Okay, so I’ve been digging into this whole “Masters in Organizational Psychology in Canada” thing, and let me tell you, it’s been a journey. I figured I’d share my process, ’cause honestly, it was kinda confusing at first.
First Steps: Why Even Bother?
First, I had to figure out if this was even the right path for me. I’m all about understanding people and workplaces, so the “Organizational Psychology” part sounded cool. I started by just, you know, Googling around. Lots of vague stuff, but it generally confirmed my interest.
The Canadian University Hunt
Next, I needed to find actual universities in Canada that offered this program. This was trickier than I thought! I started making a list, just a simple one, of any university that popped up in my searches that mentioned “Organizational Psychology” or “Industrial-Organizational Psychology” (turns out they’re basically the same thing).
- University of Waterloo
- University of Calgary
- Saint Mary’s University
- York University
- …and a bunch more.
My list got pretty long, pretty fast.
Deep Dive into Program Details
Having a list is one thing, but I needed details. So, I started visiting each university’s website. This is where things got real. I was looking for things like:
- Admission requirements: Did I even have the right undergrad degree? What GPA did they want?
- Coursework: What classes would I actually be taking? Did they sound interesting?
- Tuition fees: Could I even afford this? (Spoiler: Canadian tuition can be…ouch.)
- Program length: Was it a one-year thing? Two years? More?
- Research opportunities: Did they have professors doing research I was interested in?
I spent hours on these websites. Some were super clear, others were like navigating a maze. I started adding notes to my list, pros and cons for each university, based on what I found.
Reaching Out (The Scary Part)
Once I had narrowed down my list to a few top contenders, I knew I needed to get some real human input. So, I started emailing the program coordinators or admissions departments. This was nerve-wracking! I tried to sound professional, but also, like, a real person. I asked specific questions about things that weren’t clear on the website, or about research opportunities.
Some universities were super responsive, others…not so much. It definitely gave me a feel for the vibe of each program.
Making the (Tough) Decision
After all that research and emailing, I finally had enough info to make a decision. It was tough! There were so many factors to consider. But, I ultimately picked the program that felt like the best fit for my interests, my budget, and my career goals. I can share all the details why in another post.
So, yeah, that’s the gist of it. It was a lot of work, but I feel way more informed now. Hopefully, this helps someone else out there who’s starting this same journey!
