attending at the time of your application?

Aww, you're welcome! Seriously, anything to help. Yes, please feel free to send me a message and pour your questions into my inbox. One thing I should mention here, in addition, is that U of T offers Collaborative Specializations, which was literally a major deciding factor for me. For SPPG the specializations are: Environmental Studies, Public Health Policy, Asia-Pacific Studies, Ethnic & Pluralism Studies, and Sexual Diversity Studies.

I had applied to U of T and York University's Master in Public Policy, Administration and Law (MPPAL) program. I was honestly shocked when I received the U of T offer, especially so early! I was set on attending York University as I completed my undergrad there, built strong rapport with the professors, and the program is part-time so I could work full-time; however, I was more focused on the long-term and really felt that U of T offered the most comprehensive program relative to my interests. I also think Ryerson's program is good, though I didn't apply.

Edited March 22, 2018 by YouniK

[TOmppaapplicant]

Hey all,

 

I just received this from Ryerson:

"Dear....,

We would like to take this opportunity to again thank you for your interest in Graduate Studies at Ryerson University.  This acknowledgement confirms that we received your documents through the applicant upload portal for the School of Graduate Studies for the term commencing Fall 2018 for the following program:

Master of Arts - Public Policy and Administration - Full Time

To confirm the status of your document submissions, you may log into the Applicant Portal to determine which documents have been received by our office.  Please upload any missing documents listed.

Your application has been reviewed for consideration and has been forwarded to the Program Admissions Committee for review.  Once an admission decision has been reached, you will be notified by email.  Due to high volume of inquiries, we are unable to respond to individual requests concerning your admissions decision.

We wish you success in your continued academic endeavors."

Has anyone gotten this? It seems kind of late for them to tell me that my documents have been received....

[Souell]

2 hours ago, TOmppaapplicant said:

Hey all,

 

I just received this from Ryerson:

"Dear....,

We would like to take this opportunity to again thank you for your interest in Graduate Studies at Ryerson University.  This acknowledgement confirms that we received your documents through the applicant upload portal for the School of Graduate Studies for the term commencing Fall 2018 for the following program:

Master of Arts - Public Policy and Administration - Full Time

To confirm the status of your document submissions, you may log into the Applicant Portal to determine which documents have been received by our office.  Please upload any missing documents listed.

Your application has been reviewed for consideration and has been forwarded to the Program Admissions Committee for review.  Once an admission decision has been reached, you will be notified by email.  Due to high volume of inquiries, we are unable to respond to individual requests concerning your admissions decision.

We wish you success in your continued academic endeavors."

Has anyone gotten this? It seems kind of late for them to tell me that my documents have been received....

What scares me is that I never received an wmail like this at all. 

[newmem282]

4 hours ago, TOmppaapplicant said:

Hey all,

 

I just received this from Ryerson:

"Dear....,

We would like to take this opportunity to again thank you for your interest in Graduate Studies at Ryerson University.  This acknowledgement confirms that we received your documents through the applicant upload portal for the School of Graduate Studies for the term commencing Fall 2018 for the following program:

Master of Arts - Public Policy and Administration - Full Time

To confirm the status of your document submissions, you may log into the Applicant Portal to determine which documents have been received by our office.  Please upload any missing documents listed.

Your application has been reviewed for consideration and has been forwarded to the Program Admissions Committee for review.  Once an admission decision has been reached, you will be notified by email.  Due to high volume of inquiries, we are unable to respond to individual requests concerning your admissions decision.

We wish you success in your continued academic endeavors."

Has anyone gotten this? It seems kind of late for them to tell me that my documents have been received....

maybe your referees just submitted their letters?

[celineemilylg]

1 hour ago, newmem282 said:

maybe your referees just submitted their letters?

Hi! Have you just received this email? I received it too but back at the beginning of Feb. When did you apply? 

[celineemilylg]

5 hours ago, TOmppaapplicant said:

Hey all,

 

I just received this from Ryerson:

"Dear....,

We would like to take this opportunity to again thank you for your interest in Graduate Studies at Ryerson University.  This acknowledgement confirms that we received your documents through the applicant upload portal for the School of Graduate Studies for the term commencing Fall 2018 for the following program:

Master of Arts - Public Policy and Administration - Full Time

To confirm the status of your document submissions, you may log into the Applicant Portal to determine which documents have been received by our office.  Please upload any missing documents listed.

Your application has been reviewed for consideration and has been forwarded to the Program Admissions Committee for review.  Once an admission decision has been reached, you will be notified by email.  Due to high volume of inquiries, we are unable to respond to individual requests concerning your admissions decision.

We wish you success in your continued academic endeavors."

Has anyone gotten this? It seems kind of late for them to tell me that my documents have been received....

I received this email too but back at the beginning of Feb. Did you apply before 11 Dec 2017?

[TOmppaapplicant]

12 hours ago, newmem282 said:

maybe your referees just submitted their letters?

No, they submitted them way before (it shows the date on my portal)

11 hours ago, celineemilylg said:

I received this email too but back at the beginning of Feb. Did you apply before 11 Dec 2017?

I applied after December 11th--end of January (I know, I know very late  )

[TOmppaapplicant]

14 hours ago, Souell said:

What scares me is that I never received an wmail like this at all. 

When did you apply? 

[TOMPPA]

17 hours ago, TOmppaapplicant said:

Hey all,

 

I just received this from Ryerson:

"Dear....,

We would like to take this opportunity to again thank you for your interest in Graduate Studies at Ryerson University.  This acknowledgement confirms that we received your documents through the applicant upload portal for the School of Graduate Studies for the term commencing Fall 2018 for the following program:

Master of Arts - Public Policy and Administration - Full Time

To confirm the status of your document submissions, you may log into the Applicant Portal to determine which documents have been received by our office.  Please upload any missing documents listed.

Your application has been reviewed for consideration and has been forwarded to the Program Admissions Committee for review.  Once an admission decision has been reached, you will be notified by email.  Due to high volume of inquiries, we are unable to respond to individual requests concerning your admissions decision.

We wish you success in your continued academic endeavors."

Has anyone gotten this? It seems kind of late for them to tell me that my documents have been received....

Hey, I recieved this in early January, I applied before Dec 11. Anyone apply part-time and get accepted?

Edited March 23, 2018 by TOMPPA

[patel69]

Hey everyone! Has anyone decided to accept Manitoba's offer? Do they offer funding?

[megtree]

19 minutes ago, patel69 said:

Hey everyone! Has anyone decided to accept Manitoba's offer? Do they offer funding?

Hey! I was in Manitoba's first round of offers. I wasn't offered funding, and I think the letter of offer kind of suggests it isn't typically offered, but maybe I'm wrong. Here's the letter:

26/02/2018

Dear ___,

I am pleased to offer you admission to the Faculty of Graduate Studies at the University of Manitoba. Your admission has been approved as follows:

Term: Fall 2018**
Program: M.P.A.
Department: Public Administration

 

ADMISSION

---

Please note that:

• This offer of admission is valid only for the term for which it is issued.
• This letter does not provide, guarantee, or offer financial assistance from the Faculty of Graduate Studies now or at any time during your program.
• The University of Manitoba only issues an electronic offer of admission.

Please confirm your intention to accept or decline our offer as soon as possible, preferably within one month from the date on this letter, unless otherwise specified above, by clicking on the 'Respond' button in the top right-hand corner of this page.

Acceptance of Offer Status: Pending

FUNDING

---

• Many graduate programs have Grader/Marker and/or Teaching Assistant positions available, which pay approximately $15/hr and $20/hr, respectively. Please contact Public Administration for additional information.

• You may be eligible for other awards, and we encourage you to check your program's website and the Faculty of Graduate Studies awards database for more information.

If you require additional assistance please contact graduate.awards@umanitoba.ca.

PROGRAM INFORMATION

---

• You should consult with a department/unit advisor either prior to, or at the time of registration and have your program of study approved. If you do not register for the Fall 2018 term and subsequently wish to register for courses in a later term, you must reapply and be readmitted.
• It is your responsibility to register for and complete GRAD 7500 Academic Integrity Tutorial in your first term of registration. This is a mandatory, zero (0) credit-hour online course intended to inform you of your basic responsibilities regarding academic integrity and the resources available to you. Further information on this tutorial can be found on our website.
• If you are in a thesis or practicum-based program, you must complete the Advisor Student Guidelines with your advisor. If you do not yet have an advisor assigned, please contact your home unit.
• Any changes to your current degree level program must be approved in advance by the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
• Please see the Registrar's Office website for fee information.
• The Faculty of Graduate Studies offers free GradSteps professional development workshops. Attend six workshops within one academic year and qualify for co-curricular recognition. See umanitoba.ca/graduate_studies/workshops/ for more information.
• The University of Manitoba provides a full range of support services for students. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with, and use, these services as required. Information on these services can be accessed at umanitoba.ca/student

As the oldest university in Western Canada, we take pride in our laurels, our high standards, our internationally recognized programs, and the quality of service to our students and faculty. If you have any questions, I encourage you to contact the Faculty of Graduate Studies Admissions Assistants either by phone 204.474.9377 or by email: graduate.admissions@umanitoba.ca. You can also connect with us also on facebook.com/umgradstudies and twitter.com/umgradstudies. We want to ensure that you have an exceptional graduate student experience! On behalf of all of us in the Faculty of Graduate Studies, I congratulate you on the success of your application and welcome you to the University of Manitoba!

Best wishes for a successful and rewarding graduate education,

Dr. Todd A.M. Mondor
Vice-Provost (Graduate Education) & Dean of Graduate Studies

As a side note, I'm still undecided and I'm still hoping to hear from a couple of waitlisted programs. As such, U of M agreed to extend my response deadline until April 10th. If you're on the waitlist, then I think you can expect to hear from them within the next two weeks because most of the applicants contacted in February will have accepted or declined by then. Hope that helps. Good luck! =)

[patel69]

11 minutes ago, megtree said:

Hey! I was in Manitoba's first round of offers. I wasn't offered funding, and I think the letter of offer kind of suggests it isn't typically offered, but maybe I'm wrong. Here's the letter:

26/02/2018

Dear ___,

I am pleased to offer you admission to the Faculty of Graduate Studies at the University of Manitoba. Your admission has been approved as follows:

Term: Fall 2018**
Program: M.P.A.
Department: Public Administration

 

ADMISSION

---

Please note that:

• This offer of admission is valid only for the term for which it is issued.
• This letter does not provide, guarantee, or offer financial assistance from the Faculty of Graduate Studies now or at any time during your program.
• The University of Manitoba only issues an electronic offer of admission.

Please confirm your intention to accept or decline our offer as soon as possible, preferably within one month from the date on this letter, unless otherwise specified above, by clicking on the 'Respond' button in the top right-hand corner of this page.

Acceptance of Offer Status: Pending

FUNDING

---

• Many graduate programs have Grader/Marker and/or Teaching Assistant positions available, which pay approximately $15/hr and $20/hr, respectively. Please contact Public Administration for additional information.

• You may be eligible for other awards, and we encourage you to check your program's website and the Faculty of Graduate Studies awards database for more information.

If you require additional assistance please contact graduate.awards@umanitoba.ca.

PROGRAM INFORMATION

---

• You should consult with a department/unit advisor either prior to, or at the time of registration and have your program of study approved. If you do not register for the Fall 2018 term and subsequently wish to register for courses in a later term, you must reapply and be readmitted.
• It is your responsibility to register for and complete GRAD 7500 Academic Integrity Tutorial in your first term of registration. This is a mandatory, zero (0) credit-hour online course intended to inform you of your basic responsibilities regarding academic integrity and the resources available to you. Further information on this tutorial can be found on our website.
• If you are in a thesis or practicum-based program, you must complete the Advisor Student Guidelines with your advisor. If you do not yet have an advisor assigned, please contact your home unit.
• Any changes to your current degree level program must be approved in advance by the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
• Please see the Registrar's Office website for fee information.
• The Faculty of Graduate Studies offers free GradSteps professional development workshops. Attend six workshops within one academic year and qualify for co-curricular recognition. See umanitoba.ca/graduate_studies/workshops/ for more information.
• The University of Manitoba provides a full range of support services for students. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with, and use, these services as required. Information on these services can be accessed at umanitoba.ca/student

As the oldest university in Western Canada, we take pride in our laurels, our high standards, our internationally recognized programs, and the quality of service to our students and faculty. If you have any questions, I encourage you to contact the Faculty of Graduate Studies Admissions Assistants either by phone 204.474.9377 or by email: graduate.admissions@umanitoba.ca. You can also connect with us also on facebook.com/umgradstudies and twitter.com/umgradstudies. We want to ensure that you have an exceptional graduate student experience! On behalf of all of us in the Faculty of Graduate Studies, I congratulate you on the success of your application and welcome you to the University of Manitoba!

Best wishes for a successful and rewarding graduate education,

Dr. Todd A.M. Mondor
Vice-Provost (Graduate Education) & Dean of Graduate Studies

As a side note, I'm still undecided and I'm still hoping to hear from a couple of waitlisted programs. As such, U of M agreed to extend my response deadline until April 10th. If you're on the waitlist, then I think you can expect to hear from them within the next two weeks because most of the applicants contacted in February will have accepted or declined by then. Hope that helps. Good luck! =)

Thank you very much:) yes i am on the waitlist

[Pound Cake]

On 2018-03-21 at 6:20 PM, YouniK said:

I am not too sure if the same will be offered this year, but yes reach out to SPPG to inquire. It is always good to get information and confirmation first-hand. I do know students were not expecting it.

Regarding your second inquiry, I took nearly the full few weeks given by SPPG to accept my offer when I was accepted in March last year. I had to seriously weigh the costs/benefits of U of T MPP and the other program I applied for and was accepted to. I knew very well that the costs of the U of T program were much higher than other programs, but the fact that the School offered assistance is very helpful. The first thing I did, prior to applying, was conduct very thorough research about the program, courses, faculty and their research interests, the goal of the program, network, extracurriculars, current students (at the time), and alumni. Upon receiving my offer, I searched for alumni on LinkedIn and asked very pointed and detailed questions to get an idea of what sets the MPP program apart from others in Canada and how well it prepared them for their careers. They were very honest that the quantitative courses were difficult, but very relevant to their current work. You may not work in an economics or statistics capacity, but understanding the concepts, theories, and practical applications is vital for making evidence-based decisions. The quantitative rigour of the program really sets it apart and opens the door of opportunity for students/alumni to work in various capacities, i.e. Economist, Consultant (KPMG, Deloitte, Ernst & Young, etc.), Policy Analyst, Research Associate, and more. A few very bright students started a unique initiative entitled the SPPG Consulting Student Initiative, offering networking opportunities with staff from top Consulting/Accounting Firms, such as the aforementioned organizations.

In the first semester, I think most students were faced with sentiments of experiencing an existential crisis lol (exaggeration intended here). Initially, I felt the program was too academic focused, but realized it was a good foundation for the more practical parts of the program, such as Policy Implementation. BUT, I really enjoy the program especially this semester (I have some EXCEPTIONAL professors who are really dedicated to our success and are willing to help at any time). The program also promotes much group work, such as through the Minister's Briefing, and I have worked with different students which has been a great learning experience and an opportunity to get to know more of my peers, while also building team work skills. 

Also, the School offers the opportunity to gain experience in policy consultation through the Public Good Initiative (PGI), which is great for both students who have and do not have practical experience. PGI helps build research, project management, stakeholder consultation (and many more) skills. The internship is also one of the main features of the program that drew me to it, as it bridges the gap between education and experience, and we have exclusive access to quite a few positions (these employers recruit solely from the U of T MPP program)! We also choose a Faculty Advisor who guides us throughout the internship and complete a final deliverable (report regarding the internship learning outcomes, etc.). In addition, we have very interesting events and student initiatives, such as with Katie Telford (Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau), and many, many, many more. I was not able to attend a majority of the events as I also work (I personally wouldn't advise working, unless you need to. But it also depends on what type of learner you are. I have been working since I was 15, working provides a good balance for me, and my job is a government position). If you do decide to work, try to limit your days to 2 a week - I work 4 days a week, which is a bit much lol. Also, the network is great! We have fellows which include Senator Tony Dean, Dalton McGuinty, and Bob Rae, to name a few, in addition to alumni who are doing very, very well in their careers. Our employment rates are high (some students continue with school, take a break/travel) and internship placement rates of 100% (by the way the Program Manager for Internships is amazing! You will see what I mean should you choose to accept your offer). In fact, A LOT of time and dedication goes into preparing students for internships and careers: job search, resume and cover letter writing, sample interview questions, interview assignment preparations, presentation preparations (OPS requires students to complete a briefing note and presentation on a topic which you choose from a list of options), briefing note workshop, consulting 101 workshop, mock interviews, student feedback, Employer Marketing Day, LinkedIn profile head shots, strong rapport built with organizations who seek to hire from our program, etc. 

Improvements can be made to every program, as you will learn in Program Evaluation, unless of course it is perfect. However, I must say that I made the best decision to choose U of T SPPG. Even better, as I am sure you know, there will be an amalgamation with the School of Public Policy and Governance and the Munk School of Global Affairs, which makes the program at U of T that much stronger and further sets the program apart from others in Canada! I think this is such a wise and strategically-sound move by U of T given that the program is currently largely Ontario and Toronto-focused. Keep in mind, however, that there are a number of students who will be interning in the Federal Public Service.

One of the BEST parts of the program is my cohort! Literally. Everyone is so kind, we all work very well together, and are willing to help each other. The closeness of the cohort actually amazes me. 

I would suggest preparing for economics and statistics over the next few months (online resources or purchase a textbook), if you haven't done much of either course. Here is a link you can use: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdXoDkCfcM8

if you have any further questions, please feel free to send me a message.

Thanks so much for that thorough summary! Really helpful!

The econ/stats aspect of the program is keeping me on alert at the moment. Would you say that the econ/stats part of the program has been challenging for many because a lot of those students had never had experience with econ/stats during their undergrad? Just trying to gauge the difficulty of it in the context of the MPP program. I took a handful of econ courses and basic stats during my undergrad (from 1st micro/macroeconomics to 3rd year courses on international finance and trade). 

[Gallywag]

Hi, has anyone heard from Ryerson’s Master of Public Policy and Administration program yet? I know some people had said decisions were going to go out last week but I still haven’t heard anything. 

[YouniK]

3 hours ago, Gallywag said:

Hi, has anyone heard from Ryerson’s Master of Public Policy and Administration program yet? I know some people had said decisions were going to go out last week but I still haven’t heard anything. 

I know someone who was accepted some time last/this week.

[YouniK]

16 hours ago, Pound Cake said:

Thanks so much for that thorough summary! Really helpful!

The econ/stats aspect of the program is keeping me on alert at the moment. Would you say that the econ/stats part of the program has been challenging for many because a lot of those students had never had experience with econ/stats during their undergrad? Just trying to gauge the difficulty of it in the context of the MPP program. I took a handful of econ courses and basic stats during my undergrad (from 1st micro/macroeconomics to 3rd year courses on international finance and trade). 

You're welcome! I would say, there has been a trend, particularly, with microeconomics in terms of the difficulty. I think there has historically been a handful of students who were not successful the first time around. That may tell you something; however, it also seems you have some good exposure to economics. Stats is generally less difficult and more doable without having taken an undergraduate course (in my opinion). I think if you prepare and use the help offered at the school you would likely be fine.

Edited March 27, 2018 by YouniK

[brmv]

An update on the MPPA at Ryerson:

• I applied February 10th (so quite late).
• I just received an email from Ryerson (my heart nearly stopped) saying my application had been received and was being forwarded to the Program Admissions Committee for review.

I hope this helps anyone else who applied late/is still waiting!

[feelgood]

Has anybody heard from SFU after March 7? 

[mppa2018]

Hey guys, I applied to the MPPA program at Ryerson, UofT, and York. I'll be graduating this year so my official marks will be out in May. I'm not sure if this is the reason why I haven't heard back yet but anyone else who will be done in April, have you got any acceptances?