u/Super_Ingenuity5042

I'm a Canadian student (BBA background) planning to apply to research/thesis-based Master's programs in Education/Learning Sciences, with the goal of eventually pursuing a PhD.

A few things I'm trying to figure out:

• Is Canada or US school generally seen as a stronger stepping stone into a PhD, especially for someone switching fields into Education/Learning Sciences? Does it matter much where the Master's is from if I eventually want to do a PhD in the US or vice versa?
• From what I've read, Canadian thesis-based Master's programs are more likely to be funded (RA/TA-ships) compared to US programs, where funded terminal Master's are rarer. Is this accurate?
• How do you go about identifying and contacting potential supervisors and making sure their research aligned with your interests before applying?
• Has anyone here switched from a business/BBA-type background into Education/Learning Sciences research? How did you frame that transition in your SOP or make yourself a competitive applicant

Also curious about hoe competitive Canadian programs (e.g., OISE/UofT, UBC, McGill, etc.) are compared to US programs in this space, and whether it's worth applying broadly to both or focusing on one country.

Any advice, personal experiences, or program recommendations are hugely appreciated. Thank you!!!

Hi! I'm looking into hiring a grad school admissions consultant and wanted to see if anyone here has recommendations based on actual good experiences.

For context: I'm graduating with a BBA and want to pivot into an Education/Learning Sciences-related Master's program, with the possibility of pursuing a PhD down the line. I'll be applying to a mix of Canadian and US schools.

I've read some horror stories about consultants being overpriced or outright scams, so I'm hoping to find a firm/independent consultant with a solid track record. Ideally someone to help with my SOP/Personal Statement, school selection/fit, and essay editing, all personalised to my background and goals, not just generic templates.

A few questions for anyone who's used one:

• Did you work with an individual consultant or a larger firm?
• Was it worth the cost, and roughly what did you pay?
• What red flags should I watch out for when vetting one?

Also open to advice and tips from anyone who managed their application and search process alone. Thank you!!!