Applying to Munk 2017 - also NPSIA, GSPIA, BSIA etc

[Norma955]

Hey all! 

Today I received an email from Carleton University informing me that I have been awarded the Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) for 2017-2018 and that I have two weeks to decide. This just makes my decision a lot harder! Since I was leaning towards GSPIA. I emailed Tabbatha and asked her when we should hear back regarding our applications, and this was her response "I will hopefully be emailing successful applicants tomorrow about the status of their file. If not tomorrow, Monday for sure."

 

SOOOOOOOO TOMORROW! Best of luck to everyone, and don't forget to update us all. 

[DefeatistElitist]

6 minutes ago, Norma955 said:

Hey all! 

Today I received an email from Carleton University informing me that I have been awarded the Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) for 2017-2018 and that I have two weeks to decide. This just makes my decision a lot harder! Since I was leaning towards GSPIA. I emailed Tabbatha and asked her when we should hear back regarding our applications, and this was her response "I will hopefully be emailing successful applicants tomorrow about the status of their file. If not tomorrow, Monday for sure."

 

SOOOOOOOO TOMORROW! Best of luck to everyone, and don't forget to update us all. 

I don't have internet at my work so tomorrow is going to be a loooong day. Good luck to everyone!

[sonsofeasterly]

27 minutes ago, Norma955 said:

Hey all! 

Today I received an email from Carleton University informing me that I have been awarded the Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) for 2017-2018 and that I have two weeks to decide. This just makes my decision a lot harder! Since I was leaning towards GSPIA. I emailed Tabbatha and asked her when we should hear back regarding our applications, and this was her response "I will hopefully be emailing successful applicants tomorrow about the status of their file. If not tomorrow, Monday for sure."

 

SOOOOOOOO TOMORROW! Best of luck to everyone, and don't forget to update us all. 

So does this then mean that it won't actually be another two weeks, as someone said above - or will the update only be for those who applied for OGS?

[Norma955]

35 minutes ago, sonsofeasterly said:

So does this then mean that it won't actually be another two weeks, as someone said above - or will the update only be for those who applied for OGS?

I have no idea, usually getting an OGS means that you will be accepted to the school and they are giving me two weeks to either decline or accept the scholarship. In regards to the email, we are supposed to hear some news in the coming days (although I'm not sure how considering my application is still at the recommended for assessment stage). 

[Hopeful2017]

36 minutes ago, sonsofeasterly said:

So does this then mean that it won't actually be another two weeks, as someone said above - or will the update only be for those who applied for OGS?

Does this mean unofficial acceptances  for NPSIA can start tomorrow? 

[Hopeful2017]

I will probably go with the program that gives me the most funding (within reason). GSPIA and NPSIA are the dream though - damn those programs look amazing. Side note: Does anyone have any tips on staying sane? I literally refresh all my emails and statuses every like 5 minutes at work and it's driving me crazy. It's getting hard to focus on my actual work tasks haha

[NPSIA grad]

23 minutes ago, Hopeful2017 said:

I will probably go with the program that gives me the most funding (within reason). GSPIA and NPSIA are the dream though - damn those programs look amazing. Side note: Does anyone have any tips on staying sane? I literally refresh all my emails and statuses every like 5 minutes at work and it's driving me crazy. It's getting hard to focus on my actual work tasks haha

Just embrace it comrade. I've put my life on hold. I'm just floating mindlessly in a circular loop - Grad Cafe > Email > Carleton Central > uoZone. I feel like a bot. 

[Duplified]

46 minutes ago, Hopeful2017 said:

I will probably go with the program that gives me the most funding (within reason). GSPIA and NPSIA are the dream though - damn those programs look amazing. Side note: Does anyone have any tips on staying sane? I literally refresh all my emails and statuses every like 5 minutes at work and it's driving me crazy. It's getting hard to focus on my actual work tasks haha

Honestly, I am sooo thankful that I have classes and they fill up at least a portion of my time haha. Aside from that, I am like everyone else. I wish that our likelihood of acceptance was linked to our page refresh rate, that would be nice. Regarding which program, I will accept Munk if I get in with almost 95% certainty and deal with the financial issues caused by high tuition and living in Toronto, but depending on the MPPA programs funding package I may take it. It also depends on what programs my finance gets into at U of T. She got a 20k offer from Carleton in Neuroscience, but also got accepted to U of T for Biomedical Engineering and is waiting on a MPH from the Dalla Lana School @ U of T.  Lesson = Life is complicated haha

[Hopeful2017]

Can anyone give insight into the pros/cons of doing an MPPA vs say, the degree from GSPIA/NPSIA? 

[Duplified]

38 minutes ago, Hopeful2017 said:

Can anyone give insight into the pros/cons of doing an MPPA vs say, the degree from GSPIA/NPSIA? 

I would say that an MPPA would allow you to work in Gov't departments and touch some global affairs/IR work. It also looks like they have a international and development concentration?

These are the following MPPA courses at Carleton which are in the academic calendar:

PADM 5225 [0.5 credit]
Trade Policy

PADM 5229 [0.5 credit]
The Health of Populations

PADM 5272 [0.5 credit]
Policy Seminar (Policy Analysis Concentration)
One or more selected policy areas or specialized aspects of policy analysis. The policy field or topic will change each year.

PADM 5421 [0.5 credit]
Globalizing Public Management

PADM 5441 [0.5 credit]
Introduction to Policy and Program Evaluation
Survey of evaluation in Canada and internationally.

PADM 5510 [0.5 credit]
Energy Economics
Micro- and macroeconomic concepts and techniques applied to such topics as international energy markets, energy production, and energy consumption.

PADM 5512 [0.5 credit]
International Politics of Sustainable Energy

PADM 5617 [0.5 credit]
Implementing Sustainable Development in Industrialized Countries

PADM 5811 [0.5 credit]
The International Policy Framework

PADM 5812 [0.5 credit]
Governance in Developing Countries

PADM 5815 [0.5 credit]
Civil Society Organizations and Development

PADM 5816 [0.5 credit]
Program Evaluation in Developing Countries

PADM 5817 [0.5 credit]
Health Policy in Developing Countries

PADM 5872 [0.5 credit]
Policy Seminar (International and Development Concentration)

There are a few more as well. 

Honestly, there is quite a few courses here. It’s not a replacement for NPSIA or GSPIA, however I think that you should have enough to be able to demonstrate knowledge and still apply for similar positions? Personally, I just see the MPPA as more generalist, but also giving the flexibility to tailor it to suit your needs. But if you are sold on pure IR/ Global Affairs, you should probably wait until you hear back from NPSIA ect?  

Edited March 2, 2017 by Duplified

[justapersonwhochangednames]

1 hour ago, mchutchi said:

Just embrace it comrade. I've put my life on hold. I'm just floating mindlessly in a circular loop - Grad Cafe > Email > Carleton Central > uoZone. I feel like a bot. 

Same. I had one teeny silver lining today. An undergrad certificate at York that I've always wished I'd taken years ago seems to have admitted me, but that was literally only based on me sending them a transcript. So I suppose that's something I can do this September if I get rejected from every grad program! 

[Hopeful2017]

26 minutes ago, Duplified said:

I would say that an MPPA would allow you to work in Gov't departments and touch some global affairs/IR work. It also looks like they have a international and development concentration?

 

These are the following MPPA courses at Carleton which are in the academic calendar:

 

PADM 5225 [0.5 credit]
Trade Policy

 

PADM 5229 [0.5 credit]
The Health of Populations

 

PADM 5272 [0.5 credit]
Policy Seminar (Policy Analysis Concentration)
One or more selected policy areas or specialized aspects of policy analysis. The policy field or topic will change each year.

 

PADM 5421 [0.5 credit]
Globalizing Public Management

 

PADM 5441 [0.5 credit]
Introduction to Policy and Program Evaluation
Survey of evaluation in Canada and internationally.

 

PADM 5510 [0.5 credit]
Energy Economics
Micro- and macroeconomic concepts and techniques applied to such topics as international energy markets, energy production, and energy consumption.

 

PADM 5512 [0.5 credit]
International Politics of Sustainable Energy

 

PADM 5617 [0.5 credit]
Implementing Sustainable Development in Industrialized Countries

 

PADM 5811 [0.5 credit]
The International Policy Framework

 

PADM 5812 [0.5 credit]
Governance in Developing Countries

 

PADM 5815 [0.5 credit]
Civil Society Organizations and Development

 

PADM 5816 [0.5 credit]
Program Evaluation in Developing Countries

 

PADM 5817 [0.5 credit]
Health Policy in Developing Countries

 

PADM 5872 [0.5 credit]
Policy Seminar (International and Development Concentration)

 

There are a few more as well. 

 

Honestly, there is quite a few courses here. It’s not a replacement for NPSIA or GSPIA, however I think that you should have enough to be able to demonstrate knowledge and still apply for similar positions? Personally, I just see the MPPA as more generalist, but also giving the flexibility to tailor it to suit your needs. But if you are sold on pure IR/ Global Affairs, you should probably wait until you hear back from NPSIA ect?  

 

 

 

Good eye! Those courses look awesome, especially in comparison to the MPA program at uOttawa. Thank you for your help  

[Duplified]

No problem haha! Those are the questions I had when I choose which programs I would apply to! 

[Duplified]

So.... we did not get first round offers from Munk today. It looks like they came out on March 1st in 2016, but on the 6th in 2015. I guess we will just have to wait it out and see when they are able to make it through the pile. Has anyone had contact with Munk regarding their timeline this year? 

Edited March 2, 2017 by Duplified

[justapersonwhochangednames]

" We hope to have admission decisions out by mid-March if not earlier. " - this is an excerpt from a Munk email from LAST year, about the 2016 cycle. I have no reason to believe it has changed. 

[DefeatistElitist]

I think it's probably reasonable to take their estimate and then subtract a few days. As it's been pointed out, often universities will blatantly lie about when they will send out offers to reduce them being spammed with requests for update. 

I think first round Munk offers will probably come in Monday/Tuesday at the latest.

[justapersonwhochangednames]

I do think it's a rolling basis, in the sense that they likely target the top applicants first with funding/.scholarships, then others, then waitlist. I know someone who got in after two weeks on the waitlist in recent years. I also know two people who waited months to get off the waitlist and got rejected at the end of last summer. <insert shrug emoji> March madness begins haha 

[abibret]

22 hours ago, Norma955 said:

Do you guys know how they decide on funding? Also I am curious about GA and TA positions, is that supposed to be included in the offer?

Yes, research assistantships and TAships are usually included in the offer.

[YYCapplicant]

7 minutes ago, abibret said:

Yes, research assistantships and TAships are usually included in the offer.

For Carleton they traditionally are, however it appears that Munk at U of T requires candidates to apply for TAships independently.

[Hopeful2017]

8 minutes ago, YYCapplicant said:

For Carleton they traditionally are, however it appears that Munk at U of T requires candidates to apply for TAships independently.

Is the same with uOttawa? 

[PoliticalNerd2017]

So I got an email from GSPIA today after asking them if their last email:

"can expect an answer sometime in March or early April." 

(Cont) was about offers generally speaking or my specific case, and they said it was in regards to acceptances/rejections broadly. That's a relief, and I hope to hear from them sooner rather than later. GSPIA is really my number one school and the wait is excruciating.

 

[YellsHeah]

1 minute ago, PoliticalNerd2017 said:

That's a relief, and I hope to hear from them sooner rather than later. GSPIA is really my number one school and the wait is excruciating. 

Might I ask why? I'm still having trouble deciding between NPSIA or GSPIA, they both seem so similar in various ways. I'm half hoping NPSIA declines so my choice is that much easier...

[PoliticalNerd2017]

9 minutes ago, YellsHeah said:

Might I ask why? I'm still having trouble deciding between NPSIA or GSPIA, they both seem so similar in various ways. I'm half hoping NPSIA declines so my choice is that much easier...

Primarily because its better suited for my research interests, prefer the faculty, smaller class sizes, usually more funding/co-op.. NPSIA is great too but that's the short version for why.

[Norma955]

Hey guys! I received another response today! From the School of International Development and Global Studies at UOttawa, they are offering me a $15,000 dollar scholarship and also a $18,000 Research/TAship... I am in absolute shock. I was already undecided between GSPIA and NPSIA and now my decision is even harder but this program is offering me the most money and I love the area of International development. Helppppp

[justapersonwhochangednames]

2 hours ago, Norma955 said:

Hey guys! I received another response today! From the School of International Development and Global Studies at UOttawa, they are offering me a $15,000 dollar scholarship and also a $18,000 Research/TAship... I am in absolute shock. I was already undecided between GSPIA and NPSIA and now my decision is even harder but this program is offering me the most money and I love the area of International development. Helppppp

Omg congrats! Very happy for you! I can't advise one way or another, you'll have to research which program will advance your career and personal goals the most