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rasta723

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  • Gender
    Male
  • Location
    USA
  • Program
    History Ph.D.

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  1. Hello, I will be starting a Ph.D. program at a school in Montreal next month. Just wondering about anyone's past experience as an American student in Canada: did you have to pay US federal, Canadian federal and provincial (in my case, Quebec) taxes annually? I am just trying to estimate how much money I'll actually be taking in this academic year when the university promises--for example--$16,000 per semester in scholarship and $6,000 per semester as a teaching assistant. The university offices couldn't seem to give me a clear answer on this. Many thanks for any info you can provide!
  2. Thanks everyone for your comments! My primary faculty advisor in the program has said completing the Ph.D. by end of year 4 is realistic and that he will "push [me] to do so." As someone above noted, the average time for a history grad in a US program is 6 years or longer, so I appreciate this aspect of the Canadian system, where those holding Master's have a shortened program. So that is approx. $40k of debt, if I fail to win any of the various grants he has been urging me to apply for once I get on campus in the fall. I was surprised to learn that McGill offers need-based US federally subsidized loans (like one would be eligible for in the States by filling out the FAFSA). Worst-case scenario as I see things would be earning the Ph.D., failing to land some tenure track job within a year or two (I'm not interested in scraping along as a post-doc much longer than that), then taking a position with the federal government, where most departments have pretty generous student-loan forgiveness incentives when you sign on to civil-service positions. Obviously I do hope to be a professor someday, but know the reality out there! Cheers
  3. rasta723

    Greenville, NC

    Info much appreciated, thanks!
  4. Hello all, I am from the US and was recently admitted McGill's Ph.D. program in History. While still waiting to hear from a few more US-based programs, I am giving this offer some seriously consideration: $20k guaranteed in annual stipend for all 4 years plus approx. $4500 per semester when serving as a TA for the department. At the same time, however, I am expected to pay full graduate-level tuition, which is estimated at $16k annually for years 1 and 2, then $4k year 3, onward, once I enter dissertation stage and go into 'part-time' status. In comparison to the retail cost of tuition at most graduate programs in the US ($40k or more per year if I had pursued law school!), I realize this sum isn't so large, but all my American peers currently at various Ph.D. programs across the US are, stipends aside, not paying a dime for tuition. So I am just wondering if this is a situation faced by other international students getting offers from Canadian schools? Maybe this is normal, especially for the humanities which may not be as well funded as other disciplines? Thanks for any insight you can provide! Cheers.
  5. Hello all, I recently received an offer of Ph.D. admission from McGill University's history department, my only offer so far (3 schools left to hear from). This is the only program to which I applied that wasn't in the US. Given the horror stories we all know so well re: the US academic job market, I'll remain interested in the possibility of applying for Washington, DC-based federal, think tank, or non-profit careers after earning my degree, probably 5-6 years from now. I do have 3 solid years of post-undergraduate (US) federal job experience under my belt already, and have studied 2 "critical languages," so am trying to determine whether pursuing my degree in Cold War diplomatic history at McGill, up in Montreal, would be a good or bad choice given what I have in mind. If it isn't apparent, I only have a vague sense of what might be available in places like DC or even other East Coast cities for a newly-minted Ph.D. graduate (in foreign relations history) as opposed to, say, someone who just earned a Master's in something policy-specific from the Kennedy School, Wilson, Georgetown and the like, so would also appreciate if anyone could speak to what doors a Ph.D. might open for me? Thanks for your thoughts! -20something from Maryland
  6. rasta723

    Greenville, NC

    Hi kristinarap, It sounds like I am in a similar position as you admissions-wise; probably going to accept McGill's offer for next fall. At risk of offending some by straying from the topic of Montreal city life, do you mind my asking how good/bad your McGill financial aid package is? That is basically what I'm evaluating right now--whether mine is acceptable or I want to reapply to schools elsewhere a year from now. Not sure whether this is dependent on discipline, but my McGill department is expecting me to pay full tuition (as an 'international' student from the US) for all 4-5 years of study. They are giving me a solid living stipend though. I still have another 4 schools in the US to hear from, hopefully in the weeks ahead.... cheers!
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