NPSIA 2014 Fall Applicants

[Gabrielle Bishop]

Received my official offer from the Dean/Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs this morning (PST)!! Got $12,000 in scholarships and awards - no TA position, but still awesome news!!

 

Congrats to everyone else, see you in Ottawa!!!

[marika287]

Received my official offer from the Dean/Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs this morning (PST)!! Got $12,000 in scholarships and awards - no TA position, but still awesome news!!

 

Congrats to everyone else, see you in Ottawa!!!

 

 

Just checked my status on Carleton Central, it has now changed to "Review in progress by Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs", based on Tabbatha's email I assume this is the final step before the official offer goes out.

 

On the Application Details paged my Specialization has changed to my preferred field as well.

 

Congrats to both of you ! ^^ Can't wait for me

[icedtea]

As counter intuitive as it is, all the people posting the good news give me hope. Still I just wish the wait was over.

Edited March 12, 2014 by icedtea

[cinna]

Really hoping everything works out for you, icedtea!

[marika287]

I wonder how much funding is the average and how many people get one :/ It's certain I'll go to Carleton if I have the final offer, but I'll have to keep paying part of my rent in Montreal and pay another one in Ottawa ! I'm getting nervous lol

[vikramc]

Hi,

Just wanted to check has anyone received a call after 10th march, does anyone know, will there be a second round of emails?

[lahdeedah]

Received my official offer from the Dean/Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs this morning (PST)!! Got $12,000 in scholarships and awards - no TA position, but still awesome news!!

 

Congrats to everyone else, see you in Ottawa!!!

 

Congratulations, Gabrielle - that's wonderful news!  I haven't heard anything beyond the unofficial acceptance email on Monday and last night I had a nightmare (!) about it being rescinded because they spoke to one of my references and can no longer offer me a spot...  not sure what THAT'S about (anxiety, much?!?  lol)

 

Anyway, do you mind me asking - did you have an amazing application?  e.g. 4.0 GPA, stellar references, international CV, etc.?  I'm trying to gauge what I can expect when I do hear from FGPA...

[Iffie]

Congrats everyone! 

 

I wasn't expecting to hear back from NPSIA in the first round but I'm glad I did. I chose International Economic Policy as my specialization. 

 

I'm currently deciding between UofT Munk and NPSIA. Still waiting to hear about funding from Munk. Hope that's coming soon. Does anyone know how the two programs stack up against each other in terms of career prospects? 

[marika287]

Congrats everyone! 

 

I wasn't expecting to hear back from NPSIA in the first round but I'm glad I did. I chose International Economic Policy as my specialization. 

 

I'm currently deciding between UofT Munk and NPSIA. Still waiting to hear about funding from Munk. Hope that's coming soon. Does anyone know how the two programs stack up against each other in terms of career prospects? 

 

Did you get your official acceptance and funding information ?

 

As for the universities, I heard that NPSIA has a great reputation in the field and has close links with the government. I suppose it depends what you want to do. However, I don't know much about Munk because I didn't apply there.

[Iffie]

Yes, I received my official acceptance and funding information today. $4K in scholarships plus a TA position. Was pleasantly surprised.

 

It's difficult gauging the Munk program because it's so new. I suppose I'll have to do more digging and wait for funding information. They seem to have some nice connections in terms of internships though. Hmm. 

 

Thanks Marika. 

 

Can anyone else weigh in on this? 

Edited March 13, 2014 by Iffie

[Archie1991]

I was also accepted to Munk, and I just received a scholarship offer for $4,000 from them yesterday. I was disappointed, considering how much tuition is there. I'm hoping that Carleton has a better offer. GSPIA at uOttawa has offered $12,000 as well.

 

NPSIA has a really great reputation as marika said, and I did read that it was ranked as the 2nd best international affairs program in North America a few years ago and it has great connections with DFATD. I've heard Munk is more academically-oriented, though they do offer some pretty amazing internships from what I've heard.

 

Either way, they're both amazing schools and probably the best in Canada, so congratulations on your acceptance!

[cinna]

Anyway, do you mind me asking - did you have an amazing application? e.g. 4.0 GPA, stellar references, international CV, etc.? I'm trying to gauge what I can expect when I do hear from FGPA...

I apologise for answering a question that wasn't directed at me but I figured I could chime in on this. I received my official offer yesterday along with $4K in scholarships and a TA position. I wouldn't say I had an incredibly exceptional application. 3.7 GPA, my references were probably generous but couldn't have been *stellar* as they didn't personally know me very well, some relevant (local) volunteer experience but no relevant work experience to speak of... I think my statement of intent was strong, though.

Anyway, I'm quite sure this FGPA business is just a formality. There would be outrage if it were at all common for unofficial offers to be rescinded within the week. They're probably just taking their sweet time going through all the applications and ticking off the check mark box. I'm sure you'll hear from them very soon!

Edited March 13, 2014 by cinna

[lahdeedah]

I apologise for answering a question that wasn't directed at me but I figured I could chime in on this. I received my official offer yesterday along with $4K in scholarships and a TA position. I wouldn't say I had an incredibly exceptional application. 3.7 GPA, my references were probably generous but couldn't have been *stellar* as they didn't personally know me very well, some relevant (local) volunteer experience but no relevant work experience to speak of... I think my statement of intent was strong, though.

Anyway, I'm quite sure this FGPA business is just a formality. There would be outrage if it were at all common for unofficial offers to be rescinded within the week. They're probably just taking their sweet time going through all the applications and ticking off the check mark box. I'm sure you'll hear from them very soon!

@cinna, thanks so much for this!!  I'm happy to hear from anyone, I just directed my question to Gabrielle because I think she was the only one to have included specific funding details that she had been offered by NPSIA when I wrote that.

 

I don't actually think they'll rescind (knock on wood), I think I'm just worried about what the offer will include.  I seem to be equating when you hear from FGPA with how much funding you'll be offered... so in my head, the longer it takes for a formal offer, the less funding I"ll be offered (if at all.)  I have enough student loans at this point, that I'm sure the funding question was what caused the anxiety/nightmare.  lol

 

For those asking about Munk, I was offered $7,500.  I was also disappointed, considering that's less than half of one year of tuition in the two-year program.  They also noted that, if I were to receive OGS or SSHRC for more than the value of the scholarship, the scholarship would be withdrawn.  So if I got $15,000 of OGS, no scholarship, and the OGS itself wouldn't even cover tuition.

[timeisticking]

Did you get your official acceptance and funding information ?

 

As for the universities, I heard that NPSIA has a great reputation in the field and has close links with the government. I suppose it depends what you want to do. However, I don't know much about Munk because I didn't apply there.

 

I heard about that as well. I wonder if anyone could tell me if GSPIA at uOttawa, despite being a new program, would provide the same opportunities into the government (in particular, DFATD) like NPSIA. 

Edited March 13, 2014 by timeisticking

[icedtea]

As for the universities, I heard that NPSIA has a great reputation in the field and has close links with the government. I suppose it depends what you want to do.

On the topic, how good is NPSIA when it comes to the NON-governmental sector? (school itself, city, connections, etc.) While I am there, I would perhaps like to get some experience that can complement what I've had, either through co-op or an internship. I am not Canadian so I suspect that shuts the door for anything government related. Then for NGO or think-tank work (my biggest interest is refugees/forced displacement and international protection), is Ottawa best place to be or would you prefer Toronto, for example? It would be great if anyone in the know could share their views.

(Let me add that I have yet to actually get admitted by any of the programs I've applied to, just bringing this up while we're on the topic.)

Edited March 13, 2014 by icedtea

[cinna]

 I seem to be equating when you hear from FGPA with how much funding you'll be offered... so in my head, the longer it takes for a formal offer, the less funding I"ll be offered (if at all.) 

It's a possibility, but another one that just occurred to me is that they're making their way through the applications alphabetically - Gabrielle's last name appears to begin with a B, mine with an A.

 

Speaking of Munk, I haven't heard anything from them regarding funding, hmph. It would most likely still be too expensive, but it would be nice to get an email!

[marika287]

On the topic, how good is NPSIA when it comes to the NON-governmental sector? (school itself, city, connections, etc.) While I am there, I would perhaps like to get some experience that can complement what I've had, either through co-op or an internship. I am not Canadian so I suspect that shuts the door for anything government related. Then for NGO or think-tank work (my biggest interest is refugees/forced displacement and international protection), is Ottawa best place to be or would you prefer Toronto, for example?

(Let me add that I have yet to actually get admitted by any of the programs I've applied to, just bringing this up while we're on the topic.)

 

I have read some of the infos given by the Student association of NPSIA. You can check it, but overall, it said that at NPSIA, you have the occasion of doing unpaid internship. There are offers from NGO and sometimes government, among others.

 

They also write about opportunities for Co-op. The website is : http://npsiasa.wordpress.com/faqs-for-new-students/

You can find information toward the end, but this is all I know

[BuBuOurs]

I was also originally hesitating between NPSIA and Munk, but was really disappointed with my personal experience when I visited Munk. Not living anywhere close to Toronto, I wanted to use a visit to the school before the actual results were out to get a feel of the program. I messaged both the MGA administrator and the MGA Student Ambassador Program twice, two weeks ahead, to schedule a tour and did not hear anything back from either of them. When I finally ended up getting through to the office, I was told that the students were particularly busy (which is completely understandable) and basically not to bother the administration, but that "I was free to look around in the basement and public areas and to come back for a tour when I was admitted."

 

The one student that I did manage to briefly chat with raised a number of red flags that I think are worth mentioning. They cited the fact that there was no opportunity to work with professors, and that they didn't find the classes to be intellectually stimulating compared to what they had done for their undergrad. Given that tuition itself is close to $40,000, I was really shocked to hear that the class sizes are close to 40 to 50 students per class in lecture format (and without much of an opportunity for smaller seminar classes). The program claims to be pushing itself towards a 'professional orientation,' but many of the classes were described as overly broad and disorganized. Also, I should mention that I didn't get the friendliest ambiance from the students in the program when I was there. Not sure whether it was a case of 'Trinity College' arrogance, but that was my initial impression.

 

This isn't to completely sway people from the MGA Program. I am sure that there are a lot of positive aspects to pursuing a degree at Munk, and Toronto would truly be a wonderful city to live in. However, I did feel that people reading this should know about it.

Edited March 13, 2014 by BuBuOurs

[Archie1991]

I heard about that as well. I wonder if anyone could tell me if GSPIA at uOttawa, despite being a new program, would provide the same opportunities into the government (in particular, DFATD) like NPSIA. 

 

I imagine the opportunities with GSPIA are similar. A friend of mine recently had an internship at the Canadian Embassy in Washington and said that many of the other interns/junior officers had a GSPIA background.

[marika287]

It's a possibility, but another one that just occurred to me is that they're making their way through the applications alphabetically - Gabrielle's last name appears to begin with a B, mine with an A.

 

Speaking of Munk, I haven't heard anything from them regarding funding, hmph. It would most likely still be too expensive, but it would be nice to get an email!

 

It' reassuring, but if it's true, it will be long before I get an answer lol, my name begins by T ­><

[Kanton]

I was also originally hesitating between NPSIA and Munk, but was really disappointed with my personal experience when I visited Munk. Not living anywhere close to Toronto, I wanted to use a visit to the school before the actual results were out to get a feel of the program. I messaged both the MGA administrator and the MGA Student Ambassador Program twice, two weeks ahead, to schedule a tour and did not hear anything back from either of them. When I finally ended up getting through to the office, I was told that the students were particularly busy (which is completely understandable) and basically not to bother the administration, but that "I was free to look around in the basement and public areas and to come back for a tour when I was admitted."

 

The one student that I did manage to briefly chat with raised a number of red flags that I think are worth mentioning. They cited the fact that there was no opportunity to work with professors, and that they didn't find the classes to be intellectually stimulating compared to what they had done for their undergrad. Given that tuition itself is close to $40,000, I was really shocked to hear that the class sizes are close to 40 to 50 students per class in lecture format (and without much of an opportunity for smaller seminar classes). The program claims to be pushing itself towards a 'professional orientation,' but many of the classes were described as overly broad and disorganized. Also, I should mention that I didn't get the friendliest ambiance from the students in the program when I was there. Not sure whether its a case of 'Trinity College' arrogance, but that was my initial impression.

 

This isn't to completely sway people from the MGA Program. I am sure that there are a lot of positive aspects to pursuing a degree at Munk, and Toronto would truly be a wonderful city to live in. However, I did feel that people reading this should know about it.

Yeah, I did not have the best time either when I visited last week and had somewhat of a similar experience. The Student Ambassadors never replied to my email asking for a visit. I walked around and was also a put out by the standoffish attitude of many of the students towards me. One even exclaimed to another that non-Munk students should not have the right to walk through their campus. I had really hoped to work with the Citizen Lab if I chose to attend and was disappointed to hear that it is extremely hard to actually get to do any work with the professors and is mostly based on the off chance you get in their seminar. None of the main courses the first year are actually taught by any of their so-called big names. Overall, I thought it not worth the money and have already declined my spot.

[BuBuOurs]

@cinna, thanks so much for this!!  I'm happy to hear from anyone, I just directed my question to Gabrielle because I think she was the only one to have included specific funding details that she had been offered by NPSIA when I wrote that.

 

I don't actually think they'll rescind (knock on wood), I think I'm just worried about what the offer will include.  I seem to be equating when you hear from FGPA with how much funding you'll be offered... so in my head, the longer it takes for a formal offer, the less funding I"ll be offered (if at all.)  I have enough student loans at this point, that I'm sure the funding question was what caused the anxiety/nightmare.  lol

 

For those asking about Munk, I was offered $7,500.  I was also disappointed, considering that's less than half of one year of tuition in the two-year program.  They also noted that, if I were to receive OGS or SSHRC for more than the value of the scholarship, the scholarship would be withdrawn.  So if I got $15,000 of OGS, no scholarship, and the OGS itself wouldn't even cover tuition.

 

That last point is what made me turn down the offer from Munk. I found that to be really inappropriate (given the expensive nature of the program), and that the school (funded by our dear friend, Peter Munk) can afford to put together much better funding packages on top of the OGS or SSHRC. I know I am being quite harsh on Munk, but I just do not think it is right to be charging so much for a program that has yet to be properly established.

[Iffie]

I was also accepted to Munk, and I just received a scholarship offer for $4,000 from them yesterday. I was disappointed, considering how much tuition is there. I'm hoping that Carleton has a better offer. GSPIA at uOttawa has offered $12,000 as well.

 

NPSIA has a really great reputation as marika said, and I did read that it was ranked as the 2nd best international affairs program in North America a few years ago and it has great connections with DFATD. I've heard Munk is more academically-oriented, though they do offer some pretty amazing internships from what I've heard.

 

Either way, they're both amazing schools and probably the best in Canada, so congratulations on your acceptance!

 

Thanks Archie! 

 

I'm surprised to hear that Munk is more academically-oriented despite the fact that it bills itself as a 'professional' program. The tuition is definitely a big turn-off, and judging by what has been said so far, I doubt I'll expect much funding from them.

 

I've spoken to a few Munk students and I found them generally enthusiastic about the program. Given the newness of the program, they're obviously dealing with a lot of bureaucratic hurdles, but the administration is apparently quick to adapt. Time will tell, I guess. They have some impressive internship placements (OECD, IMF, World Bank, NATO), which is what attracted me to the program, but I wonder if it'll be worth it in the end. 

 

I was also originally hesitating between NPSIA and Munk, but was really disappointed with my personal experience when I visited Munk. Not living anywhere close to Toronto, I wanted to use a visit to the school before the actual results were out to get a feel of the program. I messaged both the MGA administrator and the MGA Student Ambassador Program twice, two weeks ahead, to schedule a tour and did not hear anything back from either of them. When I finally ended up getting through to the office, I was told that the students were particularly busy (which is completely understandable) and basically not to bother the administration, but that "I was free to look around in the basement and public areas and to come back for a tour when I was admitted."

 

I had the same experience and I wasn't too impressed with the open house they held back in November. 

[lahdeedah]

It's a possibility, but another one that just occurred to me is that they're making their way through the applications alphabetically - Gabrielle's last name appears to begin with a B, mine with an A.

 

Speaking of Munk, I haven't heard anything from them regarding funding, hmph. It would most likely still be too expensive, but it would be nice to get an email!

This actually occurred to me (that it might be done alphabetically) but it seems to carry more weight when someone else says it!  

 

I hope they have mercy on those of us with names towards the end of the alphabet (I'm an 'S') and get back to us before the weekend... (if that's how it's even organized!)  

[Archie1991]

It might not be alphabetical, I'm an 'A' and haven't received anything from FGPA...I worry that it's funding based as well. So I'm hoping that there's no particular order to it haha